USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > Historical sketch of Hollywood Cemetery : from the 3d of June, 1847, to 10th July, 1889 > Part 2
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6th. There shall be an annual meeting of the members of the said Company. on the first Tuesday of May, of each year, and such other general meetings as may be called by the Directors; at which each member, whilst the subscribers are the members. for every one hundred dollars paid by him, and, when the pur- chasers of the lots are the members, each lot shall entitle its owner to a vote. A majority of the subscribers whilst they
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Historical Sketch of Hollywood Cemetery.
constitute the Company, and afterwards lot-holders, who are entitled to give one hundred votes, present in person, or by proxy in writing, shall constitute a quorum to do business. And all questions, unless where it is otherwise expressly pro- vided, shall be decided by the majority of the votes present.
7th. The acts of the Directors, done in pursuance of the powers vested in them by the Company, shall be binding on all the members thereof. And the said acts may be done in their own name.
Sth. One week's notice, in one or more of the newspapers published in the City of Richmond, shall be given by the Direc- tors of all the general meetings of the Company.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
I. All Lots shall be held in pursuance of a Deed of Trust from Davenport and wife and others, to Macfarland and others, bearing date 23rd April, 1849, and of record in the Clerk's Office of the Richmond Hustings Court ; and shall not he used for any other purpose than as a place of burial for the dead.
II. All interments in Lots shall be restricted to the meinbers of the family and relatives of the proprietors thereof, except special permission to the contrary be obtained, in writing, at the office of the Company.
III. The proprietor of each Lot shall have a right to enclose the same with a wall, not exceeding one foot in thickness and two feet in height, or with a fence not exceeding four feet in height, to be placed on the margin allowed for that purpose; but the Trustees request that all such railings should be of iron, and light, neat and symmetrical.
IV. The proprietor of each Lot shall have a right to erect any proper stones, monuments, or sepulchral structures thereon, and to cultivate trees, shrubs and plants in the same; but no tree growing within the Lot or border, shall be cut down or destroyed without the consent of the Trustees.
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Historical Sketch of Hollywood Cemetery.
V. The proprietor of each Lot shall keep in repair, at his or her own expense, the land-marks of the same, which shall be erected by the Company.
VI. If any trees or shrubs situated in any Lot, shall by means of their roots, branches or otherwise, become detrimental to the adjacent lots or avenues, or dangerous or inconvenient to passengers, it shall be the duty of the said Company, and they shall have the right to enter the said lot and remove the said trees and shrubs, or such parts thereof as are detrimental, dan- gerous or inconvenient.
VII. If any monument or effigy, or any structure whatever, or any inscription be placed in or upon any Lot, which shall be determined by the major part of the Trustees for the time being to be offensive or improper, the said Trustees or a major part of them, shall have the right, and it shall be their duty to enter upon such Lot and remove the said offensive or improper object or objects.
VIII. It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees, from time to time, to lay out or alter such avenues or walks, and to make such rules and regulations for the government of the grounds, as they may deem requisite and proper to secure and promote the general objects of the Company.
IX. The proprietors of Lots and their families, shall be allowed access to the grounds at all times, observing the rules which are or may be adopted for the regulation of visitors.
REPORT
ACCOMPANYING PLAN OF HOLLY-WOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND, VA. To the Board of Directors of Holly wood Cemetery, Richmond :
GENTLEMEN-In arranging the plan of the Cemetery I have adopted the position of the entrance, on the north-east corner, as most convenient to the city, and as very favorable to an extensive view of the grounds on entering ; an impression of extent being highly desirable, where the surface comes to be so much subdivided as in a public cemetery.
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That is also the most desirable point to get the first glance of the beautiful variety of hill and valley, which distinguishes Holly-Wood above any cemetery I have seen. No other one has, as this has, three or four valleys opening into a greater one-and that capable of great beauty by being properly planted and laid out.
But beauty must be secondary to use, if circumstances will not admit of their being united. This I have endeavored to do in laying out my plan. How far I have succeeded you will judge on comparing the plan with the grounds.
