Green Mount Cemetery – A ‘President-Adjacent’ Visit - Part 1

Every sizable community has a special cemetery where the industrial titans, political big-wigs and other notables rest in peace. A hundred and ninety years ago, our growing country developed a new and improved approach to burying our dead.
   

Albany Rural Cemetery, New York (12 October 2009)

Before the middle of the 19th century, our colonial towns were becoming crowded cities. Urban church yards were filling and health concerns spurred a movement to create public burial grounds away from the populace but close enough to visit. They are called ‘rural cemeteries.’ At a time before public parks became popular, these cemeteries were places where city folk could escape the unpleasant conditions and enjoy a clean, green, natural experience.
    

Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond (28 June 2005)

Another reason rural cemeteries became popular was the impressive sculpture and architecture that regular folks rarely had the opportunity to see. Also changing at that time was our collective attitude toward death. The earlier stuffy puritan view of cemeteries emphasized the death part. In the 1600’s, grave markers had skull and cross-bones carvings. No guarantee of life-eternal. You’re dead and better hope you scored enough points to get into the Good Place.
   

Grave Marker, United Church of Christ (‘Circular Church’)

Charleston, South Carolina (11 March 2014)

By the 1700’s, the view softened as more skulls had wings, hinting a rise to something better...maybe. Rural cemetery depictions were more positive, with angels, cherubs and botanical design elements that emphasized life.
   

Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore (25 June 2024)

Occasionally, time has a way of eroding positive botanical

design elements into something a little creepier.

But I digress...
   

Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore (25 June 2024)

Seven years after the first American rural cemetery was established in Massachusetts (Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge - 1831) Green Mount Cemetery opened in Baltimore. Over the years, it has interred eight Maryland governors, seven Baltimore mayors, sixteen Civil War generals, numerous philanthropists like Johns Hopkins, and other notable figures.

Back in the day, it was a short carriage ride away from the town center. Its lawns and mature trees were a refuge from the unsanitary crowding of the growing city. Now, the city has grown around and past Green Mount. The neighborhood has seen better days. A high wall surrounds the entire property and one can enter only with permission.

I was here to find two residents in particular...Harriet Lane and John Wilkes Booth...people who played important roles with two of our presidents...hence the ‘president-adjacent’ title above.

They will be the subject of the next post.

State Capitols – Phoenix, Arizona - Part 1

Arizona Capitol in Phoenix (26 March 2015)

Constructed: 1898-1901

Architect: James Riley Gordon

State Admitted to Union: February 14, 1912 (48th)

State Population (2020): 7,029,917 (14th)

As this is an election year...a REALLY important election year, I should return to posting more state houses. Because it’s an election year, they will be the critical ‘battleground state’ capitols.

I think this reflects a sad theme in our current politics. In the current campaign calculus, the swing states seem to be all that matter anymore. The brilliant and expensive consultants believe that since most of the states are already decided, the effort (read ‘money’ and candidate visits) needs to be concentrated in the six or seven states that could go either way and decide the outcome. I hope the brilliant and expensive minds understand that the House and Senate are also up for grabs and therefore urge their presidential candidate to support others on the ticket.

That said, the states that decided the last couple of contests were Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. We’ve already presented Wisconsin (1 & 2), Michigan (1 & 2), Georgia (1 & 2) and Nevada.

Old Arizona Capitol, Phoenix (26 March 2015)

A chandelier hangs from the copper dome

in the Old Capitol. On the ground floor is a

mosaic representation of the state’s Great Seal.

Today, we visit Arizona. A century before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the Spanish were conquering and exploring western North America. What is now Arizona was part of independent Mexico before it was ceded to the United States after we beat them up in 1848. The territory became the last of the 48 contiguous states to join the Union in 1912.

Senate Chamber, Arizona Capitol Museum (26 March 2015)

Phoenix is the most populous of all the state capital cities. It served as the territorial capital prior to statehood and the building shown above, completed in 1901, housed the legislature and executive offices until growth necessitated a change. In 1960, the House and Senate moved into separate buildings that flank the old capitol and in 1974, the governor moved executive functions into a new tower nearby. The old capitol is now the Arizona Capitol Museum.

Arizona House of Representatives (26 March 2015)

The state is divided into thirty legislative districts. Each district elects one senator and two representatives to serve two-years terms in office. Legislators are term-limited. After eight consecutive years on the job, one can run for a seat in the other chamber or stay away for two years before trying again.

Arizona Senate (26 March 2015)

In front of the government complex is a public space named for a former governor and dedicated to recognizing various individuals, organizations and causes. Images from there will be presented in a separate post.

Shot of the Day - # 49 - Fira’s Primo Corner Table

Can’t Beat the View, Santorini (8 October 2015)

In 2017, there were posts that summarized two very different vacations to the Greek island of Santorini. The first described an idyllic visit before the place was ‘discovered.’ The second was less complimentary.

That said, I also think the beaches there are fine and the food is great. The ancient restoration at Akrotiri is interesting when you think about how ancient life developed to that point (long before the Greek and Roman Empires) when it was suddenly snuffed out 3600 years ago.

And as I’ve said before, I cannot think of a place I’d rather be at sunset...and happy hour...and meal time but especially at sunset. Unlike the sunrise at the Grand Canyon where changing weather makes it an unreliable event, the skies here are almost always clear. If you come early enough to score a table like this, keep the rounds coming. You’re paying for the view.

Santorini Sunset (7 October 2015)

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Answers to the Election Thoughts # 2 quiz –

1-g; 2-i; 3-h; 4-c; 5-j; 6-e; 7-b; 8-d; 9-a; 10-f