USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 45
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NEW LAUREL GROVE CEMETERY
Further suggestions having been made, from time to time. in rela- tion to want of a new place of burial, council adopted an ordinance on the 3d of June, 1853, declaring that "So much of the Springfield Planta- tion as is herein set forth and deseribed be, and the same is hereby set apart and dedicated as a publie Cemetery forever, to be known by the name of Laurel Grove Cemetery-that is to say -- The parcel of land beginning at the northern fence recently built, running across the land purchased from the heirs of Joseph Stiles-between the lands of Dr. Bulloch on the east and the dam of the old rice field on the west, and running southwardly between the said lands of Dr. Bulloch and land of the heirs of Morel on the east and said dam on the west, to the corner of the bank on land of the heirs of Morel on the eastern side-then from said eorner westwardly to within sixty feet of the fence now running from a point near said corner in a south-westwardly direction, and thenee by said fence and a line in the direction thereof on the western side to the southern line of the said lands purchased from the heirs of Joseph Stiles. And that the space of sixty feet next to said fence and a line in the direction thereof, from said corner to the southern line of said purchase, shall be a publie highway or street forever, and be ealled by the name of Kollock street.
"2. A pillar of granite shall be placed at each of the corners of said land so set apart and dedicated, and a map of the land so set apart and dedicated shall be made by the City Surveyor, and be recorded on the County Record, in order that the true location of the said Cemetery may be known and perpetuated.
"3. The plan of the interior of said Cemetery, made by James O. Morse, and now in the office of the Clerk of Conneil, be and the same is hereby declared to be the true plan thereof, and that all the ways, pas- sages, avermes, and corners thereon delineated snall forever be kept free
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and unobstructed for the use of those who may at any time hereafter become owners of lots in said Cemetery, and for the publie, subject. how- ever, at all times. to such rules and regulations as may from time to time be made by Council for the government of same."
The ordinance from which the foregoing is taken is a long one. and contains all the regulations concerning the keeping. burials, lots, etc. As bearing on the importance of the subject, we further quote as fol- lows :
"And whereas, the crowded state of the old Cemeteries renders it absolutely necessary that interments therein should close at as early a day as possible ; and whereas it is the duty of Council to encourage the voluntary removal of remains now within the old Cemeteries :
"No interment of the body of any deceased person shall be made in
. HISTORICAL GRAVES IN COLONIAL PARK, SAVANNAH
either of the present Cemeteries after his Honor the Mayor shall, under the direction of Council, give publie notice in all the City Gazettes that Laurel Grove Cemetery is prepared to receive all remains of deceased persons.
"And whereas it is the duty of Council also to provide a suitable place for the interment of deceased free persons of color and slaves:
"There shall be laid out in the south-western portion of the lands before set apart for the Cemetery fifteen acres of ground which shall be used alone for the interment of the remains of deceased persons of color, under sueh regulations as Council may from time to time prescribe.
"From and after the day of publication of preparation of said Laurel Grove Cemetery shall be made by the Mayor as above provided for, it shall not be lawful to inter any dead body in any other place within the corporate limits of the City of Savannah than in the said Laurel Grove Cemetery, and in the present Hebrew Cemetery, and any
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person who shall so inter, or cause to be interred, or be in any manner concerned in interring any dead body within the corporate limits, save in Laurel Grove Cemetery and said Hebrew Cemetery, shall be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars, to be recovered on information before the Mayor of said City."
In explanation of the permission given in the above recited ordinance for burials in the Hebrew cemetery, statement is here made that by ordi- nance of August 17, 1839, "The Hebrew Burial Grounds shall be con- sidered and deemed public Cemeteries of the City of Savannah."
CLOSING THE OLD COLONIAL CEMETERY
Final action in relation to closing the old Colonial cemetery was taken when the mayor issued the following proclamation :
"PROCLAMATION.
"Mayor's Office, Savannah. May 9, 1853 .- Whereas, Council at a regular meeting, held on the 27th of January, 1853, passed a resolution requiring me to issue my proclamation 'Closing the Old Cemetery for the purpose of interment after the first of July next :'
"Therefore, I do hereby proclaim, that after the first day of July next, the Old or Brick Cemetery will be closed for the purpose of interment. "R. WAYNE, Mayor. "Attest: EDWARD G. WILSON, Clerk of Council."
