1882 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings Vo 1 034

21

We are at present prepared to receive for
sepulture the ashes resulting from inceinera-
tion. We are ready to go further, and pre-
pare
Depositories Above Ground,
or columbaria in our hillsides, for the recep-
tion and preservation of urns and other
memorials. In the mean time we are not
prepared to recommend any action upon the
part of the proprietors, but to wait for the
further development of public sentiment."
It is scarcely necessary to add that, thus far,
the authorities of Mt. Auburn have not been
called upon by popular need for any action
in the direction indicated.

That serious injury is often done through
burials in too close proximity to the habita-
tions of the living is unquestionable. In
times past, when interments took place
within the church itself, the bodies being
often those of saints or persons eminent for
their piety, the congregation did not fail to be
affected by the resulting exhalations, yet the
practice in England required the vigorous op-
position of sanitary reformers before the
Parliament of that country could be moved
to the simplest sanitary precautions in the
interest of the public health. With the stop-
page of intramural interment came measures
for closing graveyards in crowded cities, and
the placing of interments in open cemeteries
under sanitary control. In England thous-
ands of chruchyards have been closed, yet
the country is dotted everywhere with ceme-
teries, some of them under the control of
burial boards, others managed by private
companies; while under the English law, as
it now exists, a burial ground may approach
within 100 yards of any dwelling house,
and it may stand much nearer with the con-
sent of the owner of the domicile. Facts
like these are cited to show that in countries
so crowded with the living as in England
the problem of how to provide for the dead
is much more urgent that it can be for many
years to come in the United States. Yet
even here there are cities as densely crowded
as any in the old world; even here the inter-
ests of public health are arrayed against
intra-urban interments; and even here, in
spite of abounding territory, the problem of
what to do with the dead that, out of regard
to the living, can no longer be interred even
in the rural cemeteries, will at no distant
date be one to tax the wisest sanitary intelli-
gence and the highest administrative skill.

CANNOT MOVE HIS WIFE'S BODY
-
A Policeman Goes to Court to Solve a
Peculiar Problem
-
In the Superior Court, today, before
Judge Richardson, a case which has some
peculiar features, was heard. The plain-
tiff is Charles L. Howell, a policeman at-
tached to Divison 4. The defendant is the
Forest Hills Cemetery Corporation and Al-
bert Helmboldt, a baker living in Roxbury.
Mrs. Howell, who was a daughter of Helm-
boldt, died in 1896 and was buried in Forest
Hills Cemetery. The deed of the lot was
taken in Helmboldt's name, and he says he
paid the money for it. He and Howell have
had some disagreement since Mrs. Howell's
death and Howell wishes to remove the
body of his wife to another lot, but the
cemetery corporation refuses to allow this
to be done without the consent of the
owner of the lot, who is Helmboldt. Howell
says he has no authority now even to put a
monument over his wife's grave. Howell
wishes the Court to order the cemetery
company to allow him to remove the body.
The Court reserved his decision.

[handwritten] Afterwards decided
against plff.

BEAUTIFUL FOREST HILLS.
-
A Model Cemetery, Where
Loved Ones Sleep Well.
-
Graves Well Cared for, and Orna-
mented with Flowering Plants and
Vines - A Walk Through Its Wind-
ing Avenues - Tombs Embowered in
Trees - Distinguished Dead.

Our modern "cities of the dead," as ceme-
teries are sometimes called, unlike the older
graveyards of the country, seem to be made
for the living as well as for the dead. The
new light which affection sheds upon the
memory of those once dear to us has made
of the tombs an attractive rather than a re-
pulsive place, and has given to sentiment an
object and a field in which, while giving ex-
pression to feeling, taste can be cultivated
and imagination satisfied, in a degree, at
least.

And what, after all, would be life without
sentiment? Mere animal existence. We
live for affection, and when those we love
are taken from us, we mourn for them - we
do not forget them, and it is a gratification to
us that we can cherish their memory in such
acts as the beautification of their graves by
planting them with flowers, or giving, by or-
namentation of some kind, a distinctive
character to them. Of course these atten-
tions to the dead do not affect them. Not so
the living, however. It is to them that all the
ornamentation and beautiful surroundings
appeal, and to them the credit of the expres-
sions of their sentiment belongs.

Therefore, the modern city of the dead is
in reality the city of the living, where their
most precious treasures are laid, beside
which they expect, sooner or later, to lie
down to their eternal rest.

