After more than a decade, the Green-House welcomes visitors

The Victorian-era domed greenhouse, originally built in 1895 with iron, wood and glass, reopened to the public on April 18 after a long road back from the brink of collapse. The renovated building, along with a modern L-shaped building joined to it, now serves as space for exhibitions, workshops, research and events for Green-Wood Cemetery.

The Green-House at Green-Wood, located at 750 Fifth Avenue, across the street from the main entrance to Green-Wood Cemetery, was one of a few structures of its kind that still stands. It last served as a florist, shutting its doors in 2011. Green-Wood Cemetery purchased the decaying structure the next year for $1.63 million from McGovern Florists, which had a long history of running flower shops near the cemetery.

Asked why it took so long to complete, Meera Joshi, president of Green-Wood Cemetery, explained, “It’s a landmarked building and so everything has to be exactly as it was when it was originally constructed.”

She also said the renovation was delayed because of disruptions caused by COVID. Originally, it was known as the Weir Greenhouse and then later topped with a sign reading McGovern-Weir. On the zenith of the renovated dome now is a replica of the original “Weir” sign on a wire-mesh screen in a style common in the Victorian era.

“It’s been under construction since I was born, and so it’s cool to see it open,” said 11-year-old Eugenie Papocchia, who was visiting the Green-House on opening day with her younger brother Nico and mother Caroline, residents of nearby 27th Street.

The new building will also serve as a classroom for students from pre-K through 12th grade.

“It is history, it is part of what Brooklyn was. It tells the story of the American Revolution, the Civil War,” Joshi said.

Joshi pointed out that many historical figures are buried throughout the cemetery. The landscape is also rich in flora and fauna.

“We have hundreds of species of birds, hundreds of kinds of trees,” Joshi said, pointing out opportunities to use the existing nature for education as well.

The new center has objects and art on one wall illustrating the lives of a selection of some of the more noteworthy permanent residents. Four books from the Victorian era with illustrations of ladies wearing big hats in contemplative poses are displayed. One is titled “The Alphabet of Love” and another “He Loved but was Lured Away,” both written by novelist Laura Jean Libbey. Two ancient packs of Chiclet gum hang on the wall with the explanation, “Thomas Adams (1818-1905) helped develop and popularize modern chewing gum.” Both Adams and Libbey lie at rest in Green-Wood.

The new building also houses an extensive archive. This includes 188-year-old records from Green-Wood’s founding, correspondence with prominent Green-Wood families, architectural blueprints and the chronology books, lists of the people interred in Green-Wood.

“We still use the archive every day,” Lauryn Duncan, Green-Wood’s archivist, explained.

There are 1,160 linear feet of shelf space in the basement archive, Duncan said. A privacy policy keeps records out of public view for the first 75 years after a death. Many of the cemetery’s public records are available online.

The center also houses two art galleries and a room set up as a classroom. The inside of the Green-House is a vaulted and sunny space with a tile map of the cemetery on the floor. There is little physical material from the original structure that remains after the renovation, with the exception of large parts of the iron structure and bricks from the foundation. The total cost of renovation is $43 million.

Green-Wood Cemetery’s first burial was in 1840. Now the remains of over 580,000 individuals are among the rolling hills, meadows and fields in the 478-acre cemetery.

Space in the cemetery is finite and traditional burials take real estate.

“It’s slowing down,” Joshi, the president of the cemetery, admitted. “It’s hard to put an exact date on it… we’re looking at least 10, 15 years away.”

She pointed out that other forms of interment, including cremation and human composting, use less land.

But when Green-Wood was founded, cemeteries were green places to escape the cement and steel of an urban environment. People would often picnic and wander the lush green space.

Today is no different.

“We live in a city that people crave green space. We have it,” Joshi said.

But many people are hesitant to walk into a cemetery, Joshi admitted.

“So we want to make sure that this, the Green-House, provides people with the kind of information and ease that they need to walk across the street.”

The Green-House at Green-Wood’s regular visiting hours are Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended summertime hours to 7 p.m. from April through September.

Green-Wood Cemetery hours in warmer months are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.