1882 Scrapbook of Newspaper Clippings Vo 1 035

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[image with caption GATEWAY, TOWER AND CORPORATION BUILDING, FOREST HILLS.]

tery, or for the planting and cultivation of
trees, shrubs and plants in or around any lot,
etc. A perpetual care fund was therefore
established, and, according to the last annual
report, the number of lots now under such
care is 2320, while 602 are cared for annu-
ally, leaving 1181 lots for whose care no pro-
vision has been made by the proprietors, but
it should not be understood from this that
these lots are neglected. Far from this. As
a matter of fact, there is not today a lot in
the cemetery which is not cared for and
maintained in good condition; but those lots
for which no provision is made have no spe-
cial work in the way of placing ornamental
plants, shrubbery, etc., done on them.

Legislation in regard to Forest Hills ceme-
tery was had from time to time, an act to in-
corporate the proprietors having been passed
in 1863, said act being amended by subse-
quent legislation, the object being to place
the grounds in the hands of a board of trus-
tees, representing the proprietors of the cem-
etery, and defining their powers and duties;
also directing the manner and place of in-
vestment of funds. The present board of
trustees is composed of the following gen-
tlemen; Gorham Rogers, William A. Gas-
ton, George K. Guild, Joseph H. Chadwick,
James Bennett Forsyth. Charles M. Clapp
and L. Forster Morse. The officers are:
Joseph H. Chadwick, president; Edward B.
Reynolds, treasurer; Arthur R. Potter, sec-
retary; John G. Barker, superintendent.

The water formerly used in the cemetery
was pumped from Lake Hibiscus, a
beautiful sheet of water in the grounds,
which is herewith illustrated, but city
water was introduced about a year ago,
and a tank and standpipes located at differ-
ent points in the cemetery. This summer a
system of water pipes is being carried
through all the avenues, with small hydrants
at convenient intervals, to which hose can be
attached for watering purposes in dry
weather. Watering carts keep the avenues
in fine condition in the hot weather.

The Improvements in Contemplation
at Forest Hills are many. Among them will
be the building of a splendid stone bridge
across the ravine separating the newly ac-
quired Milton and Peters properties from
original cemetery grounds. This bridge,
which is to be built from a design of Archi-
tect W. G. Preston of Boston, will be about
175 feet in length by 25 feet in width, and
will be built of Roxbury stone, quarried on
the ground, with Medfield granite trimmings.
It will be ornamented by several handsome
vases for flowers, and will be somewhat orna-
mental, in keeping with the various struct-
tures on the place.

A visit to Forest Hills cannot fail to im-
press the visitor with the natural beauty of
the situation, as well as the improvements
which have been made by those having
charge of it in the past as well as those now
in charge of it. The approaches to this lovely
spot from all sides are through pleasant and
quiet roads. The main entrance leads from
Morton street, and can be reached by several
avenues, and is one of the finest ap-
proaches to a cemetery to be found in the
country. On the Union terrace is located, on
the right, the corporation building, in which
is the office of the superintendent and other
departments. This and the gateway are shown
in our illustration. Before reaching the en-
trance there are seen some very fine speci-
mens of carpet bedding. On the right of the
gateway is the chapel, and in the rear of the
corporation building are greenhouses and
cold frames, where the numerous flowering
and other plants employed to embellish the
squares, walks and burial lots are propa-
gated. The receiving tomb is located south
of the chapel.

The first impression which the stranger
would receive on visiting this place would be
the wonderful combination of art with nature
which is there shown. As few as possible
of the natural features of the grounds have

been disturbed, while there have been added
everywhere, in appropriate places - localities
where they seem to belong - beds of shrub-
bery, vines, flowering plants, clumps of
rhododendron or mountain laurel bushes,
while intermingled with the evergreen and
deciduous trees, natives of the soil, are large
numbers of rare trees, shrubs, etc., derived
from other lands and latitudes.

The various avenues lead off to the
right, left and in front, and wind around
in the most charming and abandoned
way; curving here around the base of a hill,
and there winding to the top in graceful
sweeps, with no notably steep gradients.

The Geological Formation
[image with caption THE OLIVER DITSON MONUMENT, FOREST HILLS.]

is that known as the Roxbury or pudding
stone, and many of the hills are composed
largely of this material. Where it crops out
in ledges, or in ridges or boulder form, it is
either covered with vines, or made to afford
background for tombs or burial lots which
contain monuments. Formerly it was the
fashion to surround the burial lots with iron
fences, but these unsightly things are being
rapidly gotten rid of, granite curbing, etc.,
taking their place.

There are several fine eminences in the
cemetery, from which views of the surround-
ing country can be obtained, while from the
tall stone tower on Consecration Hill a wide
view is obtainable, not only inland, but sea-
ward. Another of the eminences in the ceme-
tery is known as Mt. Warren. In a tomb on
this hill are gathered and deposited the re-

[gap]
and here, near the monu-
ment erected in his honor
by his friends and fellow-
citizens, repose the remains
of Gen. Dearborn, to whose
zeal and labors so much that
is now enjoyable in the
cemetery is due.

The employment of rough
boulders for headstones to
graves is a notable thing in
Forest Hills. One of these is
on the burial lot of the War-
ren family, on the summit
of Mt. Warren. It is an ir-
regular block, with a level
top, and seems designed by
nature for a pedestal. But
it will probably not be used
for such a purpose, as the
Roxbury statue of Gen. War-
ren is to be placed on the
street which bears his name.
Among the other eminences
in the cemetery are the Eliot
hills, four in number, in the
southwestern part of the
cemetery, which derive their
name from the apostle Eliot.
The summit of this hill is
of solid rock.

