Swan Point - truly a garden cemetery

Harriet Ware in Swan Point

A teacher of children in the impoverished neighborhood of India Point in Providence in the early 19th century, Harriet Ware must have been someone on the special side of life. When she died of cancer in 1849 the Sabbath Schools erected a monument over her grave in Swan Point. Sitting out alone on a slight rise in the ground draws the casual passerby by close in to learn why this space seems slightly special indeed.

Swan Point in Autumn

As some of you know I spend a fair amount of time in cemeteries: Mount Auburn in Cambridge is one of my favorites, probably because it's an incredibly gorgeous place to walk and enjoy any season. But Swan Point in Providence is another favorite haunt and it's just two minutes from Susie's shop at Hope Artiste Village!

So, after I dropped the French Tarte off -- she was teaching her final brioche class of the season -- I popped over to Swan Point, parked the car, grabbed my camera and spent the next hour and a half strolling soaking up autumn.

Old Town Cemetery in Sandwich, Massachusetts

Tucked into a hillside overlooking Shawme Pond, at the edge of Old Sandwich is, unsurprisingly, the "Old Town Cemetery." Just a stone's throw (if you have a good arm) from Heritage Museums and Gardens, stopping and strolling among the lives of many of the original settlers of this corner of Cape Cod is not only refreshing but a rewarding experience as well.

Toppazzini in Swan Point - words to live by

"To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die."

Anthony Evan Hecht in Bard College Cemetery

entrance to the cemetery from faculty circle

As in a dream. Leaving a stunned and gap-mouthed Ferdinand,

Father and faery pageant, she, even she,

Miraculous Miranda, steps from the stage,

Move sup the aisle to my seat, where she stops,

Smiles gently, seriously, and takes my hand

And leads me out of the theatre into a night

As luminous as noon, more deeply real,

Simply because of her hand, than any dream

Shakespeare or I or anon ever dreamed

Anthony Evan Hecht

poet

January 16, 1923-October 20, 2004

Helen D'Alessandro Hecht

John H. Chace Jr. family

Emma Frances 

daughter of John H. and Ann H. Chace 

died May 2, 1871 

in the 12th year 

of her age 

 Her happy soul has winged its way 

To one pure, bright, eternal day 

John H. Chace Jr. 

died 

June 20, 1865 

aged 28 years

Ann H. 

wife of John H. Chace 

and daughter of the late 

Capt. William Hall 

died Sept. 2, 1860 

in the 17 year of her age 

 Rest fond wife and Mother 

For thou were good and kind 

Though gone from earth forever 

Thy memory is in our mind