You may be surprised, taking the first view of the plan, at the number of roads on it; but the absolute necessity of the car- riages getting near the lot at a funeral is so apparent in prac- tice, as to make it imperative, that the roads should not be farther apart than the length or breadth, as it may happen, of five or six lots, with foot-paths between parallels of double lots, and occasional grass-path crossings.
On this rule the roads are laid out, at the same time leading them by such routes as best to display and view all the beauty of the grounds, and that little or no cutting or grading will be required; on this plan deep excavation will be necessary only at two places, one rising the hill by section A, going towards where the first entrance was proposed, the other on the road under or east of Harvie's lot. Some trimming of the bank will be needful to a good road on the east side of the principal run of water in the main valley. The roads are made as direct as the shape of the ground will admit to every part of the Ceme- tery, leaving no point unvisited favorable for views, or useful for lots, or prominent as a site for monuments. Making roads will not be expensive in Holly-Wood, for there is plenty of gravel; in many places, say two-thirds of the route of road, by removing the surface soil, the road is made. The roads neces- sarily wind and turn to avoid acclivities ; this is an advantage, as it produces many angles and corner lots, which are sought for, as you will find; they will be first bought up, being de- sirable for the display of a monument or tomb. The roads I have made twenty feet wide; it is unnecessary to cut them more
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Historical Sketch of Hollywood Cemetery.
than fourteen or fifteen feet wide, thus leaving a grass broader on each side, of two and a half or three feet, in the power and control of the Cemetery Company, for the purpose of planting or other decorative occupation, and prevents the appearance of the railings and enclosures of lots crowding on the drives.
Five bridges are necessary on the whole route. These may be readily and simply constructed of the trunks of the white oaks that have been cut down, laid on abutments of dry stone walling on each side of the runs or brooks, built without mor- tar; the granite on the ground might be easily quarried to serve the purpose ; a simple rustic railing made of the branches of the trees cut down (with the bark on) placed on each side, will be in better keeping with the place and purpose than the most expensive railing planed and painted. Surface gutters will be necessary in some parts of the road to carry across surface water from the declivities,-they can be provided at the points where necessary, when the work of making the roads is in pro- gress.
I have not named on the plan the roads or avenues, as it is common to do, after trees and plants, such as Elm Avenue, Mag- nolia Avenue and so on ; this has been done at Mount Auburn, and I think in Greenwood and also Greenmount Cemeteries; but would suggest that they be called after the name of the first person who shall erect a handsome monument or family tomb, or to whom such shall be erected ; for instance, if you have the tomb or monument of Chief Justice Marshall on a section of road, what more appropriate name than Marshall Avenue ? And should the Washington monument of Virginia be erected on the circular lot, shown on the south-west end of the grounds, the road leading to it would be Washington or Monument Avenue. Again, the main road in the greater valley might be Valley Avenue, or East Avenue : that leading by Harvie's lot, might be Harvie's Avenue. I suggest these, as I wish the Holly-Wood Cemetery to be " sui generis," original in every- thing, as it has a distinctive and superior character of ground, which, with the splendid panoramic views from it of the city and river, makes it equal to the best in the country. My aim
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in the plan is to enhance these advantages and show the excel- lent taste which directed its choice and appropriation to this purpose. The naming of the roads, then, I will leave to your judgment, as it might seem presumption in me to do it on the permanent plan, without consulting your Board of Directors. Inserting the names is easily done on the map at any time as you may decide.
Objections may be made to the great number and length of roads. In reference to these, I would say, they combine the uses shown above, together with the perfect opening up or ex- posing the whole of the grounds to the casual visitor. The pleasure of a drive over a variety of surface with such charm- ing views, will induce visitors. Of easy access, a drive through them will indeed be delightful. Many are interested by the novelty and beauty and become purchasers of lots-thus one class of the public are with you.
Again; the thinking part of the community, the grave and the sad, seeing the last resting-place of their friends and family so well cared for, so decorated by your efforts, will readily join you. Their best feelings are with you ; they will feel that their own ashes are never to be disturbed in Holly-Wood,-that it is sacred forever.