Mr. Thomas Gamble, in his "History of the City Government" states that "one- fifth of the Cemetery was offered to the Catholic Church for a burying ground at one-fifth of the total expense. Bishop Gartland declined to purchase the section proffered unless it was unfettered by restriction and placed solely under the control of the Church. He offered to purchase fifteen or twenty acres outside of the Cemetery enclosure for a private Cemetery, but nothing resulted. In June, 1853, the section south of Pine, Locust and Jessamine avenues was set apart for the Catholics. Mr. Prendergast in the meantime had given Bishop Gartland fifteen acres of land on the White Bluff road for a Cemetery, and as Council declined to confer special privileges in Laurel Grove, the second offer was likewise declined.
The following is taken from an act of the general assembly of Georgia approved February 18. 1854: "Whereas, a piece of ground. consisting of five acres, more or less, situated and lying in Chatham County, on the Thunderbolt and Causton's Bluff roads. in the vicinity of Savannah, immediately adjoining the two mile stone on the Causton Bluff road, has been purchased and set apart for the purposes of a cemetery for the deceased members of the Roman Catholic Congregation worshiping in the City of Savannah; and whereas, it is meet and proper that places set apart for the burial of the dead should be protected from all undue interferences :
"It shall not be lawful to open any private or public road through the Cemetery aforesaid, any laws heretofore passed to the contrary not- withstanding.
"If any person or persons shall commit any act of trespass, or shall
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injure or destroy any of the fencing, or injure or deface any of the monuments in the said Cemetery, such person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction be punished by fine or im- prisonment, at the discretion of the Court."
QUESTION OF FIRST JEWISH BURIAL PLACE
A more thorough investigation of the question of the first Jewish burial place, treated of in the carlier portion of this book, throws a clearer light on it, as follows: When the Georgia commons house of assembly met on the 16th of December, 1762, that body received a peti- tion from sundry inhabitants and free-holders of Savannah, professing the Jewish religion. "setting forth that from the first of families settling in this province a cemetery of burial place hath been and allowed to and made use of by them for the interment of their dead. but the same never having been ascertained in its extent no inclosure thereof could be made, and further setting forth that the petitioners are informed a bill is now pending in this House for the enlarging and inelosing cem- cteries or burial grounds, and are very willing and desirous at their own cost and expense to inelose a portion of ground for the solemn pur- pose aforesaid; and therefore praying this House to take the premises into consideration and allot by law a certain stated quantity of ground (including the spot where they have constantly deposited their dead) to be inclosed and appropriated for the use and service aforesaid." It was "ordered that the petition do lie on the table," and it was not brought up again at that session.
Again, at a session of the same body, on the 14th of March, 1770. another petition was read, said petition then being from certain other inhabitants of Savannah objeeting to the granting of the petition of certain Jews "for a lot or burial place opposite the lot of David Trnan." That petition was laid on the table to be examined by all parties inter- ested; but the next day, the 15th, another petition was received, setting forth that "as the place had been many years since allotted for a burial ground for the Jewish people and in which many have been interred, and it being a reasonable request, petitioners ask that it be confirmed to the holders." No action seems to have been taken on the subject.
But the matter did not end there. During the next month of that same year 1770. namely. on the 6th of April, the upper house of as- sembly received "a memorial of sundry freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Savannah setting forth that the memorialists were informed that a petition had been received by the Commons House of Assembly from the few inhabitants of Jewish religion praying for a certain spot of ground on the Common to be aliened and conveyed to them for burial purposes which they alleged. tho' it did not appear on any record, was formerly allotted to them by General Oglethorpe for the purpose afore- said," and, in objecting to the granting of that memorial of the Jewish citizens, the new petitioners asked to be heard by the upper house, when it was "ordered that the memorial lie on the table to be perused by the members of this House." The minutes show that on the 9th, three days afterwards, the bill granting the request of the Jewish petitioners was Vol 1 -- 24
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committed to the committee of the whole house, and it does not appear by the journal that it was aeted on.
