Paschal Medara: Woodbury's Victorian Architect

An original envelope showing the inscription of Allen & Medara

Not much is known about Woodbury's own 19th century architect and builder, Mr. Paschal Medara, yet some of his wonderful buildings still inspire us today. He was described in 1910 as "an architect of rare ability" having planned the city's "most prominent buildings." Even to this day anyone who passes through Woodbury has most likely laid eyes on his creations in the form of the Green Opera House block on Broad (recently restored by RPM Development) and the Green Laboratory on Green Avenue (Woodbury Mews). Medara's other buildings that have been lost to the ages continue to live through historic photographs and lithographs and have appeared worldwide in 19th and 20th century issues of Green's August Flower Almanac.

Odd Fellows Hall

In the mid-1840's, Paschal's father, Jacob was involved with Woodbury in part as a building committee and was responsible for the erection of the now demolished Odd Fellows Hall formerly on Cooper Street. Perhaps it was through this involvement that his son became interested in the creation of grand civic buildings roughly 30 years later. Whatever the case, Paschal Medara came to be - one could consider- the personal architect to Woodbury's multimillionaire family, the Greens. Having designed both Lewis and George G. Green's palatial mansions (pictured below) he also designed, among many others, the lab and opera house, as mentioned above and most likely the Merritt's Drugstore corner building commissioned by G.G. How this relationship with the Green family developed is unclear but records show interestingly enough that both Medara and G.G. Green were in Company E, 6th Regiment of the National Guard; Medara a Corporal, G.G. a Captain (later Colonel). According to New Jersey Civil War Gravestones website, Paschal Medara was also a Union Civil War US Navy Seaman who served aboard the USS Catskill.

A feature on Medara in the 1878 issue of the Green's Almanac

Paschal Medara's obituary notice in the Jul 30 1910
issue of the Woodbury Daily Times

Paschal now lies quietly beside his mother and father (Lydia Ann Dilks and Jacob R. Medara) in the Mantua Cemetery, his accomplishments nearly forgotten. Although very few associate his name with the buildings, I like to think that he would be happy to know that his laboratory and his opera house have been restored in recent years, much to the pride of his old hometown.

Paschal Medara's gravestone

Let's take a look at some of his astounding creations:

Medara's Gray Towers mansion for G.G.Green
Learn everything about the mansion HERE

Medara's Gray Towers is featured in the seminal reference book:
A Field Guide to American Houses

Medara's Italianate mansion for Mayor Lewis Morris Green

Medara's Laboratory for the Greens.
It was a state of the art lab/factory with bottling rooms, printing press, offices, etc.

... and don't forget the grand stable house in the rear of the lab

Medara's Opera House block.
He may have designed the church in the rear as well

Medara's Drugstore Corner Block

Medara's architectural creations live on
through the MANY Green Almanacs
and August Flower sales materials

Result of True Merit

Bully Old House: LM Green Mansion

During my research on the Lewis M. Green mansion, that once stood on the corner of West German Street (now Barber Avenue) and Broad, I unearthed an almost unbelievable story printed in the Bridgeton Evening News in 1900. It involves Lewis' siblings after his death and the disputed "ownership" of his grand Italianate mansion. I have transcribed it here word for word from the original source, as I found it not only educational regarding our cities architectural history, but quite comical. Be aware this was indeed written in 1900 and is almost completely, if not in fact then in literary style, "tounge in cheek."

HURLED BRICKS AT HIS HOUSE.

___________

TROUBLE IN MILLIONAIRE FAMILY.

___________

Every Time Joe Green Wanted His House He Notified His Sister by Demolishing the Windows--Now He's Going to Get It.
 