The foot-paths are six feet wide and are generally parallel to the main lines of roads and avenues. These footpaths it is not requisite to cut out and prepare at this time ; they may be done, as is rendered necessary by the lots being taken up; they are made for the easy access to the lots, as each lot should have one open front at least. On the declivities the paths are of course carried athwart, to render them easy to the pedestrian. Like the roads, the naming of them follows their purpose and occu- pation ; but with these may be used the names of plants and trees, as it better suits a path to be so named than an avenue. What more pleasing in a cemetery, for instance, than the " Willow-path," or the "Cypress-path ?" Many other names of trees assimilate as euphoniously with path. As these roads and paths may appear, and indeed prove to many, a labyrinth, they should be designated on direction boards, occasionally.
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The sections of the grounds made by the roads and paths I have marked on the plan as A, B, C, and so on alphabetically. These embrace large parts of the grounds and are circumscribed by the roads-hence, when the nominal letter is found, it in- cludes all the part within the broad road : this makes the sec- tions of easy reference, as each section commences and ends its own numbers. The lots are marked on the plan in faint black lines, varying in size from two hundred feet to eight hundred feet .- thus suitable to all demands and requisitions as to space, and of varied surface. The smaller of the lots in size, from 200 to 350 feet, are invariably on level ground or nearly. The larger sizes are on the hill-sides, declivitous ground, as best suited for vaults or mausoleums, built with vertical, finished front instead of monument. Lots of this character are of great variety and position and aspect and suitable for every taste. The divisions of the lots on the plan are not arbitrary, nor need they be binding, as they are very faintly drawn,-that a line may not be a barrier to any purchaser having two lots, if so desired : and as the lots are sold the lines on this plan can be made stronger and deeper, thus marking the lots sold, showing at a glance which are to be sold and where choice may be made by intending purchasers: as the superintendent will mark off each lot as sold. I have not numbered the lots either, for the same reason, that two or three may be taken by one person. These two or three thus incorporated. should carry one number only, which will prevent confusion in the books and map. Again, it may be desired to divide some of the lots. I have spaced into three or four, lots for poorer persons, or those haring small families; this is easily regulated on books of the Cemetery and on the record, if not numbered on the map, and there the division may be numbered as done without disturbing the chronicling of sales.
The fences being already completed, the next useful things are the buildings required. In these I have confined the design to the lodge, or superintendent's house at the gate, merely adding to and altering the brick house now near the proposed entrance, which is the best, as being nearest the city, and may
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be rendered otherwise unobjectionable by the proper cutting down of the street laid out on the east side of the Cemetery, making an easy access, but which appears dangerous at present, as the descent is quick and steep from the street to the grounds of the Cemetery north of the south house (brick house). After the grounds are entered the road will be easy if well done, and to this plan. To the brick house, I have added a room with bow window on the line of the street, so as to command the approach to the gate from it by the porter or gate keeper, thus preventing delay of entrance. I have also added a bell tower, of simple form; in the upper part, a bell should be placed accessible by visitors to notice a desire of entrance, and also of size sufficient to be tolled on funeral occasions. The lower part of this tower would be a covered porch with a verandah to the road front, and another at right angles to the entrance; the house would have three rooms on each floor, thus making it a comfortable residence for the superintendent of the Cemetery. Another house of frame is on the property, which may be moved to the other side of the entrance gate, easily making it a residence for the assistant sexton. Beyond this, on the north, I have marked stables and sheds for the vehicles and horses of lot-holders and visitors. This is a temporary gateway till farther improvement is desirable. It is not, therefore, such an entrance or gateway as I would design, had it to be made anew, but the easiest and most economical use of the house now there.
