Saturday, September 28, 2013

Elmwood Cemetary

The Donohoe Mausoleum, one of the oldest remaining mausoleums here

Elmwood Cemetery is a historic cemetery here in Memphis, its oldest active cemetery according to the web site. The Daughter and I recently took the self-guided tour using a handy map they sold us for $5.00. They have photos of some of the sites. I don't have any relatives here that I know of, so I don't have a personal connection.

Among the noted residents:


Alice Jessie Mitchell, who was gay before it was in the news, was declared innocent by reason of insanity after she killed her lover. She died at the age of 26 in 1898 in an insane asylum in Bolivar, Tennessee.


Many a Confederate veteran is buried here, including 20 Confederate and 2 Union generals. The monument above is in the section where most of the soldiers are. Most of the Union dead buried here were moved to Memphis National Cemetery in 1868.

John Overton, one of our mayors and grandson of one of our founders


Kit Dalton was a Confederate veteran who rode with the James gang before he reformed to live a reportedly exemplary life in Memphis.


Local author Shelby Foote, famed for his Civil War writings and his participation in the Ken Burns series, is buried next to the Nathan Bedford Forrest plot. General Forrest himself was moved from here in 1904 to a park in what is now the medical district.

There are many types, sizes and shapes of monuments in this cemetery.


You can see more photos at Historic-Memphis.com and About.com.

The map says, "Elmwood Cemetery was established as one of the first rural garden cemeteries in the South. Fifty Memphis gentleman held the vision of a beautiful and dignified final resting place amid towering trees and winding paths and lanes." There are still plots available. This is an interesting tour. They also offer an audio driving tour and guided tours. There are events scheduled throughout the year, including a costume twilight tour in late October where the dead rise up and tell their tales. This is a fascinating place!

8 comments:

  1. Hope you go to the costume party, sounds like a lot of fun. I like to poke around old cemeteries, the headstones are interesting.

    Darla

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    1. i've never been to any of their events, but they do seem like something i'd like. lately i want to be available in case mother needs me, so i don't do anything where tickets have to be bought in advance. the map was worth the price, because it had so many stories behind the people buried there. it would be interesting to hear the guides expand on those and tell stories about some of the rest.

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  2. Oh, I love cemeteries, and this one looks wonderful! That October twilight tour sounds marvellous!

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    1. it does sound interesting. i've heard it's very good.

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  3. I love visiting cemeteries this sounds like a nice one to see. I so admired Shelby Foote. Such a southern gentleman. I could listen to him all day; such a refined southern accent.

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    1. shelby foote was priceless in the ken burns civil war series. some of his quotes just hit the nail right on the head.

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  4. What a wonderful cemetery...I am a big fan of stone angels.
    Your photos and tour are great!
    oxo

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    1. thx!
      some of the angels are up very high. it's like they are watching over the grounds :)

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