Freund in Mt. Auburn

Memorial at Willow Pond in Mt. Auburn

"Little Frank" in Mt. Auburn

Mt. Auburn in Cambridge

This past Friday was Good Friday, and for once the weather lived up to the name. I took the opportunity of a day off and drove up from Providence to Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA.

Founded in 1831 and modeled on both English landscape garden movement in general and Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris in particular, Mt. Auburn was the first "pastoral," or garden of stone in the United States.

More than that, as the first of its kind Mr. Auburn reflected a shift in American attitudes, certainly in ideas. No longer was death seen as something to be simply passed over, but now a way to sustain a direct, irrevocable connection to and with nature.

Simple churchyard burial or countryside burial ground so prominent throughout New England, was about to way to manicured gardens, sweeping paths populated with every known species of tree, shrub and flower. This was to be a place where birds would come rest and the living could come and not commune with the dead but connect with their history, amidst a space of peace and quiet.

I stopped at the information office located in Story Chapel, right next to the office at the main entrance. They have a very nicely laid out exhibition in a side-room of the chapel, explaining the history of the cemetery in graphic detail. I had a lovely chat with Helen, one of the volunteers manning the desk. She was studying for an upcoming tour guide examination, and her hope is to become one of the volunteer guides that occasionally lead groups on walking tours around the cemetery.

I had been to Mt. Auburn before, but only once had I done any serious walking, in February of 2008 -- but I had no real objective in mind. I usually like to take on a cemetery without any specific goals, but this time I thought to ask for suggestions. Was there anything in particular she might like to recommend? I told her of my interest in Pere Lachaise and after we talked for a bit about Paris cemeteries she suggested a route and itinerary for me.

I thanked Helen and off I went out into the gorgeous sunshine -- and spent the next three and a half hours strolling about this incredibly peaceful, smack in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the Northeast. Granted,  not much was blooming just yet, of course, a few dogwoods and magnolias, but I can't wait to go back later in the spring-- with Susie this time.

On my way back to the car, I stopped back at the information center but Helen was gone, replaced by Brie. She turned out to be another incredibly helpful and dedicated volunteer. After we bantered a bit about French Norman cheeses she informed me that the cemetery would soon have its first self-serve kiosk, similar to the one used at Swan Point here in Providence (and to the one at Green-Wood in Brooklyn in fact). These machines, similar to a bank ATM, but using touch-screen technology, allow you to not only look someone up but also to print out a map with the location! How cool is that, eh?!

I'll talk more about some of the specific burials, stones, and epitaphs over the coming weeks. I also hope to post additional information about upcoming spring programs.

After all this, how could I not join the Friends of Mt. Auburn Cemetery? Maybe you should, too.

Charles Haskell

New England cemeteries are widely known for their unique slate headstones, used so long ago not only to mark one's final resting place but also to tell the casual traveler a bit about the deceased. Providence's Old North Burial Ground is populated with literally hundreds of these "stone stories," reminiscent of ancient markers bearing signs, symbols or words long lost to history.

One such story waiting patiently for someone inclined to such tales is that of Charles Haskell. What we can read says very little but tells us so much about a man dead for more than 170 years.

"To the memory of Charles Haskell, man of colour. A soldier of the Revolution. He died the 17th of December, 1833, aged 73 years."

"He sustained through the character of a faithful, industrious and honest man."

What more do we really need to know?

Epitaph: Charles Frederick and Julia Ann Herreshoff of Providence

"Charles Frederick"
Son of Charles F. and Sarah Herreshoff
Born in Providence July 26, 1809.
He died in Bristol Sept. 8, 1888

Married May 15, 1833

"Julia Ann"
Daughter of Joseph Warren and
Ann Lane Lewis
Born in Boston March 20, 1811
She died in Bristol Feb 19, 1901.

"In principle inflexible, in manner dignified and gentle
Of tastes simple, but refined.
He was a lover of Nature, of music and of all beauty.
Welcoming new truth while loyally cherishing the old.
His favorite study was the advancement of Naval Science.
Home was his center of enjoyment.
And the promotion of others’ happiness his constant care.
Thus he won the respect of all about him
And the assurance of that reward
Which awaits a life well spent."

"Gifted by nature with keen sensibility
And habitually a love of Justice and Humanity
She approved the labors that marked the age for progress
In freedom, in temperance and in Religious toleration
But found her own field of service at home.
Proficient in music, its influence pervaded her life
And her constant effort was for harmony and peace
Eyes was she to the blind, a loving guide and comforter
Her cherished faith making Religion to consist
In love to God and love to Man"

Epitaph: Stephen Hopkins of Providence

"Sacred to the memory of
the illustrious
Stephen Hopkins,
of revolutionary fame.
Attested by his signature
to the declaration
of our national independence.
Great in council,
from the sagacity of mind;
magnanimous in sentiment,
firm in purpose,
and good, as great,
from the benevolence of heart;
he stood in the first rank of
statesmen and patriots.
Self educated,
yet among the most learned of men;
his vast treasury of useful knowledge,
his great retentive
and reflective powers,
combined with his social nature,
made him the most interesting

of companions in private life."