Mount Vernon Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located at 3499 West Lehigh Avenue in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1856, is 27 acres in size and contains over 18,000 graves. It was neglected for decades by an absentee landlord. No plots have been sold since 1968, it was not open to the public, many graves fell into disrepair and the cemetery became heavily overgrown. In 2021, a Philadelphia judge ordered the cemetery be placed in conservatorship due to neglect.
Aerial view showing Mount Vernon Cemetery on the right and nearby Laurel Hill Cemetery on the leftOvergrown monuments in Mount Vernon Cemetery as viewed from Laurel Hill CemeteryEntrance to Mount Vernon cemetery from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views
The property was originally part of the colonial estate of Robert Ralston named Mount Peace. Another portion of the estate was purchased by the Oddfellows organization for Mount Peace Cemetery.
John Notman, the architect of Laurel Hill Cemetery's Italianate gatehouse was hired to design a larger and grander gatehouse for Mount Vernon Cemetery which was completed in 1858.[3]
Gardel Memorial in 2006
In 1864, the Gardel Memorial was added to Mount Vernon. It is a memorial to Julia Hawks Gardel, the principal of a female seminary in Philadelphia,[4] who died in 1859 while traveling in Syria.[5] Her husband, Bertrand Gardel, commissioned Belgian sculptor Guillaume Geefs to create a 25-foot pyramid made of sandstone, marble and imported granite. The front of the pyramid is adorned with large marble statues which represent the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa to depict Julia's love of travel. Two statues above the pyramid door depict Hope and Faith holding a carved relief of Julia. The statue atop the pyramid represents America surrounded by emblems of the physical sciences. The memorial cost $36,000 which is the equivalent of about $2 million in current dollars. Bertrand Gardel died in 1895 and is interred in the vault beneath the memorial with his wife.[6]
Gardel Memorial from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views
In 1867, the Second Presbyterian Church burial ground on Arch Street was closed and 2,500 bodies were reinterred at Mount Vernon many from the 1700s including several Revolutionary War heroes.[6]
The Drew family plot at Mount Vernon contains generations of the Barrymore family.[7] The family lot was originally located in Glenwood Cemetery but was moved to Mount Vernon when Glenwood Cemetery was closed.[8]John Barrymore left in his will that he wished to be buried in the Drew family plot but was originally interred in Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. In 1980, his son John Drew Barrymore had his father's remains removed from the family mausoleum, cremated and reinterred in Mount Vernon Cemetery.[7] His grave was unmarked until 1992, when fans had a stone installed which had engraved upon it, "Alas poor Yorick" in a reference to his stage performance of Hamlet.[9]
Ownership Change in 1973Edit
Joseph Dinsmore Murphy, a lawyer from Washington D.C. began his ownership of the cemetery in 1973 when he inherited it from his father.[1] The cemetery was not abandoned, however no plots were sold since 1968[10] and it became heavily overgrown. Many graves fell into disrepair and some were looted for scrap metal.[1] Mount Vernon was not open to the public[11] and the owner required an appointment be made for visitations 24 hours in advance and only for people who had a family plot in the cemetery and know the location.[5]
On May 1, 2020 the Philadelphia Development Coalition petitioned to be appointed conservator of the property due to its abandoned and neglected condition. [12]
In 2021 a Philadelphia judge ordered the cemetery be placed in conservatorship due to neglect.[1]
Jake Virtue (1865–1943), professional baseball player
Pelatiah Webster (1726–1795), colonial merchant and author of short essays on finances and the government of the United States
ReferencesEdit
Citations
^ abcdBender, William. "Judge ousts absentee owner of historic Mount Vernon Cemetery. Rehab could involve goats". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
^Scharf, John Thomas (1884). History of Philadelphia, 1609–1884. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. p. 2360. Retrieved 23 August 2019. moriah.
^ abKeels, Thomas H. (2010). Wicked Philadelphia: Sin in the City of Brotherly Love. Charleston, SC: The History Press. ISBN978-1-61423-105-9. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
^Lindsay, Suzanne Glover. "The Drews and Barrymores at St. Stephen's, Part II". www.ststephsphl.org. St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
^Herr-Cardillo, Starr. "A Fine and Public Space: Preservationists Revive Philadelphia's Historic Cemeteries as Vibrant Spaces for The Living". www.hiddencityphila.org. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
^"Mount Vernon Cemetery – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". www.localcemeteries.net. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
^Bender, William. "Act 135 Petition Mount Vernon Cemetery". Retrieved 9 March 2022.