We have already shown that commeil, by ordinance of August 27, 1839, declared the Hebrew burial grounds to be public cemeteries.
LAUREL GROVE CEMETERY DEDICATED
The city council. through the committee of that body on health and cemetery for the years 1851-1852. arranged for suitable ceremonies in connection with the dedication of Laurel Grove cemetery, and the Hon. Robert Milledge Charlton was invited to prepare a poem while the Hon. Henry R. Jackson was asked to deliver the public address. Both of those gentlemen consented, and the day appointed was the 10th of Novem- ber, 1852. The services began with prayer by the Rev. Willard Preston, D. D., pastor of the Independent Presbyterian church. The prayer was followed by the reading of the poem which is too long for repetition here, but we cannot refrain from quoting the closing lines :
"Brethren! let no vain strife, today, Hold c'er your minds its hateful sway ; Banish each thought of wrong and ill, Oh, restless hearts,-be still! be still ! Why should ye strive ? Death's ceaseless tide Will sweep ve hither, side by side; When ye have yielded up life's trust, Here shall ye moulder -- 'dust to dust !' Behold, behold, the final bourne, Where ye shall come-but ne'er return ! Now part we-here to meet no more, 'Till care, and hope, and life are o'er ; Time flieth with unerring flight, Death cometh with its dismal might ; So let us live-so let us die,
That we may time and death defy,
That when affection's hallow'd tear Shall fall above our ashes here.
Our souls, released from error's stain, Shall dwell on God's eternal plain.
Oh, Father! hear our humble prayer, And bless us, ere we slumber here!"
Mr. Jackson's address followed the poem, and we make room for only one short passage : "Behold a new city which we now conseerate to the dead! Behold its walls, its gates, and its streets! At present it lies with- out a population ! But soon your gates shall be thrown open again and again to admit the mourning procession. These streets shall be pressed by the funeral hearse; and the dull sonud shall be heard of the covering clay, as earth receives her frail children back to her bosom, Soon from other cemeteries will be brought the remains of the beloved dead,
'Not lost, but gone before,'
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to be consigned to this safer, more desirable and more permanent place of burial; and the hearts of this community will soon be bound by a thousand tender ties to the earth upon which we stand and over which we gaze. Soon upon these vales and trees a holy calm will descend; the morning and the evening sun will shine upon them with a softer ray, and the breeze play around them and among them, with a sadder, sweeter music. As, with solemn step and hushed voices, we tread along these paths, the dead will rise before us, will walk with us and speak to us again : these beautiful grounds will soon have become a sacred city of the dead.
"And do they not deserve it at our hands? Even in a small com- munity like our own, what do we not owe to the dead? and to those. too, who have fallen within the memory of the youngest of us all ? To them are we indebted for many of the comforts of life. To them do we owe the initiatory steps in those works of improvement which have made our city what it is, and opened before us a brilliant future of indefinite expan- sion. But, above all, to them are we indebted for examples of goodness, purity and worth which have given character to our community, and should be held up, as guiding stars, to the young. The character of her distinguished citizens is a precious treasure as well to a city as a state. They should be guarded with a never sleeping eye. They should be kept constantly fresh and bright in the hearts of the young. They should be transmitted, as a precious legacy, from generation to generation. In honoring them we honor ourselves.
"And an honor always accorded to the illustrious dead has been a dis- tinguished sepulture. Many of the noblest works of art, which have come down to ns from ancient times were monuments erected in honor of the distinguished dead. And what is not Westminster Abbey-that vast assemblage of sepulchres'-where sleep the great and good of past generations-statesmen. warriors, philanthropists, poets, and orators- what is it not to England, her story, her genius and her fame, Our city may never have produced heretofore, may never hereafter produce, such eminent individual renown as has shed a peculiar halo about the greater cities of aneient or of modern times. Yet has she already given birth, and with the blessing of heaven, she will continue to give birth, to men of distinguished talent, of eminent worth and honorable fame; men whose monuments would impart an interest to any cemetery, and whose examples might be proudly held up to any comunity !
"To the graves of such men it were a consummation to direct the steps and the attention of the living. All honor be paid to their memory !"