We see the busy man in his counting room
or workshop maturing projects or building
for the future. But, busy as he may be, when
we inquire closely we find that he has a fam-
ily burial lot in some modern cemetery, for
which he appropriates yearly a certain
amount to keep it in good condition and have
beautified with flowers and vines, a tribute
of his affection for a loving father, mother,
sister, brother, wife or son or daughter who
may be buried there. He will visit this cem-
etery at certain times of the year to pay
memory's tribute of affection to those who
have gone before. But the time comes when
he, too, is called away, and
Some Loving Heart
takes up the work he has been doing for
others in the care and ornamentation of his
grave. And thus it goes on from time to
time, from generation to generation, from
age to age. The older memories fade with
their possessors, but new ones succeed, as in
the general order of nature, and the care for
the resting places is continued. This is the
way it now appears in the light of the modern
cemetery, which, after all, like other senti-
mental results, is typical of the taste, as well
as the affection, of the age, for, though affec-
tion was no doubt was strong in the breast of
the Puritan who made his graveyard a most
forbidding looking place, it found with him a
different expression because his taste was
different from that of our age.

Even as late as nearly half a century ago
many of the burial places of this country
were described as "only desolate graveyards,
overgrown with long grass and noxious
[image of receiving tomb of Forest Hills with caption Receiving Tomb, Forest Hills.]

weeds, and with little else of vegetation save,
perhaps, here and there a neglected tree
which shaded some forgotten grave. Dilapi-
dated fences, crumbling tombs, prostrate
headstones, neglected grave on which no
turf has been laid or stone reared, made such
spots gloomy and repulsive." With this pict-
ure in mind, the visitor to the beautiful ceme-
tery of Forest Hills, in West Roxbury, can
see a contrast that is as amazing as it is grat-
ifying.

This crowning result of sentiment was not
a thing of sudden growth, however, but came
gradually. "The good taste and reverence
for the dead which led to the establishment
of Mt. Auburn, the first cemetery of the kind
in the country, has extended far and wide,"
and Forest Hills was one of the earliest and
best fruits of the new departure. This
cemetery "is believed to be the first one of
the kind established by any city or town, in
this section of the country, at least, as a pub-
lic burial place of its inhabitants."

In his readable work on this cemetery,
published in 1860, Mr. W.A. Crafts says:
"When the municipal authorities of Rox-
bury, with an enlightened foresight and
good taste, purchased and laid out the ceme-
tery of Forest Hills, they commenced a good
work, and set an example which may well be
followed by other municipalities, and has,
indeed, produced its proper effect on some.
Although the measure may possibly have
been a little in advance of public opinion at
that time, the result has shown that it was
'not done too soon, nor on too large a scale,
nor at too great cost.' It has found increas-
ing favor with each succeeding year; it has
awakened within the sphere of its influence
a more general regard for
The Sanctuary of the Grave;
it has called into life pure and elevated senti-
ments that else might have slumbered for-
ever; it has in a great measure changed the
feelings of a community with regard to the
place of burial, and the tomb which was once
visited only to lay a new treasure there, has
become a hallowed spot, to which the mourner
may come to indulge his grief, or find conso-
lation for his sorrow amid the beauties of na-
ture. Year by year it will become more sa-
cred, more endeared to the hearts of the liv-
ing as the sanctuary which contains an ever
increasing company of departed friends; and
it will be looked upon by those who have fol-
lowed their beloved ones thither, as a place
without which the associations of home and
of country would not be complete, though
around it cling only sorrowful memories."

The origin of the movement which led to
the establishment of Forest Hills cemetery
dates back to October, 1846, when Hon.
John J. Clarke was mayor of Roxbury. At
that time he laid before the city council a
communication in relation to the public
burial grounds of the city, and recommended
that the council consider the expediency of
purchasing a tract of land for a new place of
interment. The idea thus presented was
not a broad one, but the subject was referred
to a select committee of the city council, and
subsequently there was referred to them a
petition of Hon. H.A.S. Dearborn and
others for the establishment of a rural ceme-
tery.

The subject was not allowed to rest, and in
1847, when Gen. Dearborn was mayor [for?]
Roxbury, steps were taken to secure the
Seavern's farm, together with one or two
smaller lots adjoining, belonging to other
parties. This of course was not at once con-
summated, but by persistent work and influ-
ence of Ge. Dearborn and others, the sub-
ject was finally acted on in the city council
on June 26, 1948, when the council author-
ized the purchase of 14 1/2 acres of land be-
longing to John Parkinson. The Seaverns
farm, which contained about 57 acres, had
been acquired by deed previously, viz., on
March 28, 1948. The cemetery land as now
secured contained something over 71 acres,
and cost the city $27, 894.66.

