Nope! We're not in Colorado. Ever spend quite a lot of time around someplace, and then out of the blue see something you've never, ever seen before? I think we all have, a time or two. We're up on the Western Prom this morning in Western Cemetery, the city's second oldest cemetery with interments dating back to the late 1700's. I stopped by and caught sight of this large boulder, that I had never seen before. Now, why was this? Given the number of times I have wandered around the grounds, I sat in my truck and wondered. Had it been added? Dug up? Why hadn't I seen it before? After a few more moments the mystery was solved. They have removed the black fencing on this side of the burial grounds. No need to walk through the narrow entranceway any more to get inside. At least for now, just walk in at any point here on Vaughn Street, but watch where you walk. Years ago, it was basically an 'off-leash dog park', where dogs were apparently welcomed to relieve themselves on your relatives graves from dawn to dusk. This, along with a large number of grave desecrations years back, tended to give this cemetery quite a seedy reputation. The city is attempting to 'clean this up' in more ways then one, and so maybe a new fence along Vaughn is in the plans. Hope so. Heck, they even broke into Longfellow's family's tomb back a few years ago but interestingly found no remains. No respect at all!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Boulder
Nope! We're not in Colorado. Ever spend quite a lot of time around someplace, and then out of the blue see something you've never, ever seen before? I think we all have, a time or two. We're up on the Western Prom this morning in Western Cemetery, the city's second oldest cemetery with interments dating back to the late 1700's. I stopped by and caught sight of this large boulder, that I had never seen before. Now, why was this? Given the number of times I have wandered around the grounds, I sat in my truck and wondered. Had it been added? Dug up? Why hadn't I seen it before? After a few more moments the mystery was solved. They have removed the black fencing on this side of the burial grounds. No need to walk through the narrow entranceway any more to get inside. At least for now, just walk in at any point here on Vaughn Street, but watch where you walk. Years ago, it was basically an 'off-leash dog park', where dogs were apparently welcomed to relieve themselves on your relatives graves from dawn to dusk. This, along with a large number of grave desecrations years back, tended to give this cemetery quite a seedy reputation. The city is attempting to 'clean this up' in more ways then one, and so maybe a new fence along Vaughn is in the plans. Hope so. Heck, they even broke into Longfellow's family's tomb back a few years ago but interestingly found no remains. No respect at all!
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Quite a sad statement for this cemetery. Let's hope the renovation does some good.
ReplyDeleteThese days it seems we're not even safe when we're dead!
ReplyDeletewow. a dog park in a cemetary. i'd have never thought...
ReplyDeleteOff-leash in a cemetery doesn't work for me!
ReplyDeleteMy word verification is "leash"!!
i wonder where longfellow's remains have gotten to.
ReplyDeletesurprenant cet ancien cimetiere qui devient un parc (enfin si j'ai bien compris)
ReplyDeleteBC, he is not interred here. His mother, father and few other family members were. He is buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge MA.
ReplyDeleteIf we can't respect the dead, then there's no more hope...
ReplyDeleteNo remains? Suspicious. Maybe the Longfellows were short-changing the regular guys?
ReplyDeleteI remember reading about some grave robbers who dug up Johann Sebastian Bach's grave, only to find him laying in his coffin with a little light on and using a pencil eraser on a piece of sheet music.
The grave robbers were quite taken aback as they had not expected this and they asked in trembling voices: Who are you and what are you doing?
Bach said, "I am Johann Sebastian Bach, and I am decomposing!'
good rock
ReplyDeleteWhoever came up with the idea of using a cemetery for a dog park should be promptly led to the stocks.
ReplyDeleteScore ten points for Lowell today.
It's not rock and roll but I like it!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a newly-arrived meteor. Duck and cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a thoughtful post-
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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i'm still laughing at Lowell's comment. However, I agree with Jack. Not a good idea for the dog park in a cemetery.
ReplyDeleteLove this boulder and wonder about those round holes - what made them. And I love your comment about seeing something new in a place we have visited many times before - happens all the time!
ReplyDelete