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The Long Island Railroad

by RICHARD F. MAKSE

Maple Grove Cemetery, opened in 1875, represented the eastward march of burial grounds in rural Queens prior to the formation of Greater NYC. While cemeteries had previously been clustered around the Long Island Railroad's Montauk Branch through Laurel Hill, Maspeth and Glendale, Maple Grove represented one of the earlier "eastern" burial grounds deep into the "suburbs". Charles S. Goodwin, controller of the Cemetery, managed the finances of the firm from his Manhattan office since his market for burial sites was in "The City". His office was at 3rd and 34th, convenient to the Long Island Railroad ferry to Long Island City. To promote visits to the Cemetery, set in a beautiful rural area near the newly established Maple Grove station, Goodwin made a deal with the Long Island Railroad for the bulk purchase of reduced-rate giveaway tickets. This specimen was printed to Long Island Railroad standards with the exception of a different colored safety paper and the signature of Goodwin on the contract.

Circa 1885 Long Island Railroad ticket courtesy of Richard F. Makse.

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