     Years and years ago-so long ago that the nerves, lungs, stomach and kidneys of man cannot remember-L. M. Green, of Woodbury, concocted patent medicines that were sovereign for the most racking ills flesh is heir to. Having made these patent medicines he began making money. It was not only a humane occupation, but also a profitable one. He stuck to it. He made more patent medicines and more money. His fame went abroad in the land, and grateful humanity, in printed testimonials, told the world how good he was to its lungs, its nerves, its stomach, its kidneys, and all other members, regions and disordered bailiwicks the Green remedies so effectively reached. Aesculapius died; so did Green, twenty years ago.
     The sovereign remedies, together with suffering humanity, were the children's inheritance. The oldest of the three children was a stepson, Colonel G. G. Green, who liked work. The next was Joe, who didn't like work. And the third was a daughter, who, being married to John Lupton and a co-heiress to millions, couldn't be expected to work. Colonel Green took charge of the business, extended it, made even better remedies than his father, and succeeded to his father's position as magnate of Woodbury. He was trustee of the estate, and carefully discharged his obligation towards his brother and his sister.

JOE WAS SUITED.

     The arrangement suited Joe to a T. He was shrewd as a Timber Creek eel, and he loved the water just as much. With a good brother to take care of his inheritance, all Joe had to do was enjoy himself. He did it brilliantly.
     In 1879, shortly before the elder Green went the way of all doctors, as well as of all patients, he builded for his own enjoyment, and to the great honor of Woodbury, a gorgeous house at the northwest corner of West German street and Broadway. It was a gorgeous house with plenty of pillars on the front porch, and with glass windows all over it. "Plenty of light and lots of plate glass," were the instructions to the architect.
     When the father died, he willed the $40,000 house to his son Joe, in fee simple. But Joe hadn't any use for it. He had a boathouse down on the banks of Woodbury creek that contained more fun in its back kitchen that the Broad street mansion did in its saloon parlor. Joe allowed the mansion to take care of itself; he was content to abide on the verdant banks of Woodbury creek.
     Four years ago Mrs. Lupton, his sister, suggested that, as Joe was not using the Broad street house, he might as well let her live in it.
     "All right," Joe answered, "go ahead. When I want it, I'll let you know."

BEGAN TO WANT IT.

     He began to want it-two years later. Mr. Lupton, his brother-in-law, was a chronic invalid; and Mrs. Lupton, her lares and penates well installed, was very loath to leave the house her father had put up. So Joe was persuaded to stick to his boathouse for awhile. About a year ago he married a Philadelphia girl, and took her home to the boathouse. But he wanted that mansion more than ever. His family didn't like the bride. His sister was more than ever unwilling to surrender the house. Joe became desperate.
     One day late last winter he went to West German street and Broadway and rang the bell.
     "I want my house, and I want it quick," he told his sister.
     "Joe, you go right away from here. If you can't come around and behave like a gentleman, don't come at all."
     "It's my house," said Joe, as he slowly descended the steps.
     He walked thoughtfully into the middle of Broad street, picked up a stray brick, and heaved it through the parlor window.
     "It's my house and my plate glass," he murmured when the tinkling ended. "I'll do what I darn please with it."
     He walked along Broad street until he found another brick. He returned and smashed another window.
     "Bully old house," said Joe Green in affectionate remorse as the glass showered on the porch outside and a Brussels carpet inside. "Bully old house." Pop built you. Never mind; I'll fix you up new when Mamie and I move in."
     He went back to the boat-house and waited to become desperate again. It happened in a couple days. He smashed the German street windows this time.
     "Plate glass is pretty dear," he reflected. "But, thanks to dear old father and to Brother George, the patent medicine business is paying yet."

A STATE OF SIEGE.

