Author and columnist Christopher Morley moved to Roslyn Estates in 1920. Since there were no house numbers at that time, Morley named his home Green Escape.
Morley's extensive book collection was important for his work and reading pleasure and were. held in multiple bookshelves in Green Escape and his Knothole office until his death in 1957.
Green Escape stood proudly until it was demolished in 2011. Morley's Knothole was moved to Christopher Morley Park in North Hills. One Morley bookcase survived and was about to be destroyed. Roslyn Landmark Society trustee Dr. Bob Sargent, then president of the Board, stepped up in 2011 and offered the Roslyn Landmark Society's Main Street headquarters as a temporary home. Another trustee John Santos transferred the bookcase from Roslyn Estates to 36 Main Street, where it remains today.
This bookcase has the Morley Latin inscription "Hic sudavit et non frustra" which translates to "Here he sweated and not in vain."
Green Escape before it was demolished in 2011.
2 Comments
Terry, thanks for the information. The post has been corrected. Howard
Many thanks to the Society for preserving this artifact from Green Escape. One slight correction to your write-up, no other bookcases from the Morley home were moved to The Knothole, making the one at RLS the sole survivor.