Having gone over the useful and necessary work of the Cemetery, I will now describe what may be called the artistical, which pertains to the planting of trees and other ornamental work necessary by the Company. The whole of the valley or main run of water being from north to south is unavailable for the purposes of burial, but may be rendered highly ornamental to the main design by judicious planting. I have, therefore, marked it as decorative ground ; the run of water I have marked as it may be carried, and has been naturally, so as to form an island. This may be planted in magnolias and other flowering shrubs of damp and watery natures and growth, so as to be a beautiful feature in the landscape, and indeed the whole of the
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Historical Sketch of Hollywood Cemetery.
main valley may be so used as it is entirely unavailable for burial purposes. In some parts it is well grown in poplars, elm, &c., but is wanting in trees and bushes of lower growth. In order to form groups of these, I have desired the gardener employed (Mr. Græme,) to procure all he could from the natural woods, the trees that are indigenous being invariably the best to thrive, and be ornamental in the place desired. By this means and the proper guidance of the water, the main valley of Holly-Wood may be of the most beautiful description, varied and pleasing. The east hill should be planted densely, the plants may be of any kinds-better it should be overgrown with the common pine than remain in its present state; anything growing on that side would make the Cemetery seem more private, which is very desirable, as all who feel must know- and indeed it may be laid down as a rule, that all the exterior fences of a rural cemetery ought to be enveloped in shade of trees or young plantings of trees, else why do we fence our lots, or shut out the world otherwise, if not in grief -- therefore, all along the east and west fences should be thickly planted, occa- sionally spreading out wide as I have marked upon the plan on these two lines. Beyond these the planting of the grounds by the Cemetery Company is confined to the borders of principal roads and angles thereof, as it will be found that planting of ornamental trees and shrubs will be done extensively by lot- holders : still a row or rows of tall tapering evergreens should be planted by the Company on the leading thoroughfares after entering the gate, as it renders solemn the whole grounds after- wards seen. There are many points and angles formed by the roads that should be also planted by the Company, but all these "time will show." The only piece of water I have considered desirable, is at the debouch of the water into the culvert at the canal; this would be easily dammed by a retaining wall (some twenty or thirty feet from the canal as the line may be) built of sufficient height to dam the water to the desired breadth of pond-this is to be recommended also as a regulator to the emission of the waters of the main run, rendering it placid in
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Historical Sketch of Hollywood Cemetery.
its bed, which once cut to the desired size and shape, will be without the trouble and expense of alteration.
Thus, gentlemen, I have endeavored to explain my plan for Holly-Wood Cemetery ; should my services be further desired, please inform me at your earliest decision that I may regulate my time so as to visit and stake out the roads, &c. The plan on yellow paper is the key to the principal plan. In trust, gentlemen, that the design may please, I have the honor to be
Your most obd't serv't,
JOHN NOTMAN.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY COMPANY AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING IN MAY, 1849.
The first annual meeting of the Hollywood Cemetery Com- pany was held pursuant to the By-Laws on the first Tuesday, being the first day of May, 1849, in the Library-room of the Richmond Library.
On motion of Mr. Peachy R. Grattan, Isaac Davenport, Esq., was called to the chair, and William H. Haxall appointed Secre- tary.
The President then read the Annual Report of the Board of Directors as follows :
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTORS OF THE HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY COMPANY.
To the Members in General Meeting :
GENTLEMEN :- Soon after the general meeting of the subscri- bers in May last, the Board of Directors organized themselves by the appointment of Thomas H. Ellis as President, William Henry Haxall as Secretary, and Joshua J. Fry as Treasurer, the last named having been chosen by the Board a Director, in the place of Mr. William Mitchell, Jr., who declined serving.
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Historical Sketch of Hollywood Cemetery.
The committee, consisting of Messrs. B. W. Haxall and R. H. Maury, who were appointed to obtain additional subscribers, and the signatures of all who were or might become subscribers to the By-Laws which had been adopted in general meeting, reported finally, that after diligent effort they were unable to obtain any new subscribers, but had obtained the signatures of all the previous subscribers to the By-Laws. The whole number of subscribers is fifty-five, and the whole number of shares sub- scribed for, at one hundred dollars each, eighty-seven.
