Graveyard

Graveyard
The Matthews Monument at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, August 30, 2014

If the Dinosaurs Had Tombstones...

Tunkhannock Cemetery, Tunkhannock, PA


...they probably would have adorned them with carved roses, like we do today.  Okay, perhaps I exaggerate, as dinosaurs died out more than 65 million years ago.  But there is fossil evidence indicating that roses are at least 35 million years old.  The Chinese began garden cultivation of roses about 5,000 years ago, and roses were prized by the Greeks, the Romans, the Egyptians, and ancient cultures of the Middle East.  It is speculated that cultivated roses were introduced in Europe from China or from Alexander the Great.   Either way, many of today's roses can trace their ancestry back to those transplants that came to Europe sometime between the 15th and 17th centuries. 

The oldest known rose is Rosa gallica, also known as the French rose, which once bloomed wild throughout central and southern Europe and western Asia, and still survives there. Although the exact origin of Rosa gallica is unknown, traces of it appear as early as the twelfth century B.C., when the Persians considered it a symbol of love.  (http://www.herbs2000.com/flowers/r_history.htm

So the rose has stood for "love" for more than 3000 years.  I have found it is the single most popular flower adorning 19th- and early-20th century tombstones, and the wide variety of stone carvers' renderings of the rose is fascinating.  I've documented everything from very two-dimensional and stylized versions to highly detailed and almost life-like works of art.   Here is a sampling of some of my favorites.   Now, I feel I should tell you...there are almost 200 pictures in this blog.  <you're kidding me??!!>  No, really.  I told you roses were very, very, VERY popular in Victorian funerary monuments.  I just double-checked my entire file of roses on tombstones, and I have more than 800 pictures total.  So......if you need to use the facilities....now would be a good time, before you settle in with these lovely stone roses.  <smirk, smirk>  Enjoy! 

Heidelberg Union Cemetery, Slatington, PA

Abington Presbyterian Cemetery, Abington, PA

Augustus Lutheran Cemetery, Trappe, PA

Boehm's UCC Cemetery, Blue Bell, PA

Trinity Reformed and UCC Cemetery, Collegeville, PA

Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Christ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Harleysville, PA

Clifford Cemetery, Clifford, PA

Cold Spring Presbyterian Cemetery, Cold Spring, NJ

Dalton Shoemaker Cemetery, Dalton, PA

Doylestown Cemetery, Doylestown, PA

Durham Cemetery, Durham, PA


East Swamp Mennonite Cemetery, Quakertown, PA

Edgewood Cemetery, Pottstown, PA

Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, WV

 
Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Evergreen Cemetery, Jim Thorpe, PA

Evergreen Cemetery, Susquehanna Depot, PA

Fairview Cemetery, Middletown, NJ

Forest Grove Presbyterian Cemetery, Forest Grove, PA

Forest Grove Presbyterian Cemetery, Forest Grove, PA

Forks Cemetery, Stockertown, PA

Forks Cemetery, Stockertown, PA

Forks Cemetery, Stockertown, PA

Friedens UCC Cemetery, Slatington, PA

Friedens UCC Cemetery, Slatington, PA

Reminds me of Seymour in "Little Shop of Horrors"!!, Gilbert Cemetery, Gilbert, PA

Glen Dyberry Cemetery, Honesdale, PA

Glen Dyberry Cemetery, Honesdale, PA

Gnaden Huetten Cemetery, Lehighton, PA

Greenwood Cemetery, Howertown, PA

Hazleton Cemetery, Hazleton, PA

Heidelberg Union Cemetery, Slatington, PA

Whomever was carving in this area in the late 19-century was gooooooood......Heidelberg Union Cemetery, Slatington, PA

Heidelberg Union Cemetery, Slatington, PA

Heidelberg Union Cemetery, Slatington, PA

Hollisterville Cemetery, Hollisterville, PA

Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery, Tamaqua, PA

Jordan UCC Cemetery, Walbert, PA

Jordan UCC Cemetery, Walbert, PA

Jordan UCC Cemetery, Walbert, PA

Jordan UCC Cemetery, Walbert, PA

Jordan UCC Cemetery, Walbert, PA

This is truly a softer, kinder way to think of dying:  "passed to the unseen...there is no death."  Or it's pure denial.  Lansdale Cemetery, Lansdale, PA

St. John's UCC Cemetery, Howertown, PA

Laurel Grove Cemetery, Port Jervis, NY

Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, WV

Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, DC

Mauch Chunk Cemetery, Jim Thorpe, PA

Milwaukee Cemetery, Milwaukee, PA

Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, PA

St. John's Cemetery, Bangor, PA

Mount Moriah Cemetery, Kimble, PA

Mount Zion Cemetery, Pottsgrove, PA

Mountainview Cemetery, Upper Exeter, PA

Mountainview Cemetery, Upper Exeter, PA

Mount Zion Cemetery, Snydersville, PA

Mount Zion Cemetery, Snydersville, PA

Mt. Bethel United Methodist Cemetery, Myersville, MD

Mt. Bethel United Methodist Cemetery, Myersville, MD

Mount Joy Lutheran Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Neffs Union Cemetery, Neffs, PA

Neffs Union Cemetery, Neffs, PA

Neffs Union Cemetery, Neffs, PA

Neffs Union Cemetery, Neffs, PA

Neffs Union Cemetery, Neffs, PA

Neshaminy Presbyterian Cemetery, Warrington, PA

Neshaminy Presbyterian Cemetery, Warrington, PA

New Falkner Swamp UCC Cemetery, Gilbertsville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

