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Historian's Corner
Kelly Grimaldi, Historian, Albany Diocesan Cemeteries
While going through some of the oldest books stored in the office vault located in Historic St. Agnes, I came across a tattered article printed in The Times Union newspaper dated July 6, 1897. Simply titled, St. Agnes Cemetery – Notes Taken During a Visit to These Beautiful Grounds, the article included interesting commentary on the increasing diversity in the style of monuments being erected in memorial of the dead. Below is a quote from the unknown writer:
It is a pleasing fact to note that the monuments being erected are patterned after new and unique designs. At one time in the past, it seemed that Egyptian obelisks had a monopoly and that every new one erected must be an inch or two higher than the one standing on the adjoining lot. The consequence was that one and all produced a monotonous effect and none were admired on account of their sameness. The custom is now radically changed. The different orders of architecture are represented in tasteful groups upon the new part of the grounds which contain may fine specimens of art.
One of the monuments referenced in the article belongs to Miss Bridget Leonard who died in 1901. The writer describes it as an Italian marble statue erected upon a massive granite pedestal and speaks of its symbolism as a figure representing “Memory” in the act of strewing flowers upon the graves at its feet. Intrigued, I went out into the cemetery to find “Memory” and though she still stands tall upon her mighty pedestal, her missing hand no longer strews flowers and her Italian marble is blackened from 110 years of pollutants. Ah! but she is still grand.
In 1897, the writer could not have known how relative his commentary on monument style would be in the 21st century for now we have reverted back to a sameness that makes his remarks on the popularity of obelisks amusing. Visitors to newer cemeteries would be hard pressed to find anything especially intriguing about long, uniform lines of standard size granite monuments inscribed with template designs and same-style lettering. Even less of interest from an aesthetic point of view is rows and rows of flush bronze markers decorated with plastic and/or silk flowers. This is not to say modern cemeteries and modern monument styles, however monotonous, are not respectful memorials to the departed - they are of course. In no way do I mean to imply our culture today places less importance on the proper and respectful memorialization of our dead than our ancestors did. But whereas newer counterparts to 19th century rural cemeteries capture the orderliness and convenience of a fast-paced, utilitarian present day, it is unlikely that in another century they will be discussed with the same level of appreciation we have for the charm and grandeur old beauties like Historic St. Agnes Cemetery offer us now. It is for that reason we must protect and preserve our old cemeteries because it is unlikely there will ever be anything constructed like them again. They are many things the public can do to help save these treasures and not all of them include monetary contributions. For more information, please call the Historian’s office at 463-0134 or email KellyAnn.Grimaldi@rcda.org.
Please call Kelly Grimaldi at 463-0134 or email KellyAnn.Grimaldi@rcda.org for more details and class dates.Past Historian Articles:
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Artwork by Joe Mele.
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