[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE RE-DEDICATION OF THE E.B. GREEN MAUSOLEUM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the re-dedication 
of the E.B. Green Mausoleum on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. 
Designed by legendary architect Edward Brodhead Green, the mausoleum 
opened in 1913 in Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
   E.B. Green, for whom the Mausoleum is named, is one of our Nation's 
most prolific and admired architects. During his 72-year career, he 
designed over 360 structures, many of which are listed on the National 
Register of Historic Places. Over 160 of his Western New York works 
remain standing, including the Mausoleum which we honor today.
   The E.B. Green Mausoleum is an architectural and historical wonder. 
Stately columns and gray Vermont marble produce its majestic exterior. 
Inside, the Mausoleum contains white Vermont marble and stained glass 
windows, one of which is a signed Tiffany. One of the only two 
Mausoleums designed by E.B. Green, its design evokes the reflective act 
of remembering our dead.
   The Mausoleum magnifies the already significant historical legacy of 
Oakwood Cemetery. Oakwood was established in 1852, when Lavinia Porter, 
daughter of Niagara Falls founder Augustus Porter, donated the land 
that would become the burial site. Theodore Dehone Judah, one of the 
central figures in the establishment of America's Transcontinental 
Railroad, designed the cemetery's original landscape. Locally, General 
Parkhurst Whitney of Niagara Falls and his three daughters were laid to 
rest at Oakwood. Celinda, Angelina, and Asenath Whitney are the three 
sisters for which the Three Sisters Islands are named. In 1882, their 
nephew Drake Whitney engineered improvements to Oakwood Cemetery.
   Oakwood Cemetery's historical significance has been regionally 
recognized. The cemetery has received numerous awards, including the 
Preservation Buffalo Niagara Award in 2013, a $5000 grant from the 
Niagara Falls Preservation League in 2011, a City of Niagara Falls 
Preservation Citation and designation as a Niagara Falls National 
Heritage Area.
   Many programs are in place to educate the public about the history 
of the Oakwood Cemetery. The cemetery offers community activities such 
as guided tours, events that are open to the public, and educational 
workshops for students. The volunteer group ``Friends of Oakwood'' 
dedicates their efforts to the upkeep, preservation, restoration, and 
education of the cemetery.
   Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me a few moments to recognize 
the historical and architectural significance of the E.B. Green 
Mausoleum and Oakwood Cemetery. I thank all those who worked to put 
together this lovely event, and sincerely appreciate their work every 
day to promote the incredible history and legacy of Oakwood Cemetery.

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