Sources
Keels, Thomas H. (2003). Philadelphia Graveyards & Cemeteries. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN0-7385-1229-X.
Webster, J.P. (2014). Vanishing Philadelphia: Ruins of the Quaker City. The History Press. ISBN978-1-62585-134-5.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Vernon Cemetery.
Philadelphia Community Development Coalition website
Video of Mount Vernon Cemetery grounds uploaded April 24, 2016
October 12, 2023
mount, vernon, cemetery, philadelphia, other, cemeteries, with, same, name, mount, vernon, cemetery, mount, vernon, cemetery, historic, rural, cemetery, located, 3499, west, lehigh, avenue, east, falls, neighborhood, philadelphia, pennsylvania, established, 18. For other cemeteries with the same name see Mount Vernon Cemetery Mount Vernon Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located at 3499 West Lehigh Avenue in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia Pennsylvania It was established in 1856 is 27 acres in size and contains over 18 000 graves It was neglected for decades by an absentee landlord No plots have been sold since 1968 it was not open to the public many graves fell into disrepair and the cemetery became heavily overgrown In 2021 a Philadelphia judge ordered the cemetery be placed in conservatorship due to neglect Mount Vernon CemeteryMount Vernon Cemetery GatehouseDetailsEstablished1856Location3499 West Lehigh Avenue Philadelphia PennsylvaniaCountryUnited StatesCoordinates39 59 58 N 75 11 06 W 39 99944 N 75 18500 W 39 99944 75 18500TypeprivateSize27 acres 1 No of graves18 250Websitehttps www mountvernoncemetery org Find a GraveMount Vernon Cemetery Contents 1 History 1 1 Ownership Change in 1973 2 Notable burials 3 References 4 External linksHistory Edit nbsp Aerial view showing Mount Vernon Cemetery on the right and nearby Laurel Hill Cemetery on the left nbsp Overgrown monuments in Mount Vernon Cemetery as viewed from Laurel Hill Cemetery nbsp Entrance to Mount Vernon cemetery from Robert N Dennis collection of stereoscopic viewsThe cemetery was established on February 28 1856 and is located directly across Ridge Avenue from Laurel Hill Cemetery 2 The property was originally part of the colonial estate of Robert Ralston named Mount Peace Another portion of the estate was purchased by the Oddfellows organization for Mount Peace Cemetery John Notman the architect of Laurel Hill Cemetery s Italianate gatehouse was hired to design a larger and grander gatehouse for Mount Vernon Cemetery which was completed in 1858 3 nbsp Gardel Memorial in 2006In 1864 the Gardel Memorial was added to Mount Vernon It is a memorial to Julia Hawks Gardel the principal of a female seminary in Philadelphia 4 who died in 1859 while traveling in Syria 5 Her husband Bertrand Gardel commissioned Belgian sculptor Guillaume Geefs to create a 25 foot pyramid made of sandstone marble and imported granite The front of the pyramid is adorned with large marble statues which represent the continents of Asia Europe and Africa to depict Julia s love of travel Two statues above the pyramid door depict Hope and Faith holding a carved relief of Julia The statue atop the pyramid represents America surrounded by emblems of the physical sciences The memorial cost 36 000 which is the equivalent of about 2 million in current dollars Bertrand Gardel died in 1895 and is interred in the vault beneath the memorial with his wife 6 nbsp Gardel Memorial from Robert N Dennis collection of stereoscopic viewsIn 1867 the Second Presbyterian Church burial ground on Arch Street was closed and 2 500 bodies were reinterred at Mount Vernon many from the 1700s including several Revolutionary War heroes 6 The Drew family plot at Mount Vernon contains generations of the Barrymore family 7 The family lot was originally located in Glenwood Cemetery but was moved to Mount Vernon when Glenwood Cemetery was closed 8 John Barrymore left in his will that he wished to be buried in the Drew family plot but was originally interred in Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles California In 1980 his son John Drew Barrymore had his father s remains removed from the family mausoleum cremated and reinterred in Mount Vernon Cemetery 7 His grave was unmarked until 1992 when fans had a stone installed which had engraved upon it Alas poor Yorick in a reference to his stage performance of Hamlet 9 Ownership Change in 1973 Edit Joseph Dinsmore Murphy a lawyer from Washington D C