This land, lying about three-quarters of a
mile southeast of Jamaica Plain, was as cen-
tral as could reasonably be expected. A
considerable portion of it was wild and
rugged in appearance, hilly, rocky and pre-
cipitous, but well covered with wood -
veritable forest hills in fact. Another part
wore a less rugged aspect, and was
Clothed with a Grove of Pines.
Still another part was open and cultivated
ground. The whole together had made a
favorable impression, and by its diversity
[image of receiving tomb of Forest Hills]

of scenery and natural adaptation for the
work of the landscape gardener, especially
pleased the fine taste and judgment of Gen.
Dearborn, whose agency in laying out the
grounds and adapting them for cemetery
purposes will be noted later on.

The Legislature in 1848 passed an act
providing for the appointment of five
commissioners, to be elected by the city
council. This board was to have "sole
care, superintendence and manage-
ment" of the cemetery, the laying out
and embellishment of the grounds, the con-
veyance of burial lots, and the establishing
of such bylaws, rules and regulations as they
might deem expedient. The act further pro-
vided that a portion of the cemetery should
be set apart as a burial place for the use of
the inhabitants of Roxbury, free of charge;
and, also, that the proceeds of sales of lots
and rights of burial should be appropriated
"to the liquidation of the debt in the pur-
chase of the land and the improvement and
embellishment thereof"; and it forbids the
appropriation of any moneys from the city
treasury for such improvement and embel-
lishment.

The act was accepted by the city council
soon after its passage, and on the 30th of
March, 1848, the following gentlemen were
appointed to constitute the first board of com
missioners: Henry A.S. Dearborn, Alvah
Kittredge, Francis C. Head, Henry Codman
and George R. Russell. This board organ-
ized by the choice of Gen. Dearborn, whose
skill in rural art had developed the beauties
of Mr. Auburn cemetery, and was univer-
sally acknowledged.

Gen. Dearborn, says Mr. Crafts, "undertook
the work with a zealous interest, and that de-
light in nature which made it more of a pleas-
ure than a task. He devoted to it time and
toil; studied the character of the ground, ex-
plored every part of it, made himself familiar
with all its beauties and capabilites, ob-
served each rock and tree and shrub, as well
as each hill and slope and opening vista, and
then traced out the avenues and paths so as
to reveal those beauties, and to prepare a
garden where the living might well choose a
resting place for their dead."

When the land was secured for the ceme-
tery it did not abut on any highway, and the
idea was at first entertained to have the en-
trance on the southern side over the right of
way on the Dr. John C. Warren land, but by
the liberality of the adjoining landholders
the commissioners were enabled to open a
broad avenue from Scarboro street to the
northwestern part of the cemetery, where
they established
The Main Entrance.
After the acquisition of the Parkinson land
the work of preparing the grounds proceeded
rapidly. The whole ground was inclosed by
a wooden fence, and the principal avenues
and paths laid out and partially constructed
to make ready for consecration. An impos-
ing Egyptian gateway was erected at the
main entrance and more simple ones at the
southern and eastern entrances. The gate-
way was of wood, but this has been super-
seded by one of stone, as shown in the accom-
panying engraving.

The work of preparing the grounds was be-
gun in April, 1848, and several hundred
burial lots were laid out at the time, choice
lots being offered to subscribers to the pur-
chase fund. The name "Forest Hills" was
selected by the commissioners from a num-
ber which was proposed as the most appro-
priate and harmonious. This name was
afterward more formally adopted by an
ordinance of the city. This work being
sufficiently advanced by the 28th of June,
1848, that day was chosen for the con-
secration of the cemetery. The day was
a beautiful one, and a large number of
people were present. The place selected for
the performance was in the northerly part of
the cemetery, at the base and on the side of a
hill, which has received the name of Conse-
cration hill. A procession, consisting of the
city government of Roxbury, and others, was
formed in another part of the grounds, since
named Fountain hill, and proceeded to the
place set apart for the services, where a large
audience had already assembled. The dedi-
catory services were of an elaborate nature,
and were satisfactorily carried out.

The necessity of an addition to the original
area of the cemetery was soon apparent, and
in 1852 about 32 1/2 acres, being the balance
of the Seaverns farm, were acquired, making
the total area of this time about 104 acreas.
The area of the cemetery has been added to
at various times since 1852. Among the ad-
ditions is a tract of some 30 acres south of
Canterbury street, and the Milton and Peters
estates of some 25 acres, all of which have
enlarged the territory of the cemetery until it
embraces about 201 1/2 acres. The two latter
estates have a frontage on Morton street of
about 2000 feet, and when the contemplated
improvements are carried out at the intersec-
tion of Forest Hills avenue with Morton
street, which will in a measure correspond
with the entrance to Franklin Park on the
opposite side, it will add very materially to
the already attractive appearance of the
entrance.

The Embellishment of the Cemetery
was provided for in the act of the Legislature
of 1852, which authorized the commissioners
to take and hold any grant, donation or be-
quest of property upon trust, and to apply
the same, or the income thereof, for the im-
provement, or embellishment of the [?]