Among the water attrac-
tions of the cemetery are
Lake Dell, a small pond of
water, and Lake Hibiscus,
which is a fine sheet of
water, fed by natural springs
and adding largely to the
beauty of its surroundings.
The view of this lake, given
herewith, is only one of
many enjoyable ones that
can be had across its sur-
face. In the view given,
the tomb shown is that of
Maj. Chadwick, the presi-
dent of the corporation.
There is on one portion of
the shores of this lake some
of the finest specimens of
Norway spruce to be found
in New England.

Formerly Forest Hills, in
contradistinction to Mt. Au-
burn, was not distinguished
for artistic scarcophagi or
splendid monuments. But
of late years this has been
changed to some extent,
and now there can be seen
in sufficient number not to
satiate, and in variety
enough to please and hold
the eye, many fine tombs
and monuments of artistic
design, and even original
conception. On the south-
westerly slope of Mt. War-
ren is the fine shaft of west-
erly granite erected to the
memory of that noble man,
Marshal P. Wilder. Further
down the slope is the tomb
of Miss Susan Dimock, who
was lost on the steamer
Schiller, on Scilly rocks,

May 28, 1875. She was surgeon and physi-
cian to the New England Hospital for Women
and Children, and did a noble work in her day.

It is not a little curious to reflect how
Men of the Most Diverse Views and
Opinions
lie here, almost side by side, resting quietly
and peaceably. Here, for example, can be
found the monument, surmounted by a
bronze bust (an excellent likeness, by the
way) erected to Karl Heinzen, who in life
was a free-thinker, and in his native country
a revolutionist of the most radical kind. Not
far away, on Cornell path, is the monument
erected to Ned Kendall, the famous cornet
player. A plain slate stone, on Smilax path,
marks the resting place of a man who was a
power in his day - the best execrated and the
most blessed man in America - William Lloyd
Garrison. He sleeps beside his faithful wife,
Helen Eliza, who preceded him to the grave
by about three years.

On Ageratum path, under a granite sarco-
phagus, erected by his society, lie the re-
mains of Dr. Jacob Merrill Manning, so long
the pastor of the Old South Church in Boston.
Near by a polished granite stone marks the
resting place of Rev. James Freeman Clarke,
author and pastor of the Church of the Dis-
ciples in Boston. All around are graves and
monuments of men of note, soldiers, scholars
and successful business men in their time.
On an eminence beyond, in a fine location, is
Roxbury soldiers burial lot, with a soldiers'
monument in it. The lot is railed in with
granite. South of this lot, on Cypress
avenue, is the granite sarcophagus below
which rest the remains of ex-mayor of Bos-
ton, Samuel C. Cobb. On Larch avenue is
the sarcophagus of Col. Charles O. Rogers of
the Journal.

The Oliver Ditson monument, on Poplar
avenue, which is herewith illustrated, is a
marble statue of St. John, of fine artistic
merit. Near by is the beautiful red granite
shaft erected to the memory of Col. William
M. Rumrey of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry.
Below this, on Lake avenue, is the Partridge
monument - representing an angel with up-
lifted head and finger pointing upward. On
the junction of Forest and Lake avenues is
the line monument erected to the memory of
Andrew Carney, found of the Carney Hos-
pital.

Opposite the Carney monument is the
notable monument of O. H. Davenport, in the
rear of which is the monument of that sterl-
ing man and patriot, Gen. William H.
Schouler. Among the notable monuments -
more notable, however, for what it com-
memorates - is that of the late Horace
Seaver, well known as the editor of the
Investigator for 60 years - a man who was as
honest as he was fearless in the expression
of his radical opinions.

Many Fine Monuments
might still be noted, did space permit, among
them some works of art, chiefly notable as
such, others because they mark the graves of
men who had done something in their day for
the benefit of their fellowmen, among the
latter a monument to John T. Hancock,
inventor of the Hancock inspirator.

In front of an ivy covered boulder, facing
on Orange path, repose the remains of the
gallant commander of the Kearsarge, Rear
Admiral Winslow. On Lautana path a gran-
ite shaft marks the grave of Rear Admiral
Henry Knox Thatcher.

There is a number of so-called "fields" in
Forest Hills, where single graves are dis-
posed of, one of the oldest being the Field of
Ephron; then there are the Field of Mach-
pelon, and Field of Manoah, which is in-
closed with a spruce ledge, and the Field
of Heth.

The superintendent of Forest Hills, Mr.
John G. Barker, seems to be a man who is
exceptionally well qualified for the position
he holds. He is a true lover of nature,
adorned as well as unadorned. With a full
knowledge of botany, a good, practical
training in the growth of trees, shrubs and
plants and a fine taste in landscape garden-
ing, Mr. Barker brings to his work an un-
tiring industry and exacting performance of
duty on the part of those under him, as well
as a knowledge of human nature and a
kindly and obliging disposition, which en-
able him to deal with the public successfully
and please them. Under his master hand
Forest Hills is one of the finest and best kept
in the country, and when, in their last re-
port, the committee on the cemetery said the
following about him, they had good reason
to mean every word of it. They said: "The
committee wishes to repeat its acknowledg-
ment of the able and efficient services of the
superintendent, Mr. John G. Barker."

A visit to Forest Hills in this summer
weather will well repay any one who under-
takes it.