Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Dunmore Cemetery visit

This weekend we visited the beautiful Dunmore Cemetery in Scranton, Northeast Pennsylvania. The cemetery contains many beautiful monuments among modest headstones, and contains the graves and mausolea of many families who played a significant role in the development of the area, including namesake families (http://www.nepanewsletter.com/towns.html). For example....

In the foreground of this general view of the cemetery is the Dickson family mausoleum, after who Dickson City was named (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Dickson_(industrialist) ).

Large marker stone for the FINLEY family plot. The fernleaf motif represents sorrow, and was relatively common in the cemetery.

The mausoleum of Frederick J Platt, beautiful art deco architecture. Platt was a descendant of an early influential family, was involved in Scranton corporate life, and published a book on the early history of Scranton in 1948 (https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofsc00plat ).

 This was the only ZINC headstone I observed in the cemetery (http://granite-in-my-blood.blogspot.com/2009/01/zinc-gravestone.html ) - and the first I've ever seen. The monument is in stunning condition (a benefit of using zinc, which is extremely stable). This grave belongs to Mary Jane Roesler, born Feb 3, 1820, died Apr 23, 1885. Note that the right-hand panel can be unscrewed for installation of a new monumental inscription.

This is the BOIES family mausoleum, dug into the side of a steep hill. Likely the family of Col. Henry M. Boies (http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/150-who-made-scranton-great-henry-m-boies-1.1981772 ), a colonel and civil war veteran who was a businessman and inventor.

The ZIMMER family pyramid (?), very unique. Marks the graves of John & Theresa Zimmer : Sept 5, 1856 - July 4 1912, and Jan 24 1867 - July 4 1912. Note that both died on the same date - independence day 1912. Would be very interested to learn the story of this couple.
EDIT: Thanks to Kyle Brimacombe for solving this: John & Theresa Zimmer were killed in a grueling train wreck in Corning, NY on 4 July 1912 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corning_train_wreck).

 Obelisk-topped monument, monument somewhat eroded, to John Dekin(?) died 1878, a native of Deptford, England. Topped with a masonic symbol.

Grave of George W. Scranton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Scranton), with a long tribute engraved on the monument.

 Grave topped with statue pointing to the heavens. Grave of John S. Gillespie, born 4 Nov 1844, died Apr 12 1932, and Maggie, died Aug 10 1879 aged 28 years 8 months and 24 days. 

Very unusual grave marker for the GRIFFIN  family, stone carved into faux logs and branches.

Angel atop grave marker. Grave of DUCKWORTH family.

 MOLOWNEY grave with Celtic cross.

Delightful font on this HILL family plot marker (HiLL). 

Mourning statue atop large grave monument for EVERHART family.

Both sides of a PLATT family Celtic cross, stating within crucifix at top 'My Faith Looks Up To Thee'. This one connects the above PLATT and SCRANTON family. 
Front (clean): JOSEPH CURTIS PLATT Born Saybrook Conn. Sept. 17 1816 Died Scranton PA Nov 15 1887. CATHARINE S. SCRANTON HIS WIFE Born Madison, Conn. Apr 1 1822 Died Scranton PA July 4 1887.
Back (dark): JOSEPH CURTIS PLATT Jr. Born Fair Haven Conn. Jan 9 1845, Died Waterbury NY July 7 1898. KATHARINE J. JONES HIS WIFE, Born Penn ?? NY Apr 28 1846, Died Waterford NY May 28 1934(?).

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