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What do you think of when I say Halloween? Witches? Ghosts? Things that go
bump in the night? What about cemeteries? Of course you do, but cemeteries
aren't just for the deceased. They can be unexpected sources of interesting
afternoons spent learning about history and art.
My favorite cemetery to visit is Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum at
5800 N. Ravenswood Av. Set on 350 acres of land it's the largest cemetery in
Chicago and one of its oldest.
Walking through the front gate, one gets the feeling of history. The
entrance looks a lot like Chicago's beloved Water Tower made of the same
Joliet limestone, complete with the castlelike appearance. It should, the
same architect, William Boyington designed both, with Rosehill's facade being
built five years before her famous cousin, and given Chicago landmark status
in her own right in 1980.
Rosehill's entrance looks a lot like her famous Chicago cousin, the Water Tower, but built five years earlier in 1864, in an architectural style referred to as "castellated Gothic".
W. W. Boyington (1818-1898), the architect of Rosehill's entrance is appropriately buried just inside his famous front gate.
Established in 1859, Rosehill plays host to a number of famous dead including
eighteen past Chicago mayors (the most of any cemetery), a vice-president of
the United States, Charles Dawes, who also won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1925,
Hinckley and Schmitt (they are buried side by side, but in reverse order of
their famous company logo), Oscar Mayer, and many more.
Charles Gates Dawes (1865-1951), the 13th Vice President of the United States (1925-1929) is interred in this stately mausoleum overlooking Rosehill's central lake.
Charismatic former Chicago Mayor, stately 6' 6" "Long John" Wentworth (1815-1888), wanted the tallest monument in Rosehill. He got it with this 72-foot obelisk, at a cost of $38,000, erected prior to his death.
Charles Hull is also buried here, under a magnificent statue of himself. He
gave his house to Jane Addams to help immigrants (Hull House is also a
landmark). Supposedly, a child was born there with horns and a tail.
Naturally, it became the talk of the neighborhood and eventually became the
inspiration for the book and film "Rosemary's Baby."
Charles Hull (1820-1889), gave his house to social reformer Jane Addams who created Hull House, and is buried under this larger-than-life statue of himself.
Rosehill has been a backdrop of several movies including the final fight
scene in "Next of Kin" filmed near the chapel. The movie "Backdraft" copied
the Firefighter's Memorial to make their funeral scene look like it was
taking place at Rosehill, although it was actually filmed on a set.
A copy of the Firefighter's Memorial was used in the filming of the funeral scene in the movie "Backdraft".
Sometimes the not-so-famous are more interesting monuments. George S. Bangs
invented "fast mail" using the railroad system to pick up and sort mail. His
"tombstone" is a very detailed model of a mail train car (about one and a
half feet long) appearing to be going through a tunnel complete with
realistic looking ivy. Sitting next to it is a beautifully sculpted
twelve-foot tree, complete with birds. Both pieces are made entirely from
granite. It is truly a work of art and should not be missed.
This train and tunnel "tombstone" is a fitting tribute to George S. Bangs, who invented "Fast Mail",
utilizing railway cars to sort mail while the train was moving between destinations.
Leonard Volk, well-known sculptor, designed the Civil War and Firefighter's
memorials, and the Stephen Douglas tomb which is on the south side, but is
most known for his life mask and hands of Abraham Lincoln. His last piece of
commissioned work was a statue of himself under which he is buried. He looks
comfortable in his relaxed pose, as if lounging in a park on a Sunday
afternoon. His hat tossed casually at his side, this image is detailed down
to the buttons on his vest and his bony fingers resting gently on his cane.
Leonard Volk (1818-1895), sculpted his own memorial as his last piece of commissioned artwork. He lies beneath this intricately detailed statue of himself.
If you're looking for a ghost story, probably the most haunting statue
belongs to Frances Pearce. She died at the age of twenty in 1864 with her
daughter following her to the grave only four months later. Her distraught
husband had a gorgeous statue crafted of her and the child, immortalizing
them in milky-white marble as a testament to his grief. She was originally
buried at the Old City Cemetery (what we now know as Lincoln Park) and moved
here later. Luckily, the statue was "boxed" in a glass enclosure immediately
after creation to preserve it from the harsh Chicago weather. According to
legend, on the anniversary of her death, this box fills with a mysterious
white mist. Is she trying to tell us something?
Frances Pearce and her child are immortalized forever in marble within this glass box enclosure. On the anniversary of her death, legend has it, the box fills with a mysterious mist.
This cemetery story wouldn't be complete without a trip to Rosehill's
Mausoleum, the largest public mausoleum in Chicago. Here are where John G.
Shedd, Richard Warren Sears, and Aaron Montgomery Ward are interred. If you
can find the mausoleum open, the Shedd Chapel is a must see. The room is
made entirely of white marble complete with six white marble benches (topped
with leather cushions) for mourners. At the head of the room is a large
brass gate behind which the Shedd family is buried. On the wall behind them
is a three sectioned Tiffany glass window in vibrant shades of blue. When
the light is just right the room looks like it's underwater. Above it all, a
magnificent Tiffany stained-glass skylight showers the room with even more
light. The Eastern tradition says only God can create perfection. In
keeping with that tradition, one panel of the skylight has been rotated
ninety degrees. Nevertheless the effect is still spectacular.
Through an arched doorway, and down a dark, spooky hall rests the remains of
Richard Sears. This crypt even has its own entrance from the outside. His
ghost has been seen walking in tophat and tails toward the crypt of his rival
in life, A. Montgomery Ward, located just down the hall a bit behind another
ornate brass gate. Both crypts are very elegant for these merchandising
giants.
Rosehill's Mausoleum (dedicated in 1914), houses some of Chicago's most famous citizens; John G. Shedd, Richard Warren Sears, Aaron Montgomery Ward, and includes its architect, Sidney Lovell.
Rosehill is only one cemetery of the over 100 cemeteries in Chicago. They
all have stories to tell, if you're willing to listen. Get up close, touch
the headstone, be open to a new experience. Try it, if you dare. Cemeteries
aren't just for Halloween!
Please email Karen Kruse
and let her know how much you enjoyed her article! Better yet, for more of
Kiki's work please visit
Cemetery Walk and Milwaukee's Best
To see more of Kiki's cemetery pictures, go to Kiki's
"FindAGrave Credits"
Go Back to Main Page of Cemetery Studies
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