Oakwood Cemetery June 9, 2014

View of Troy from Oakwood Cemetery

Open book gravestone

Model of crematorium 

I think today was a perfect day for a funeral. When I was growing up as a child I was always told that if it rains while there is a funeral that means at that specific time that person is being brought into heaven. I never asked what happens when it doesn’t rain while there’s a funeral, and I just guessed maybe there’s a ceremony to get into heaven so your ceremony time slot didn’t match up with your funeral. The Oakwood Cemetery was made in 1848 at the height of a rural cemetery movement. It was created as a park like setting, although I can’t imagine people having lunch with their deceased loved one. But the meaning behind a rural cemetery makes me understand the setting. It is believed that a person should be laid to rest in a beautiful setting, while representing their accomplishments in life. The view from the Oakwood cemetery is amazing. It has many ponds, trails and a great view of the Hudson River Valley. But the only reason why I enjoyed looking at the cemetery was to see the beautiful gravestones. I always knew there was meaning behind every gravestone, but I didn’t know particular statues had such depth to them. The symbol I chose to research on is the open book gravestone. What I found is that books have long term meaning of knowledge, and sometimes can symbolize the story of life or representation of a person’s good deeds and accomplishments. When a book is open, it can be seen as perfect knowledge and if there is a cross laying over it – faith personified. If a book is shorter on one side it can mean the person died at a young age. Sometimes, bible or book shaped gravestones are used on clergymen or ministers to show their dedication and faith (“Gillies”). The book shaped gravestone shown above does not have a shorter side, which meant the person died at a fairly good age. I could not see a cross or make out the name of the person buried, so my first guess would be that it is symbolizing accomplishments in life. But this symbol is not the only piece of iconography we saw at the cemetery. There were eagles, angels, crosses, anchors and urns. All of these iconography pieces showcase the beauty of cemeteries. 

Uncle Sam 

There are many important people buried in the Oakwood cemetery who helped Troy develop as a town along the Hudson River. People such as Gale, Emma Willard, General George Thomas, Amos Eaton and Burden are all buried in this cemetery. These people served as military, educational, and iron manufacturing leaders in the Hudson River Valley.  These leaders not only contributed to the prosperity of the area but the demand for the cemetery to be built because Troy’s population increased due to demand in labor. I thought it was just a little creepy walking over dead people but I got over it when I realized people might be doing the same to me in some decade’s time. I’m not exactly sure how I want to buried, or even remembered as a person. I guess I am just going to go with the flow.