Gardens of Stone --- A Cemetery Blog by Alexandra Kathryn Mosca

This graceful monument in Cypress Hills Cemetery marks the grave of Dr. Henry Small --a 19th Century physician and his wife, Araminta.

This Norman Revival hillside tomb, which contains the remains of the Lispenard Stewart family, was designed by James Fenwick in 1889. The Stewart family was socially prominent and when Mrs. Mary Stewart (nee Mary Rogers Rhinelander) died in 1893, a NY Times article noted that she was “one of the wealthiest women in New York . ”Her funeral was attended by the Astor, Vanderbilt and Pell families. Their son, Senator Lispenard Stewart, was included in an 1890 article about the most eligible bachelors in NY. In 1895, he was the escort of Gertrude Vanderbilt at her coming out party (which had an entirely different meaning in those days :)) and characterized as the “best dancer in Newport , Rhode Island .”

On Battle Hill, the cemetery's highest point, visitors can find a pleasant surprise. In 1920, Charles M. Higgins, an Irish immigrant and local history enthusiast, decided to honor the Revolutionary War Battle of Long Island, which had been neglected for far too long. He built an altar on Battle Hill and topped it with a statue of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. To ensure that Minerva would not feel lonely at the top, Higgins placed her close to Lady Liberty's upraised torch, located 3.5 miles to the West. This creates a unique sight where Minerva's waving hand reciprocates Lady Liberty's torch.  Five years ago, in 2008, there were concerns that this remarkable view could be obstructed. It was then that a real estate developer and a historic preservationist clashed over constructing "The Minerva," a new condominium across the street. To prove that the line of sight would not be affected, a construction worker was raised 40 feet in the air in a cherry pick...

Buried in Brooklyn's Holy Cross Cemetery, visitors often leave baseball memorabilia at the grave of the beloved former first baseman and New York Mets manager. Hodges suffered a fatal heart attack in 1972 after playing a round of golf in Florida. Hodges was immensely popular, and on what would have been his 48th birthday, over 1,000 people waited in line outside a Brooklyn funeral home, hoping to be admitted to pay their respects.  On the day of Hodges' funeral, fans gathered behind police barricades to catch a glimpse of his casket as it was brought into the church. Many notable figures from the baseball world were present, including Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, players Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson, pitchers Tom Seaver and Sandy Koufax, and sports announcer Howard Cosell. Brooklyn Bishop Francis J. Mugavero was the principal celebrant. At the same time, Hodges' pastor and friend, Father Charles E. Curley, gave the homily." Gil was a hero. All of us need he...

This arbor of trees --located near the Civil War Soldiers' Monument-- --where the delicate and ephemeral cherry blossoms make a brief appearance, is one of my favorite spring sites.

This tableau, blanketed by freshly fallen snow, is in honor of Good Friday and the promise of spring.