HARRY A. GREENE
MANSION QUICK FACTS
BUILT 1886
Born: 1852
Died: 1933
Mother: Anne Elizabeth Fisk of Rhode Island
Father: William Greene of Dublin Ireland
Married: Arabelle Little of Monterey
Children: William and Belle Ursula
Nickname: Tin Can Harry, because he was known for growing trees and shrubs in cans and giving them away for others to plant "mostly children"
Harry Ashland Greene (Miner, Grain and Produce business in SF, Hotel Owner,
Stockbroker, Capitalist)
Born: January 12, 1852
Died: 1933
Mother: Anne Elizabeth Colton Fisk of Rhode Island daughter of Francis Melbourne Fisk
Father: Honorable William Greene of Dublin Ireland (Owned blocks of real estate in San Francisco) The names- Van Ness Avenue, Geary, and Greene Streets were named for this leading officers of the first government of San Francisco. (E was later removed) He was the original board of city fathers
Married: Miss Belle Little “Arabelle” Children: William and Belle Ursula.
Nickname: “Father of Monterey” and “Tin Can Harry” Greene, because he was known for growing trees and shrubs in cans and giving them away for others to plant. He gave one to most everyone who wanted a tree and would plant and care for it.
Built: 1886
Architect: Little & Bickford
Structure: Is built in the form of a cross-axial plan with no stworooms directly joined. It is still in its original site. Victorian “eclectic” consisting of Queen Anne, Victorian Gothic and Italianate Styles. The flattened Gingerbread embellishments or lacework trimmings and carved circular designs around the windows and the wooden carved pillars contribute to its visual atmosphere. The first story bay roofs are accentuated by fish scale shingles. There is a number of projecting bays and contrasting facades embellished with wood lacework. Above the door is called “fanlight transom divided by spokes.”
Construction: Redwood
Onion Dome Cupola: Original dome was removed during Greene’s lifetime and replaced by a fiberglass replica on 11/02/2002.
Carriage House: Original carriage house remains on Hawthorne Street
Garden: Harry Greene Planted a number of unique trees and plants, including the rare Juniper Regina tree near the back of the building
1955 and 1964 warnings to owners that the building was in perennial dilapidated condition
1972 June 20, it was declared “Harry A. Greene Mansion” as a historic structure to be preserved in accordance with laws and ordinances of the city.
2017 Wallpaper: Bradbury & Bradbury hand painted reproduction of Victorian Wallpaper Rugs: Stair runner and Rotunda rug are from the Karistan Collection, a Kirman Medallion Pattern adopted from the 19th Century
Over the years the mansion has been:
• Summer home of Harry A. Greene
• Private residence
• Antique Shop
• French Restaurant
• Consuelos, Mexican restaurant
• Thomas Kinkade National Archive
• Greene Mansion Luxury Goods and Antique Consignment store including event services which it is currently.
Accomplishments:
- He devoted his time and wealth to Monterey’s development, including the first electric company , trolley system, the Monterey Hotel and the harbor’s breakwater.
- Helped save Colton Hall for destruction (sat outside twice with a gun and would not let them tear it down. He sought State protection of the Custom House and purchased the First Theater and gave it to the city. He raised money to put the school that wanted to take over Colton Hall ground and more desirable school site.
- Leading member of Olympic Club and San Francisco Bicycle Club. Had events at his house and members would ride their bicycles from San Francisco to have their reception at Greene Mansion.
- National Guard veteran
- Owner of Monterey Hotel on Alvarado St.
- Originator of Bank of Monterey and heavy stockholder
- Monterey Fresno Railroad Originator
- Monterey & Pacific Grove Street Railway Vice President
- Monterey Progressive Association Organizer
- Electric Light Plant Owner, Secretary and treasure.
- Contributed to the Monterey-Fresno railroad completion. Gave $17,000 in cash.
- Helped preserve Monterey’s Colton Hall (California’s first sate capital building), Custom House and First Theater
- Planted a great number of trees that are still growing on the Pacific Coast
- Island at Lake El Estero has been named after Harry Greene
- Tree growing organizations that were headquartered at the Mansion. He was president of the Federation of Tree Growing Clubs of America
- Long-time involvement with the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
- Monterey’s La Merienda (birthday) celebration. Harry Greene and his friend Carmel Martin presided over the city's first modern Merienda in 1929, when Greene was a young man of 77. The tradition continues and is still celebrated today in Monterey.