began his ownership of the cemetery in 1973 when he inherited it from his father 1 The cemetery was not abandoned however no plots were sold since 1968 10 and it became heavily overgrown Many graves fell into disrepair and some were looted for scrap metal 1 Mount Vernon was not open to the public 11 and the owner required an appointment be made for visitations 24 hours in advance and only for people who had a family plot in the cemetery and know the location 5 On May 1 2020 the Philadelphia Development Coalition petitioned to be appointed conservator of the property due to its abandoned and neglected condition 12 In 2021 a Philadelphia judge ordered the cemetery be placed in conservatorship due to neglect 1 Notable burials EditSee also Category Burials at Mount Vernon Cemetery Philadelphia John Barrymore 1882 1942 stage screen and radio actor Maurice Barrymore 1849 1905 stage actor George C Burling 1834 1885 Union Army officer during the U S Civil War John Carson 1752 1794 physician Georgiana Drew 1856 1893 stage actress and comedian John Drew 1827 1862 stage actor and theatre manager John Drew Jr 1853 1927 stage actor Louisa Lane Drew 1820 1897 actress and theatre owner Louise Drew 1882 1954 stage actress Sidney Drew 1863 1913 member of the Mr and Mrs Sidney Drew comedy team Sidney Rankin Drew 1891 1918 actor and film director Peter Stephen Du Ponceau 1760 1844 linguist philosopher and jurist Christian Febiger 1749 1796 American Revolutionary War commander Charles Albert Fechter 1824 1879 actor Charlie Householder 1854 1913 professional baseball player William Churchill Houston 1746 1788 New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress William M Ireland 1891 one of the founders of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry Samuel Jaudon 1796 1874 banker and businessman Lawrence Johnson 1801 1860 printing stereotyper and type founder Judy Lewis 1935 2011 actress writer producer and therapist Henry Myers 1858 1895 professional baseball player Horace Phillips 1853 1896 major league baseball manager Lawrence Saint 1885 1961 stained glass artist Maria Louise Sanford 1836 1920 educator Alfred J Sellers 1836 1908 Medal of Honor recipient Bill Sharsig 1855 1902 Major League Baseball co owner and general manager Jonathan Bayard Smith 1742 1812 Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress John P Van Leer 1834 1862 Union Army officer Jake Virtue 1865 1943 professional baseball player Pelatiah Webster 1726 1795 colonial merchant and author of short essays on finances and the government of the United StatesReferences EditCitations a b c d Bender William Judge ousts absentee owner of historic Mount Vernon Cemetery Rehab could involve goats www inquirer com Retrieved 9 September 2021 Scharf John Thomas 1884 History of Philadelphia 1609 1884 Philadelphia L H Everts amp Co p 2360 Retrieved 23 August 2019 moriah Webster 2014 p 143 Julia Hawkes Gardel s Female Seminary School Ledgers www libapps salisbury edu Retrieved 9 September 2021 a b Roaming with the Roxborough Runner Mount Vernon Cemetery www nwlocalpaper com 7 March 2016 Retrieved 7 September 2019 a b Webster 2014 p 145 a b Keels Thomas H 2010 Wicked Philadelphia Sin in the City of Brotherly Love Charleston SC The History Press ISBN 978 1 61423 105 9 Retrieved 21 September 2019 Lindsay Suzanne Glover The Drews and Barrymores at St Stephen s Part II www ststephsphl org St Stephens Episcopal Church Retrieved 19 January 2022 Keels 2003 p 54 Herr Cardillo Starr A Fine and Public Space Preservationists Revive Philadelphia s Historic Cemeteries as Vibrant Spaces for The Living www hiddencityphila org Retrieved 7 September 2019 Mount Vernon Cemetery Philadelphia Pennsylvania www localcemeteries net Retrieved 7 September 2019 Bender William Act 135 Petition Mount Vernon Cemetery Retrieved 9 March 2022 Sources Keels Thomas H 2003 Philadelphia Graveyards amp Cemeteries Arcadia Publishing ISBN 0 7385 1229 X Webster J P 2014 Vanishing Philadelphia Ruins of the Quaker City The History Press ISBN 978 1 62585 134 5 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Vernon Cemetery Mt Vernon Cemetery Conservation Company Mount Vernon Cemetery at Find a Grave nbsp Philadelphia Community Development Coalition website Video of Mount Vernon Cemetery grounds uploaded April 24 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mount Vernon Cemetery Philadelphia amp oldid 1167105505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