     Ever since, Joe Green has relieved his feelings by smashing the plate glass windows. The Lupton family lived in a state of siege. Woodbury regularly took two days off a week to witness the bombardment and admire Joe's accuracy of aim.
     "Joe Green's loose again."
     "What's he after now?"
     "He's going to plunk the third-story front this time; he's got a barrel load of bricks."
     The price of bricks in Woodbury rose at one time from $9 to $13 per thousand. At length the Luptons had the ground floor windows all boarded up. But they would not move. Joe's wife became more than ever insistent that a boat-house in a catfish ditch was no fit residence for a lady who was the bride of a millionaire.
     "My darling," said Joe early Monday morning, "you're right. I shall take possession of my house right away."
     Unarmed, carrying not even half a brick, Joe went to Broad and West German streets and stood close to the kitchen door. Maryanne, who does housework for Mrs. Lupton, went into the yard to hang out the wash. As Maryanne went out Joe went in.
     "Oh, but's Muster Joe!" exclaimed Maryanne, returning. "Go'way, fur the sake av me job an'yer own immorthal sowl, go'way."
     "Maryanne," said Joe Green, affably, "It's my house. I've smashed all the windows and haven't done anything but harm my own property. Now I'm going to stay here, to live here, do you understand, Maryanne?"
     Maryanne told her mistress. They tried in every way to get Joe out, but he could not be moved. He slept there overnight. His wife came for him the next morning. He consented then to depart, but gave the Luptons until June 1 to vacate the premises. They have decided to obey.
     "I'm going to have my client move out in a short time." said her agent, Philip Cattell. "Still I can tell you right now there's going to be the deuce to pay before the summer's over."

LM Green mansion (bottom) and Green opera house (top)
from a 1927 Dallin aerial photograph

As I stated in the beginning of the post, I'm not sure how accurate of a re-telling this really is. However, upon checking the 1900 census recorded on the 11th of June, it shows a one Jos. D. Green and a one Mamie Green living at 255 S. Broad Street (the original address of the LMG mansion). Curiously, Jos Green's profession is listed as Real Estate! I'd say!


Hurled bricks at his house: Trouble in a millionaire family. (1900, April 26). Bridgeton Evening News, p. 4.

Where is Lewis M. Green's house?

Sometimes I'm torn between keeping this blog non-subjective or letting my personal feelings fly. For this post, I will choose the latter. After my recent entry on the former mayor, Lewis M. Green, I received a few questions on what happened to his magnificent mansion once located on the NW corner of Barber Ave and Broad St. After some more research at the GCHS, I was shocked to discover the truth.

The Lewis M. Green mansion house, a four story residence of handmade pressed brick, featuring 10 bedrooms, walnut floors, French glass windows, gas lit crystal chandeliers, white marble steps, wrought iron trim, and formal gardens was torn down in November 1944 by the Gulf Oil Company to make room for a gas station. The Gulf Oil Company purchased the house from Maud & Lewis Lupton, niece and nephew of G.G. Green, Lewis's son, for $21,000 (about $257,425.23 by today's standard) just to tear the building down (Moore, 1988).

There are some in our midst that cannot see the value of preserving and/or adaptively reusing the wonderful resources our stock of old buildings offer. They say, "Out with the old, in with the new", never stopping to think that the "new" can be more effectively accommodated, on both an economical and environmental level, by utilizing the "old." In many cases historic preservation is a win-win situation. Firstly, these buildings are already here. The greenest building is the one already built. Secondly, more often than not, they will have been built with finer materials and offer a greater aesthetic charm than many new structures built today. As a result, they stand to be around a lot longer than newer buildings. Thirdly, these buildings tell a story and provide one with a sense of pride; a nod of recognition from whence we came. Tearing down old buildings, to me, is like admitting to the world that we cannot take care of the things we own. It shows a considerable lack of creativity when a HUGE corporation (like Gulf Oil was in the 1940's) cannot think of an alternative to obliterating a unique and stately structure; a structure that most likely could never be rebuilt in today's world and certainly could have made a valuable contribution in the city today if it had been properly utilized. The tear down approach is wasteful and it is lazy. Was there really no other location in town for a Gulf service center?

*See below for photo details. Click for larger image.

Yes, I know that sometimes an old building just has to come down. Extreme neglect, natural disasters, or an old building having no overall aesthetic character or historic significance, are a few reasons, but these do not seem to be the case in this instance. It was built by a long term mayor who spent the greater part of his life bettering the city. The whole thing just seems completely disrespectful. The mansion lasted 75 years, the gas station that replaced it, about 30, and the subsequent empty lot was vacant for a long period. The Rite Aid business that eventually replaced the gas station lasted about 20 years... are we getting the picture, yet!? We are constructing increasingly worthless buildings, housing increasingly worthless enterprises.

