title: Society of Old Brooklynites
text: # Society of Old Brooklynites
  
  Society of Old Brooklynites is one of the borough's oldest civic organizations. It was formed in 1880. It was founded to celebrate and remember when Brooklyn was its own city. It had an additional purpose of connecting the business community of Brooklyn.
  
  ## History
  
  The society was founded by John W. Hunter, the former Mayor of Brooklyn. It holds meetings at the Brooklyn Surrogate's Courtroom. Membership requires individuals to have lived in Brooklyn for at least 25 years. The group rose to prominence combatting the merging of New York City with Brooklyn. It termed this "The Great Mistake of 1898."
  
  ## Notable events
  
  the Society of Old Brooklynites has hosted an annual memorial for Prison Ship Martyrs' Monument every year since President Taft dedicated the monument in 1908. The society also has an annual event honoring the battle of brooklyn. A Bust of Edward Snowden was placed in the park and sparked outage by the society.
  
  ## Notable members
  
  Wilhelmena Rhodes Kelly John W. Hunter Daniel D. Whitney Marjorie Parker Smith John Oakey (politician) Myrtle Whitmore
  
  Michael E. Finnigan Charles J. Dodd Samuel Booth
  
  