Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Soldier’s Hat, On a Pedestal

Posted on February 18, 2015 by gravelyspeaking

Owen F. Solomon 1829 – September 27, 1859 Carved atop a shaft of white marble rests a pillow with the hat of a soldier.  There are four symbols on this monument: the soldier’s hat, a sword, the laurel wreath, and … Continue reading →

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A Hero, On a Pedestal

Posted on February 14, 2015 by gravelyspeaking

IN MEMORY OF ROBERT McDOUGALL A MEMBER OF TRUCK Co. No. 3 BROOKLYN FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHO RECEIVED SUCH INJURIES IN THE DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY AS A FIREMAN AT A FIRE AT HARBECK’S PIER JULY 19, 1883 THAT HE DEPARTED … Continue reading →

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On a Pedestal, 3

Posted on February 9, 2015 by gravelyspeaking

To the right of the gates of the Mount Peace Cemetery at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, stands an impressive monument to James Bartram Nicholson.  The elegant bronze statue of Nicholson shows him wearing a long frock coat.  He holds papers in one hand.  … Continue reading →

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A mistake in slate

Posted on January 30, 2015 by gravelyspeaking

Here lyes buried The body of Mrs. SARAH MORTON Wife of Mr. LEMUEL MORTON Who departed this Life April 17th 1785 in ye 23 Year of her Age. In Her. United all that’s fair & good, Short was her Race … Continue reading →

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Lysicrates

Posted on January 10, 2015 by gravelyspeaking

Joseph Earnshaw September 16, 1831 – January 13, 1906 Neoclassical designed monuments can be found in many large urban cemeteries in the United States, including Spring Grove Cemetery at Cincinnati, Ohio. The Joseph Earnshaw Grecian Corinthian-style monument was based on … Continue reading →

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Sacred Heart

Posted on December 18, 2014 by gravelyspeaking

In the late Seventeenth Century, a humble French nun, Marguerite Marie Alacoque (1747 to 1790), had a vision of a conversation with Jesus Christ. In her vision, Jesus reminded the young woman of her vow, given upon a sick bed … Continue reading →

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Mario Korbel

Posted on November 22, 2014 by gravelyspeaking

Mario Joseph Korbel (March 22, 1882 – March 31, 1954) was a noted Czech-American sculptor who worked on several commissions for monuments that are found in cemeteries in Illinois and Iowa. Like many artists, including Daniel Chester French, Aldabert Volck, … Continue reading →

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Happy Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2014 by gravelyspeaking

To commemorate Halloween, I wanted to revisit two monuments that I have written about earlier. The monument above, sculpted by Lorado Taft, one of the premier sculptors of his day, was created to honor Dexter Graves, an early Chicago pioneer.  The bronze figure … Continue reading →

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A Pioneer

Posted on October 28, 2014 by gravelyspeaking

Inscription at the base of the monument: THE ATLAS AS SHOWN HERE, IS TO THE EXACT SCALE OF THE ORIGINAL MISSILE THE PIONEER ATLAS (INTO ORBIT WITH 122-POUND PAY LOAD, DECEMBER 18, 1958)  Inscription on the back of the monument: … Continue reading →

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Now I lay me down to sleep

Posted on September 18, 2014 by gravelyspeaking

HATTIE A. BURR DAUGHTER OF HENRY A. & HARRIET A. BURR BORN NOVEMBER 9TH 1851. DIED MARCH 3RD 1860.   WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS BUT RECALLED THE GEM THAT HE HAS GIVEN; AND THOUGH THE CASKET MOULDER HERE THE … Continue reading →

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