Carleton Greene

Though born in New York Carleton Greene was a descendant of the old Rhode Island family of Greenes. He was a third generation Centurion. His father, George Sears Greene, Jr., is still recalled by members who loved to linger with him about the billiard table. His grandfather, whose portrait hangs in the East Room of the clubhouse, was Major General George Sears Greene, of Civil War fame. By his famous stand at Culp’s Hill he was said to have turned the tide of battle at Gettysburg. Carleton Greene was a nephew of the late Major General Francis Vinton Greene and a cousin of George de Boketon Greene, both Centurions. Like his father and grandfather, he was an engineer by profession. A graduate of Harvard of the Class of 1889, he earned his engineering degree at Cornell. After engineering work with the New York Central and the Pennsylvania railroads, Carleton Greene was identified with his father as an engineer in charge of the docks of the city of New York. As a consequence he produced a standard reference book on “Wharves.” Later he became associated with the Barber Asphalt Company, and lived for a number of years in Trinidad, South America. Subsequently, on returning to New York, he was for a period of time a Captain and the Adjutant of the 71st Regiment, National Guard of New York. During the World War he was actively engaged as an engineer in the Hog Island Shipyard. Thirty years or more ago Carleton Greene moved to South Orange and became greatly interested in the Boy Scout movement. For many years he was one of the outstanding figures of that organization in northern New Jersey. Centurions hold affectionate memories of his quiet dignity and shy, delightful personality.

Geoffrey Parsons
1942 Century Memorials