The committee, consisting of Messrs. P. R. Grattan, G. A. Myers, W. Goddin, W. H. Haxall and I. Davenport, who were appointed to procure a deed conveying the property in trust, presented one which is believed to have been prepared with great care by gentlemen distinguished as conveyancers. The Board of Directors, in pursuance of instructions from the sub- scribers, appointed nine trustees, namely, Messrs. William H. Macfarland, Abram Warwick, R. Barton Haxall, H. Brooke Gwathmey, James C. Crane, John Womble, Horace L. Kent, Peachy R. Grattan, and John L. Bacon, to whom the deed has been duly executed, and all of whom, except Messrs. Bacon and Gwathmey, now absent from the City, have accepted the trust by signing the deed. The title to the property stands in the name of the whole body of the trustees, but any three of them are authorized to convey title to a section or sections in the Cemetery.
According to the Treasurer's statement, on the 1st of May last there remained in his hands to the credit of the subscribers $316.10. The whole amount of the subscription money had been then paid except $375. It was contemplated by the general meeting of subscribers that additional subscribers would have been obtained. Until that could be effected, the Board resolved to negotiate a loan for the purpose of prosecuting the improvement, under the conviction that too much had been then done to abandon the undertaking, and that further expen- diture was necessary in order to render the previous outlay in any way available. Accordingly, from time to time, they bor- rowed money upon the Company's notes: and upon notes of
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Historical Sketch of Hollywood Cemetery.
this character, now outstanding and running to maturity, there is due $3,762.29. The Treasurer's account, herewith submit- ted, marked A, will show the money transactions of the Com- pany since the present Board of Directors was appointed; and the general statement, also herewith submitted, marked B, will show the transactions of that nature from the beginning of the association to the present time.
In July last Mr. Græme, the superintendent, died. His place was supplied by the appointment of Mr. James O'Keeffe, who is now engaged at the salary of $400 per annum. Mr. O'Keeffe was recommended as a skilful, practical gardener, and in his character as superintendent has given satisfaction. There are at this time sixteen hands under him, employed in laying out and preparing the grounds, at the hire of 88 cents per diem.
Mr. Joseph J. Pleasants, since August last, has been engaged as the Engineer. He has laid out the grounds in almost exact accordance with the plan of Mr. Notman. The few slight variations made by him have been only at points where the con- formation of the ground rendered them obviously proper, and in every case with the sanction of the Board.
The plan of Holly-Wood has been now so far completed that the Directors feel authorized to bring it into market at an early day. It is proposed, therefore, with the advice and consent of the members, to advertise the sections for public sale on Wed- nesday, the 23rd day of the present month. Each section to be offered for sale has been, or will be before the day of sale, desig- nated by permanent marks, the number of superficial feet in each ascertained, and a value assessed upon each by the Board of Directors. Certain portions of the ground will be reserved for single graves. An office plat will be kept, upon which the sections and single lots will be numbered, and from which selec- tions may be made in the office after the first public sale. The Board have had a form of conveyance prepared, which ex- presses the rules and regulations concerning interments, im- provements and repairs, and the same is herewith submitted for your approval.
All must feel that it is in a high degree important to give
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Historical Sketch of Hollywood Cemetery.
permanency to our Cemetery, that there may be as far as prac- ticable an undisturbed repose of the dead. A more substantial enclosure than the wooden fence now erected will undoubtedly be necessary before many years. In view of this, the Board take the liberty of suggesting that it might be well to set aside a stated amount annually as a fund, to be invested in some proper security, until a sufficient amount shall have been real- ized to complete a stone wall around such portions of the Ceme- tery as it may be deemed expedient thus to enclose.
The Board abstain from any general remarks on the interest- ing scheme in which they are engaged. They will take the opportunity, however, to say that they have given much of their time and attention to the supervision of the work, visiting the grounds frequently, and endeavoring as far as possible, by all proper means, to give impulse to the undertaking.
They are satisfied that in Holly-Wood the citizens of Rich- mond have the site of a Rural Cemetery of unsurpassed beauty ; and they have set before them as their object the sentiment appropriately expressed by Washington Irving, that " the grave should be surrounded by everything that can inspire tenderness and veneration for the dead, or that might win the living to vir- tue."
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