Sleepy Hollow Cemetary
Concord, Massachusetts
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts, is not only a place of rest but also a site rich with American history and literature. Here are some fun and interesting historical facts about this cemetery:
Author's Ridge: One of the most visited areas in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is Author's Ridge, where several of America's most famous authors and thinkers are buried. This includes:
- Ralph Waldo Emerson: A central figure in the Transcendentalist movement, his grave is marked by a large, uncarved rose quartz boulder, reflecting his love for nature.
- Henry David Thoreau: Known for his book "Walden" and his essay "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau's grave is often adorned with pencils, pens, and notes from visitors.
- Louisa May Alcott: Author of "Little Women," her family plot includes her, though initially, she was buried elsewhere in the cemetery before being moved to be with her family.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne: Author of "The Scarlet Letter," his original burial site was marked by a simple stone with just "Hawthorne," but later, more elaborate markers were added.
Design Influenced by Transcendentalism: The cemetery itself was designed with the principles of Transcendentalism in mind, emphasizing natural beauty and simplicity. It was one of the first rural or garden cemeteries in the United States, where the natural landscape plays a significant role in the design, encouraging contemplation and reflection, much like Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge which inspired it.
The Melvin Memorial: Also known as "Mourning Victory," this sculpture was created by Daniel Chester French (who also sculpted the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial). It commemorates three brothers from Concord who died in the Civil War, with an allegorical figure of Victory emerging from a mourning shroud.
First Plantings: Sleepy Hollow was consecrated on September 29, 1855. On that day, Ralph Waldo Emerson gave an address, emphasizing the connection between nature and the eternal. The landscape was designed to be a place for the living as much as for the dead, with winding paths and a variety of trees and plants that were among the first plantings in what would become a trend in cemetery design.
Grave of Ephraim Wales Bull: While not as famous as the authors, he's significant for horticulture. Bull is the creator of the Concord grape, and his gravestone notes, "He sowed, others reaped."
A Place for Reflection and Inspiration: The cemetery not only serves as a final resting place but has also been a source of inspiration. It's said that the tranquility and beauty of Sleepy Hollow influenced the works of those buried there, particularly Emerson and Thoreau, who often wrote about nature's role in spiritual and intellectual life.
Not Directly Related to Washington Irving: Despite its name, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord has no direct connection to Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The name reflects more the general atmosphere and the trend of naming cemeteries after serene, natural settings.
Thoreau's Pond: Henry David Thoreau, a renowned naturalist and philosopher, helped design Cat's Pond, a man-made pond within the cemetery.
Visiting Sleepy Hollow Cemetery offers a walk through American literary history, landscape architecture, and a contemplation of the transcendentalist views on nature and mortality.