At the conclusion of the address the Rev. Dr. Loviek Pierce, of the Methodist Episcopal church, offered a prayer which concluded the service.
THE PULASKI MONUMENT
We have in another place recorded the facts connected with the laying of corner stones of monuments intended to be erected in memory of Greene aud Pulaski, and the finishing of the one in Johnson square
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which was known as the Greene and Pulaski monument until the time when arrangements were made for the building of the second one, when the former became the Greene monument and the latter the Pulaski monument.
On the 11th of October. 1853, the corner stone of the Pulaski monu- ment was laid, with interesting ceremonies, in Monterey square, in accordance with the plans of the commissioners appointed to raise the means for that purpose. A plan for that monument, submitted by Mr. Robert E. Launitz, of New York, was selected by the commissioners in the month of May, 1852. The height was to be fifty-five feet, the material to be Italian marble, and the cost $17.000. The monument was to be ready for ereetion by the first of July, 1854. This is its deseription as stated by its designer :
"In designing this monument I have had particular regard to purity of style, richness of effect, and strength and durability in material and execution, while I have not lost sight of the main objeet, which is to design a Monument for Pulaski.
"It is perceived, at the first glance, that the monument is intended for a soldier who is losing his life, fighting. Wounded he falls from his horse while still grasping his sword. The date of the event is recorded above the subject, the arms of Poland and Georgia, surrounded by branches of laurel, ornament the cornice on two sides or fronts. They stand united together, while the eagle, emblem of Liberty, Independence and Courage, rests on both. bidding proud defence; the eagle being the symbolie bird both of Poland and America, the allegory needs no further explanation. The inverted cannons on the corners of the die are emble- matie of military loss and mourning, while they give to the mourner a strong military character. To facilitate the execution of the shaft. which it would be impossible to execute in one piece, I have divided the same into several parts. separated by bands, so as to remove the unsight- liness of the horizontal joints on a plain surface. The bands are alter- nately ornamented with stars, emblems of the States and Territories, now and in embryo, who enjoy, and will enjoy, the fruits of the valor and patriotism of the heroes of the Revolution. The garlands on the alter- nate bands above the stars denote that they (the States) are green and flourishing. The shaft is surmounted by a highly elaborate Corinthian top, which adds richness, loftiness, and grandeur to the structure. The monument is surmounted by a statue of Liberty, embracing with her left arın the banner of the stars and stripes, while in her right hand is extended the Laurel Wreath. The love of liberty brought Pulaski to America ; for love of liberty he fought, and for liberty he lost his life. Thus, I thought that Liberty should crown his monument, and share with him the homage of the free."
As Pulaski died on the 11th of October, 1779, it will be seen that the corner-stone of the monument was laid on the seventy-fourth anniver- sary of that event, and. in their report, the commissioners stated that the corner-stone originally laid by Lafayette, and which had been again removed from its place in Johnson square, together with another of equal size united to it by copper bands, and containing the records of the present day, which the commissioners desired to deposit beneath
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the monument, was laid on its final resting-place. The following record, written on parchment and placed in a copper tube, was enelosed in the stone: "Pulaski Monument, Savannah, Georgia, Chatham County, United States of America: 11th October, 1853.
"This parchment is to record the laying of the corner-stone of a Monument in the center of Monterey Square, at the junction of Bull and Wayne Streets, City of Savannah, to the memory of Brigadier General Kasimir Pulaski, who fell mortally wounded by a swivel shot, while on a charge at the head of a body of Cavalry, before the British lines, at the Siege of Savannah, on the ninth day of October, seventeen hundred and seventy-nine. Kasimir Pulaski. a Polish nobleman, was born in Mazovia, in Poland, in the year Seventeen Hundred and Forty- eight, arrived in the United States in the year Seventeen Hundred and Seventy-seven (1777) and volunteered his services to the American Government, in the great and glorious cause of Liberty and resistance to British Tyranny-received a commission from the Government as Brigadier General of Cavalry, on the 15th day of September, 1777, and fought gallantly in the battles of this country, at Brandywine, Germantown, Charleston and Savannah. Aged thirty-one. years.
"Robert E. Launitz, of New York, Designer, Sculptor and Builder. "M. Lufburrow and E. Jones, Builders of the Foundation.