- His major role in fuchsia and rose growing organizations
NOTE CARDS
- The tree in the back yard was the first outdoor lighted Christmas tree on the Peninsula. Greene was so important to the city that after his death the tree was lighted each Yuletide season. Unique tree Mr. Greene planted in the back is the rare “Juniper Regina tree” that we have lit up in lights in honor of Mr. Greene.
- Mr. Greene helped build the port of Monterey and was active in the water-front development.
- September 9, 1850 Harry Greene before his death claimed to be asleep in a basket in the cloak room as his parents danced. It was the celebration of California joining the union. Mr. Greene referred to it as “First Admission Day ball”
- 1890 Greene stated Monterey tree-growing club and it began with 10 members who met weekly. By city ordinance, after his death, the little island in the middle of El Estero Lake was named Harry Greene Island, in honor of the man who had done so much to make Monterey beautiful.
- 1892 January 9th While grading and improving his property in New Monterey the past week, Harry Greene unearthed a human skeleton. Conjectures are rife regarding the history of its burial. Lying but a few feet below the surface of the ground, suggests mystery and dark secrets in connection therewith. These finds are not very uncommon, however, and its not improbable the remains are those of an Indian. Pacific Grove Review p.3
- Burglary on February 3rd 1894 Mr. Greene heard the robber trying to open a window. Not having any weapon he lifted a chair and made such a racket that he succeeded in scaring off the robber. The robber left this house and unfortunately entered adjoining house to Greene’s of Colonel Jones President of Monterey and Fresno Railroad and after the robber broke into the kitchen, he had a struggle with Jones cook who was on alert. The cook succeeded in ousting the burglar.
- February 3, 1904 Organization of Chamber of Commerce for Monterey.
- April 28, 1907 Dr. Ernest Barry came to visit Mr. Greene and He had occasion to arise during the night and in the darkness fell from the balcony on the second floor to the floor below and was picked up unconscious. In falling he struck a table which fractured his pelvis. Dr. Barry at the time was in charge of one of Red Cross hospitals in San Francisco since the April fire.
- 1914-1918 Estimated time frame. Used as Radio Station during World War I.
- April 21, 1920, Fire in Greene Home. Before noon Mr. Greene noticed a fire in the flue for some little time but paid little attention to it at the time. Sometime afterwards it was noticed that the fire had been communicated to the walls around the chimney. Both the New Monterey department and the town department responded at once. Hydrant and chemical streams were quickly applied buttoning to the dense smoke it was impossible to work much in the rooms effected. This necessitated to use of a considerable amount of water and through the water the most of the damage was done. The flames had little opportunity to do damage, as the department soon had the fire out.
- March 7th (Saturday Labor day) 1925 a Sequoia Semperviren tree was planted at Colton Hall Park to honor Mr. Greene. Organ and violin music was played and the poem “Trees” written by Joyce Kilmer’s was read.
- Nick name “Tin Can Harry” for he grew thousands of five gallon cans with trees in them. Every manor of tree was grown “redwood, sequoia, oaks, sycamores, beeches, hemlocks, red maple, jacaranda, and ailanthus- the Tree of Heaven (One of Greene’s favorite it was brought from China but did not bulge up the sidewalks) Said to be on many of miles of highways and byways for beautifying this peninsula and for shade.
- December 4, 1944 Mrs. Bertha G Rudneff “News staff” moved in with Mrs. Harry A. Greene and telephone number was 4754.
Pacific Grove Review, January 9, 1892 Page 3
Monterey Peninsula Herald, Nov. 14, 1933
Peninsula Diary “An Inspired Gardener” by Mayo Hayes O’Donell February 1st, 1965
Peninsula Diary “Wheelers, Away!” by Mayo Hayes O’Donell Augusts 7th 1967
Monterey Peninsula Herald, August 7, 1967
“A Memorial & Biographical History of Coast Counties of Central California” Barrows & Ingersell, The Lewis Pub Co. Chicago 1893
“History of the State of California and Biographical Record Guinn Chapman Pub Co. Chicago 1903
Monterey Peninsula Herald, Nov. 14, 1935
San Francisco Chronicle, February 3rd 1894 Page 15
Monterey Cypress, April 22, 1920
San Francisco Call, April 28,1907 Page 48
Santa Cruz Evening News, April 21, 1920, p. 1.
Herald Reporter December 4th 1944
S.F. Chronicle February 2, 1895
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