New Goshenhoppen Union Cemetery, East Greenville, PA

Newfoundland Moravian Cemetery, Newfoundland, PA

Newton Cemetery, Newton Ransom, PA

Nockamixon Union Cemetery, Ferndale, PA

Norris City Cemetery, Norristown, PA

Norris City Cemetery, Norristown, PA

Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Old Brick Reformed Church Cemetery, Freehold, NJ

Old Falkner Swamp UCC Cemetery, Gilbertsville, PA

Old Falkner Swamp UCC Cemetery, Gilbertsville, PA

Overfield Cemetery, Meshoppen, PA

Paupack Cemetery, Paupack, PA

Pennepack Baptist Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Pleasantville UCC Cemetery, Pleasantville, PA


Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Love this one, Rosedale Cemetery, Montclair, NJ

Salford Mennonite Cemetery, Harleysville, PA

This carver had some stem issues...Sassaman's Reformed Cemetery, Sassamansville, PA

Scott Valley Cemetery, Montdale, PA

St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Bristol, PA

St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Easton, PA

St. Paul's Applebach Cemetery, Applebachville, PA

St. Peter's Tohickon UCC Cemetery, Keelersville, PA

St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Evansburg, PA

St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Evansburg, PA

St. John's Episcopal Cemetery, King George, VA

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, Ridge Valley, PA

St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Honesdale, PA

St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Honesdale, PA

St. Luke's Cemetery, Trappe, PA

St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Bedminster, PA

St. Patrick's Cemetery, Norristown, PA

St. Patrick's Cemetery, Norristown, PA

St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Sassamansville, PA

Same Stem Dude, I bet, St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, Sassamansville, PA

St. Paul's UCC of Indianland Cemetery, Cherryville, PA

Ahhhhhhh.......St. Paul's UCC of Indianland Cemetery, Cherryville, PA

St. Paul's UCC of Indianland Cemetery, Cherryville, PA

St. Peter's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Lewes, DE

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lafayette Hill, PA

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lafayette Hill, PA

St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery, North Wales, PA

St. Peter's Union Cemetery, Hilltown, PA

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, Lafayette Hill, PA

Tannersville Union Cemetery, Tannersville, PA

Tannersville Union Cemetery, Tannersville, PA

Tannersville Union Cemetery, Tannersville, PA

Tannersville Union Cemetery, Tannersville, PA

Tinicum UCC Cemetery, Tinicum, PA

Tinicum UCC Cemetery, Tinicum, PA

Trinity Christian Cemetery, Skippack, PA

Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Taneytown, MD

Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Taneytown, MD

Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Taneytown, MD

Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Taneytown, MD

Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Taneytown, MD

 
Tunkhannock Cemetery, Tunkhannock, PA

Wentz's UCC Cemetery, Worcester, PA

West Lenox Baptist Cemetery, West Lenox, PA

West Long Branch United Methodist Cemetery, West Long Branch, NJ

Willow View Cemetery, Clifford, PA

Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Zion's Stone Church Cemetery, New Ringgold, PA

Augustus Lutheran Cemetery, Trappe, PA

Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Confederate Cemetery, Fredericksburg, VA

Confederate Cemetery, Fredericksburg, VA

Daleville Cemetery, Daleville, PA

Darling Cemetery, Honesdale, PA

Delaware Water Gap Cemetery, Delaware Water Gap, PA

Easton Trinity Episcopal Cemetery, Easton, PA

Elmwood Cemetery, Shepherdstown, WV

Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA

Fairview Cemetery, Middletown, NJ


Fairview Cemetery, Middletown, NJ

Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch, NJ

Greenwood Cemetery, Howertown, PA

Heidelberg Union Cemetery, Slatington, PA

Hollenback Cemetery, Wilkes Barre, PA

Laurel Grove Cemetery, Port Jervis, NY

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Masonic Cemetery, Fredericksburg, VA

Mauch Chunk Cemetery, Jim Thorpe, PA

Mount Zion Cemetery, Pottsgrove, PA

Mount Zion Cemetery, Snydersville, PA

Mt. Bethel United Methodist Cemetery, Myersville, MD

St. John's UCC Cemetery, Howertown, PA

Mount Peace Odd Fellows Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA

Old Brick Reformed Church Cemetery, Freehold, NJ

Old Falkner Swamp UCC Cemetery, Gilbertsville, PA

Paupack Cemetery, Paupack, PA

Paupack Cemetery, Paupack, PA

Sassaman's Reformed Cemetery, Sassamansville, PA

Springtown Cemetery, Springtown, PA

St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Bristol, PA

St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Bristol, PA

St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Bristol, PA

St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Easton, PA

St. Peter's Tohickon UCC Cemetery, Keelersville, PA

St. John's Cemetery, Bangor, PA

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Ridge Valley, PA

St. Luke's UCC Cemetery, Ottsville, PA

St. Paul's Lutheran Blue Church Cemetery, Coopersburg, PA

St. Paul's UCC of Indianland Cemetery, Cherryville, PA

St. Paul's UCC of Indianland Cemetery, Cherryville, PA

St. Paul's UCC Cemetery, Swiftwater, PA

St. Thomas Whitemarsh Cemetery, Fort Washington, PA

Trinity Great Swamp UCC Cemetery, Spinnerstown, PA

Trinity Great Swamp UCC Cemetery, Spinnerstown, PA

Trinity UCC Cemetery, Boonesboro, MD

Trinity UCC Cemetery, Boonesboro, MD

Mountainview Cemetery, Upper Exeter, PA

Zion's Stone Church Cemetery, New Ringgold, PA

Zion's Stone Church Cemetery, New Ringgold, PA