"Robert D. Walker, Sculptor of the Corner-Stone.'
The address on the occasion of laying the corner-stone was delivered by Henry Williams, Esq.
Continuing, the report of the commissioners said: "At three o'clock, P. M., upon the appointed day, the Independent Volunteer Battalion of Savannah, consisting of the Chatham Artillery, with a battery of six guns, under Capt. Gallie; the Phoenix Riflemen, under Capt. Mills; the Republican Blues, under Lieut. Davis, commanding; the Savannah Volunteer Guards under Capt. Sereven : the German Vol- unteers, under Capt. Stegen: the Irish Jasper Greens. under Capt. Devanny ; and the De Kalb Riflemen, under Capt. Ganahl; together with the Georgia Hussars, on the right, under Capt. Lamar, the whole under the command of Lient. Col. Alexander R. Lawton, poured in Liberty street, and marched to the ground, taking position in Bull street, with the right resting in Madison Square, and their left extend- ing to Monterey Square. In this position they received, with the cus- tomary military salute, the civic procession, marshaled by Commissioner Wm. P. Bowen, comprised of the Chaplain and Orator of the day, escorted by Commissioner. Richard D. Arnokl. the Mayor and Alder- inen of Savannah, then Masonic Lodges and their officers of the First Brigade and First Squadron of Cavalry, with their staffs, The proces- sion having passed into the square, oeenpied the seats which had been provided on a platform erected above the foundation of the monument. The immense concourse of spectators, of whom a large number were ladies, filled the entire square and open space in the vieinity, as well as the windows and piazzas of the surrounding dwellings. The military, after the entrance of the procession, took a new position, forming on three sides of the square, where they remained during the performance of the ceremonies.
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"These arrangements having been completed, the assemblage was called to order by Commissioner Win. P. Bowen, after which the Rever- end Aaron J. Karn [ Pastor of the Lutheran Church], Chaplain of the day, addressed the Throne of Grace in an impressive and appropriate prayer.
"Henry Williams, Esq., who had been invited by the Commissioners to deliver an address on the occasion, then arose and enchained the attention of the entire assemblage, perhaps the largest ever congregated in Savannah in the * * graphic and eloquent tribute to the mem- ory of Pulaski.
"Upon the conclusion of the address, Commissioner Bowen exhibited a list of the articles which had been placed within the corner- stone.
"The members of the Masonic Fraternity then rising from their seats, assembled around the base of the monument, when, conducted by the Acting Grand Master Richard R. Cuyler, the solemn forms of their ceremonial were observed, and the corner-stone duly deposited by their hands in the place prepared for its reception. A benediction was then pronounced by Rev. T. L. Hutchings.
"The Chatham Artillery, who had previously taken an independent position, then fired a National Salute, which concluded the most bril- liant and imposing civie and military pageant ever witnessed in Savan- nah.
"In the evening of the same day the Commissioners entertained, at the Exchange, a number of invited guests, consisting of the Commis- sioned Officers of the Military, and others who had taken part in the ceremonies of the occasion."
MONUMENT DELIVERED TO COMMISSIONERS
The contract with Mr. Launitz called for the delivery of the monu- ment by the second day of July, 1854; but it was not until carly in November that he began the work on the foundation which, it appears had to be changed somewhat, and consequently the corner-stone had to be moved so that it rests "on the foundation in the northeast corner. enclosed by the plinth at that corner.'
It took him until the 22d of December to conclude the work which embraced also the placing of the railing enclosing the monument, and the next day he announced its completion to the commissioners, tender- ing the monument "for your inspection and acceptance." Promptly came their response on the 26th in which they said: "We * *
* accept it, and while congratulating you upon its completion in accord- ance with your design and contraet, we most heartily tender to you onr very sincere thanks for this specimen of monumental architecture, alike creditable to yourself and ornamental to our City."
On the 5th of January, 1855, the commissioners announced to the mayor and aldermen of the city the fact of the completion, and closed their communication in these words: "They now desire a tender of that structure to the Municipal authorities as part and parcel of the public property of the City, and invite your attendance in Monterey Square on Monday, the 8th January, at 12 o'clock. M., for its reception." They
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