Cornell Edwards Way

[Saturday morning]

On Saturday morning, the office of City Councilmember Rosie Mendez led a co-naming ceremony on East 13th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

It is now also known as Cornell Edwards Way.



This is in honor of Edwards, who opened The Flower Stall at 143 E. 13th St. in 1967. He passed in April 2011.

It Was Her New York wrote about Edwards and his role on the block for so many years.

"Cornell wasn't just a neighbor to the people on his block. Cornell was a neighbor to his neighborhood."

It Was Her New York shared three stories about Edwards in October 2011. You may find those here ... here ... and here.

Let's make this Cornell Edwards Way

Cornell Edwards, who opened The Flower Stall at 143 E. 13th St. in 1967 and ran it for 43 years at this location, passed away last spring. His partner Bill is leading an effort to have East 13th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue designated as Cornell Edwards Way.

You can sign the petition by stopping by the Flower Stall or Stock next door...

Previously.

Distributing Cornell's plants continues today

As you can see from the sign, more of the plants that belonged to Cornell Edwards, who opened The Flower Stall at 143 E. 13th St. in 1967, will continue to be distributed today...

Distributing Cornell's plants today

Earlier this month, we passed along the sad news that Cornell Edwards, who opened The Flower Stall at 143 E. 13th St. in 1967, died. We were curious about the fate of his store.

Seems as if we have our our answer today. We'll try to stop by to learn more about the future of the space.

Previously.

Flowers for Cornell

Cornell Edwards, who opened The Flower Stall at 143 E. 13th St. in 1967, recently passed away... and people have been coming by and leaving flowers and drawings in his honor...

Cornell Edwards, 1932-2011

Several readers have told us the sad news that Cornell Edwards, who opened The Flower Stall at 143 E. 13th St. in 1967, has passed away. We don't have many details at this time.

[Top photos via EV Grieve reader Ann]

According to a short profile on Edwards in City Snapshots from 2008:

After graduating with a degree in English from NYU in 1954, Edwards had trouble finding employment in the city. Not deterred from his dream of coming to New York and never looking back, Edwards eventually put an old knowledge to good use. Growing up in Norfolk, Virginia with a mother who sold annuals, Edwards was well versed in the world of plant life.

Services will beheld Sunday afternoon at Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, 140-146 W. 137th St. The viewing is at 2, and the service starts at 3.

[Photo by John Galayda via One Horse Town. Reposted with permission]