Hope Cemetery
Encyclopedia
Hope Cemetery is a cemetery
in Barre, Vermont, the self-proclaimed "Granite
Capital of the World", renowned for the superb granite craftsmanship on its memorials and tombstones
.
Edward P. Adams.
By 1895, skilled artisans from around the world, especially Italy, had been flocking to Barre to become a part of the booming granite industry. One of the main uses of granite throughout the country was in tombstones and memorials. It is estimated that one third of all memorials in the United States came from Barre.
Silicosis
, a respiratory disease caused by granite dust, was common among the artisans and sculptors who were breathing it in every day, which led to an abnormally high death rate. In addition, the 1918-19 Spanish flu
epidemic caused many additional deaths, adding to the need for tombstones.
Knowing that death was imminent and possibly around the corner, many sculptors were given to designing their own tombstones to showcase their skill. It is estimated that 75% of the tombstones were designed by the occupants of the graves.
The cemetery is a common tourist destination, and has been referred to as a "'Museum' of granite sculpture," the "Uffizi
of Necropolises", by Vermont
folklorist Joseph A. Citro
, a "Gallery of granite artistry," a "sculpture garden" and a "Huge outdoor museum." Guided tours are available for a small fee, but driving or walking through the cemetery to look at the sculptures and memorials is common practice and encouraged.
It is still possible for ornate and unusual tombstones to be put into Hope Cemetery. These large memorials can range in cost from US$20,000 - 30,000+. Simple headstones cost about $2,000.
Hope is the largest of three cemeteries managed by the city of Barre.
Hope Cemetery was featured in a story run recently by the Associated Press
. It was also featured in a segment in National Geographic on cities and towns in America. Additionally, the cemetery was among those profiled in the 2005 PBS documentary A Cemetery Special
.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in Barre, Vermont, the self-proclaimed "Granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
Capital of the World", renowned for the superb granite craftsmanship on its memorials and tombstones
Headstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
.
History
Hope Cemetery was established in 1895, and then consisted of 53 acres. It was designed and planned by the renowned landscape architectLandscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
Edward P. Adams.
By 1895, skilled artisans from around the world, especially Italy, had been flocking to Barre to become a part of the booming granite industry. One of the main uses of granite throughout the country was in tombstones and memorials. It is estimated that one third of all memorials in the United States came from Barre.
Silicosis
Silicosis
Silicosis, also known as Potter's rot, is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs...
, a respiratory disease caused by granite dust, was common among the artisans and sculptors who were breathing it in every day, which led to an abnormally high death rate. In addition, the 1918-19 Spanish flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
epidemic caused many additional deaths, adding to the need for tombstones.
Knowing that death was imminent and possibly around the corner, many sculptors were given to designing their own tombstones to showcase their skill. It is estimated that 75% of the tombstones were designed by the occupants of the graves.
Today
Hope Cemetery has since grown in size to 65 acres (26.3 ha), and there are more than 10,000 tombstones and memorials located inside. Every single stone is made out of "Barre Grey" granite.The cemetery is a common tourist destination, and has been referred to as a "'Museum' of granite sculpture," the "Uffizi
Uffizi
The Uffizi Gallery , is a museum in Florence, Italy. It is one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the Western world.-History:...
of Necropolises", by Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
folklorist Joseph A. Citro
Joseph A. Citro
Joseph A. Citro is a Vermont author and folklorist. Occasionally referred as the "Bard of the Bizarre" or "the Ghost-Master General", he has extensively researched and documented the folklore, hauntings, ghost stories, paranormal activity and occult happenings of New England.Interested in horror...
, a "Gallery of granite artistry," a "sculpture garden" and a "Huge outdoor museum." Guided tours are available for a small fee, but driving or walking through the cemetery to look at the sculptures and memorials is common practice and encouraged.
It is still possible for ornate and unusual tombstones to be put into Hope Cemetery. These large memorials can range in cost from US$20,000 - 30,000+. Simple headstones cost about $2,000.
Hope is the largest of three cemeteries managed by the city of Barre.
Hope Cemetery was featured in a story run recently by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. It was also featured in a segment in National Geographic on cities and towns in America. Additionally, the cemetery was among those profiled in the 2005 PBS documentary A Cemetery Special
A Cemetery Special
A Cemetery Special is a 2005 PBS television documentary film by Rick Sebak of WQED. The documentary profiles cemeteries and cemetery-related businesses and events across the United States.The following cemeteries are covered in the film:...
.