The City of Woodbury established the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) in 1977 to help prevent situations such as these and to better preserve the unique character of our community. The HPC page of the city's website goes on to state: In addition to preserving our rich cultural and architectural heritage for future generations, the maintenance and rehabilitation of buildings in historic districts have positive effects on the community including the stabilization of neighborhoods, retention of or increased property values, and the creation of civic pride. I couldn't agree more.


Moore, M. (1988, April) Woodbury remembers the Lewis M. Green mansion. The WORC News.
Woodbury’s historic preservation commission. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.woodbury.nj.us/the-city/woodburys-historic-preservation-commission/
Woodbury (N.J.). (1971). Century of progress: Woodbury, N.J., 1871-1971. Woodbury, N.J: The Committee.

* The photo depicts the west side of Broad St. circa 1916 from about W. Centre St. to Barber Ave (formerly German St.) From right to left: Hattie Kirby's home, Hutchinson's Motor Company (Sears in 1971), Dr. Wilson's residence, driveway, S. Green's home, residence of Charles Moffett and Nelson Sparks, Harry Fish's Automobile Shop, Sithen's Grocery (currently Pep Boys), Bert Parks' Grocery Store (later Green's and Sithens), Adon Cattell's home and Lewis M. Green's mansion. Original photo from Century of Progress.

Lewis M. Green

Lewis M. Green, one time travelling clock salesman, notable Freemason and five-term mayor of Woodbury, made his eventual fortune from a handful of flowers. A sufferer of dyspepsia, Green was prescribed various herbal remedies that worked so well (not least to mention some of the ingredients being opium and alcohol, legal in those days), he purchased their formulas and went on to market, "Green's August Flower" and "Boschee's German Syrup". Green eventually sold the business, with an annual royalty agreement and stipulation that the enterprise need remain within Woodbury, to his son George Gill, who went on to become the city's first millionaire.

The Green family are largely identified with the general improvement of Woodbury during the Victorian era, adding to its growth and beauty by the erection of magnificent dwellings and places of business and entertainment. Lewis M. Green's own home is not exempt from this proud status. Once located at 255 South Broad St.,  on the NW corner of W. German St. (now Barber Ave.) and Broad St., the former site of this fine Italianate structure is now home to a drug store chain and large parking lot. It was torn down in 1944 for a gas station. Let that be a lesson to us. NOT ALL PROGRESS IS GOOD. Sigh... *

This fine home was built soon after the Civil War.
It stood for almost 75 years and was known for its
French plate glass and handsome ironwork.

circa 1886

circa 1883

Lewis M. Green was personally responsible for constructing the Second Empire style mansard roofed Green Castle Hotel which has been recently threatened to be razed. Another notable contribution was the establishing of the lovely Green Cemetery located on Barber Avenue. Carpenter and Carter (1937) write:

In the early spring Lewis M. Green had purchased 2000 trees and shrubs for transplanting in his cemetery enterprise out Glassboro avenue. They included European larch, curl leaf birch, many varieties of evergreens, the variegated althea which flowers early in the fall, and many other ornamental trees and shrubs. The cemetery was a favorite interest of Mr. Green, and in his last will he made ample provision for its permanency.

On a Tuesday evening, 2 Jan 1894, Lewis M. Green at age 77 died at his home. He was buried Saturday the 6th in Green's Cemetery. Happy to say his cemetery at least still exists today in 2012.

image: Walter Hellerman

image: Walter Hellerman

Carpenter, J. D., & Carter, B. F. (1937). History of Woodbury, New Jersey: From 1681 to 1936. Woodbury, NJ: Gloucester County Historical Society.

Cushing, T., & Shepard, C. E. (1883). History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey : With biographical sketches of their prominent citizens.Woodbury, NJ: Gloucester County Historical Society.

Woodbury (N.J.). (1971). Century of progress: Woodbury, N.J., 1871-1971. Woodbury, N.J: The Committee.
 

* this is what the site of the house looks like today: