Laurel Hill Cemetery
Laurel Hill Cemetery | |
Location | 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°00′14″N 75°11′15″W / 40.00389°N 75.18750°W |
Built | 1836–1839[2] |
Architect | John Notman[2] |
Architectural style | Exotic Revival, Gothic, Classical Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 77001185[1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | October 28, 1977 |
Designated PHMC | May 20, 2000[3] |
Laurel Hill Cemetery, also called Laurel Hill East to distinguish it from the affiliated West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, is a historic rural cemetery in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Founded in 1836, it was the second major rural cemetery in the United States after Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts.
The cemetery is 74-acre (300,000 m2) in size and overlooks the Schuylkill River. The cemetery was designed by John Notman and grew to its current size through the purchase of four land parcels between 1836 and 1861. It contains over 11,000 family lots and more than 33,000 graves, including many adorned with grand marble and granite funerary monuments, elaborately sculpted hillside tombs and mausoleums.[4] It is an accredited arboretum with over 6,000 trees and shrubs representing 700 species.
In 1977, Laurel Hill Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places[5] and in 1998, became the first cemetery in the United States to be designated a National Historic Landmark.[6][7]
History
19th century
The cemetery was founded in 1836 by John Jay Smith,[9] a librarian and editor with interests in horticulture and real estate, who was distressed at the way his deceased daughter was interred at the Arch Street Meeting House burial ground in Philadelphia. Smith wrote, "Philadelphia should have a rural cemetery on dry ground, where feelings should not be harrowed by viewing the bodies of beloved relatives plunged into mud and water."[10]
Smith joined forces with other prominent Philadelphia citizens including Benjamin Wood Richards, William Strickland and Nathan Dunn to form the Laurel Hill Cemetery Company and create a rural cemetery three miles north of the Philadelphia border on the east bank of the Schuylkill River.[11] The group considered several locations but decided on the 32 acre[4] former estate of businessman Joseph Sims[2] known as "Laurel" or "Laurel Hill".[12] The location was viewed as a haven from urban expansion and a respite from the increasingly industrialized city center. The city later grew past Laurel Hill, but the cemetery retained its rural character.
Designs for the cemetery were submitted by William Strickland and Thomas Ustick Walter[13] but the commission selected Scottish-American architect John Notman.[2] Notman's designs incorporated the topography of the location and included a string of terraces that descended to the river.[13] Notman built upon designs incorporated by Henry Edward Kendall at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.[14] The cemetery was developed and completed between 1836 and 1839.[2] Notman designed the gatehouse which consists of a massive Roman arch surrounded by an imposing classical colonnade and topped with a large ornamental urn. A large Gothic Revival style chapel was built on the grounds but removed in the 1880s to make room for additional graves.[13]
In 1836, the cemetery purchased a group of three sandstone statues from Scottish sculptor
To increase its cachet, the cemetery's organizers had the remains of several famous Revolutionary War figures moved there, including Continental Congress secretary Charles Thomson; Declaration of Independence signer Thomas McKean; Philadelphia war veteran and shipbuilder Jehu Eyre; hero of the Battle of Princeton, Hugh Mercer; and first director of the U.S. Mint, David Rittenhouse.[citation needed]
Many of the elaborate funerary monuments were designed by notable artists and architects including
From its inception, Laurel Hill was intended as a civic institution designed for public use. In an era before public parks, museums and arboretums, it was a multi-purpose cultural attraction[16] where the general public could experience the art and refinement previously known only to the wealthy.[17] By the 1840s, Laurel Hill was an immensely popular destination and required tickets for admission. Writer Andrew Jackson Downing reported "nearly 30,000 persons…entered the gates between April and December, 1848."[This quote needs a citation]
In 1844, due to increasing popularity, Laurel Hill purchased the 27-acre former estate of jurist William Rawle, half a mile south and named it South Laurel Hill.[4] In 1849, a set of iron gates on sandstone piers was built in the southeastern corner of the cemetery and served as a secondary entrance.[4]
In 1855, the
In 1860, Laurel Hill Cemetery had an estimated 140,000 people visit annually.[18]
In 1861, the 21-acre estate of George Pepper between the two cemeteries was purchased and named Central Laurel Hill.
The cemetery association restricted who could buy lots and the majority of burials were for white Protestants. The cemetery discouraged unmarried people from buying lots in order to keep the cemetery as a family destination.[20]
During and after the
By the mid-19th century, the creation of Fairmount Park and the encroaching city began to limit the expansion of Laurel Hill Cemetery. In 1869, John Jay Smith, the founder of Laurel Hill Cemetery, purchased 200 acres from three farms in nearby Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania for the creation of West Laurel Hill Cemetery.[21] The first burial occurred in 1870.[22]
20th century
In 1913, a
By the 1970s, Laurel Hill Cemetery had fallen out of favor as a burial site. Many bodies were re-interred at the more suburban West Laurel Hill Cemetery and the remaining graves suffered neglect, vandalism and crime.[23]
In 1973, Laurel Hill updated its policy and removed the prohibition on the burial of African-Americans in the cemetery.[24]
In 1978, the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, a
21st century
In 2013, an 1883 bronze statue of a
Laurel Hill Cemetery is also an accredited arboretum with over 6,000 trees and shrubs representing 700 species. The arboretum is a member of the American Public Gardens Association.[27]
Laurel Hill Cemetery is a popular tourist destination that attracts thousands of visitors every year for historical tours, concerts, and physical recreation.[28]
Notable burials
In popular culture
- Tombstones for the fictional characters Rocky movies sit near the main gatehouse.[29] The Adrian Balboa tombstone was used as a prop in the 2006 movie Rocky Balboa and both were used in the 2015 movie Creed.[30] In the films, Rocky visits the gravesites in the cemetery's South Laurel Hill section.[31]
- In 2009, Laurel Hill was a movie location for the films Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen[32] and Law Abiding Citizen.[33]
- The 2010 young adult book Tombstone Tea[34] by Joanne Dahme takes place in Laurel Hill Cemetery and some of the well-known people buried there, such as Adam Forepaugh and Elisha Kent Kane, appear as characters.
Gallery
-
The Henry Disston family mausoleum is the largest monument in Laurel Hill[35]
-
The gravesite of Harry Kalas, Philadelphia Phillies radio broadcaster, includes a microphone shaped tombstone and two pairs of seats from Veterans Stadium[37]
-
The Mother and Twins Monument was carved by Polish sculptor Henry Dmochowski-Saunders. It depicts his deceased wife Helena Schaff and their two deceased children[38]
-
Polar explorer Elisha Kent Kane was interred in the family's hillside tomb
-
Sculpture on William Warner memorial by Alexander Milne Calder depicting a woman releasing a soul from a sarcophagus[19]
-
Memorial for Matthias W. Baldwin, Founder of Baldwin Locomotive Works
-
Memorial for Robert Patterson, Union general during the Civil War
-
The tomb of historian Henry Charles Lea is adorned with a bronze sculpture of Clio, the muse of history,[39] by Alexander Stirling Calder
-
Memorial for Louis Antoine Godey, editor and publisher of Godey's Lady's Book
See also
- List of United States cemeteries
References
Citations
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ The Library Company of Philadelphia. World Digital Library. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ^ "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h National Historic Landmark Nomination, Aaron V. Wunsch, National Park Service, 1998.
- ^ "NPGallery Digital Asset Management System". www.npgallery.nps.gov. National Park Service. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ Listing Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine at the National Park Service
- ^ "Laurel Hill Cemetery". www.associationforpublicart.org. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ a b Report of the Philadelphia Relief Committee. Philadelphia: Inquirer Printing Office. 1856. pp. 1–5. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ Tatman, Sandra L. "Smith, John Jay (1798–1881)". Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Keels 2003, p. 21.
- ^ Keels 2003, p. 22.
- ^ Yaster 2017, p. 15.
- ^ a b c Keels 2003, p. 23.
- ISBN 0-16-048060-4. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Smith 1852, pp. 39–44.
- ^ Keels 2003, p. 27.
- ^ Douglas, Ann, The Feminization of American Culture, 1977, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, pp. 208–213. [1]
- ISBN 978-0-618-62427-0.
- ^ a b Keels 2003, p. 30.
- ^ Keels 2003, p. 26.
- ^ "History". www.laurelhillphl.com. Laurel Hill. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ "West Laurel Cemetery". www.lmconservancy.org. Lower Merion Conservancy. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ Keels 2003, p. 33.
- ^ Herr-Cardillo, Starr. "The burial ground of Marian Anderson crowdfunds to preserve Black history". www.whyy.org. WHYY. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ "The Silent Sentry will now stand watch in Laurel Hill Cemetery". www.civilwarcavalry.com. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ ""Silent Sentry" historic Civil War memorial statue moved to Laurel Hill Cemetery". www.montgomerynews.com. The Review. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ "About the Arboretum". www.laurelhillphl.com. Laurel Hill. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ Yaster 2017, p. 8.
- ^ Baskin, Ben. "Rocky Gets Right: How Creed (and Michael B. Jordan) Give the Boxing Franchise New Life". www.si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Creed (2015) Filming Locations". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ Akintoye, Dotun. "Why does Rocky's wife get a tombstone at Laurel Hill?". www.mycitypaper.com. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". www.movie-locations.com. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Elijah, Andy. "Philly Flix: Law Abiding Citizen". www.cinedelphia.com. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- Amazon.com. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ a b Keels 2003, p. 31.
- ^ Mullen Tomb December 26, 1881 article from the New York Times.
- ^ Akintoye, Dotun. "Why does Rocky's wife get a tombstone at Laurel Hill?". www.mycitypaper.com. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ Keels 2003, p. 32.
- ^ "Cleo – Laurel Hill Cemetery". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
Sources
- Keels, Thomas H. (2003). Philadelphia Graveyards & Cemeteries. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-1229-X.
- Smith, R.A. (1852). Smith's Illustrated Guide to and through Laurel Hill Cemetery. Willis P. Hazard.
- Warner, Ezra (1964). Generals in Blue: The Lives of the Union Commanders. Louisiana State University Press. LCCN 64-21593.
- Yaster, Carol (2017). Laurel Hill Cemetery. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4671-2655-7.
External links
- Official website
- Historic American Buildings Survey(HABS) documentation, filed under 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA:
- HABS No. PA-1811, "Laurel Hill Cemetery", 90 photos, 17 color transparencies, 114 data pages, 10 photo caption pages
- HABS No. PA-1811-A, "Laurel Hill Cemetery, Gate House", 6 photos, 1 color transparency, 2 photo caption pages
- Laurel Hill Cemetery at Find a Grave
- Laurel Hill Cemetery sculptures, Association for Public Art website
- From the collection of The Library Company of Philadelphia: