Elmwood Cemetery: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Elmwood Cemetery aerial.jpg|center|thumb|975px|Aerial view of Elmwood Cemetery from the east]]
[[File:Elmwood Cemetery aerial.jpg|center|thumb|975px|Aerial view of Elmwood Cemetery from the east]]
'''Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum''' is a 412-acre cemetery established in the [[1880s]] (as '''Elm Leaf Cemetery''') in the [[West End]] neighborhood of [[Birmingham]] by a group of [[Fraternal organizations]].
'''Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum''' (originally '''Elm Leaf Cemetery''') is a 412-acre cemetery located in [[Birmingham]]'s [[West End]] neighborhood. It is roughly bounded by [[Martin Luther King Jr Drive]], [[Dennison Avenue Southwest]], [[14th Place Southwest]], and railroad tracks. The main entrance is aligned with the western end of [[6th Avenue South|6th Avenue Southwest]].


The original 40-acre parcel was taken over by the [[Jemison Company|Jemison Real Estate]] in the early 1900s. They doubled the cemetery's size and renamed in [[1906]]. Another 80 acres were added in [[1910]], followed by parcels of 43 acres in [[1924]] and 83 acres in [[1928]]. The more spacious and modern Elmwood gradually eclipsed [[Oak Hill Cemetery]] as the most prominent burial place in the city. As of [[2002]], it was ranked the 12th largest cemetery in the nation.
The cemetery and crematory was established by a group of [[Fraternal organizations]] who incorporated as '''The Elm Leaf Cemetery Company''' in October [[1900]]. The company's officers were [[W. M. Newton]], [[S. G. McWhorter]], and [[E. T. Shaw]]. The original 40-acre parcel was, "laid off in the shape of an elm leaf," reflecting the development's name. The first burial was of Annie Cleveland, an eight month old girl, on the morning of [[October 28]], [[1900]]. In December Shaw displayed a map of the cemetery layout at the offices of his [[Warner-Smiley Co.]] undertakers at 312 [[20th Street North]].


The cemetery is roughly bounded by [[Martin Luther King Jr Drive]], [[Dennison Avenue Southwest]], 14th Place Southwest, and railroad tracks. The main entrance is directly across from [[6th Avenue South|6th Avenue Southwest]].
The cemetery was taken over by the [[Jemison Company|Jemison Real Estate]] in the early 1900s. They doubled its size and renamed it "Elmwood" in [[1906]]. Another 80 acres were added in [[1910]], followed by parcels of 43 acres in [[1924]] and 83 acres in [[1928]]. The more spacious and modern Elmwood soon eclipsed [[Oak Hill Cemetery]] as the most prominent burial place in the city. As of [[2002]], it was ranked as the 12th largest cemetery in the United States.


[[File:Elmwood umbrella bridge lantern.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Dionicio Rodríguez sculptures at Elmwood Cemetery]]
[[File:Elmwood umbrella bridge lantern.jpg|right|thumb|375px|Dionicio Rodríguez sculptures at Elmwood Cemetery]]
The first recorded burial was of Annie Cleveland, an eight month old girl, in [[October 28]], [[1900]]. In the 1930s Mexican sculptor Dionicio Rodríguez contributed several cast-in-place concrete sculptural elements, including a mushroom-shaped "Natural Beach Umbrella", "A Rustic Bench" in the form of a fallen tree trunk, a Chinese-style lantern, and a walking bridge over the cemetery's drainage ditch, which flows north toward [[Valley Creek]].
In the 1930s Mexican sculptor Dionicio Rodríguez contributed several cast-in-place concrete sculptural elements, including a mushroom-shaped "Natural Beach Umbrella", "A Rustic Bench" in the form of a fallen tree trunk, a Chinese-style lantern, and a walking bridge over the cemetery's drainage ditch, which flows north toward [[Valley Creek]].


The Lackey family constructed a funeral chapel for [[Johns-Ridouts Mortuary]] adjoining the cemetery at 800 [[Dennison Avenue Southwest]] in [[1962]].
The Lackey family constructed a funeral chapel for [[Johns-Ridouts Mortuary]] adjoining the cemetery at 800 [[Dennison Avenue Southwest]] in [[1962]].
Line 53: Line 53:


==References==
==References==
* "Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 18 Apr 2009, 16:30 UTC. 25 May 2009 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elmwood_Cemetery_(Birmingham,_Alabama)&oldid=284638594].
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81159086/founding-of-elmwood-cemetery-in-birmingh/ A New Cemetery]" (October 30, 1900) {{BN}}, p. 2
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elmwood_Cemetery_(Birmingham,_Alabama) Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)]" (April 18, 2009) Wikipedia - accessed May 25, 2009
* Stock, Erin (May 24, 2009) "Soldier whose death led to Elmwood Cemetery integration is honored." {{BN}}
* Stock, Erin (May 24, 2009) "Soldier whose death led to Elmwood Cemetery integration is honored." {{BN}}
* "Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham" in {{HJC}}, p. 138
* "Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham" in {{HJC}}, p. 138


[[Category:1880s establishments]]
[[Category:Elmwood burials|*]]
[[Category:1900 establishments]]
[[Category:Birmingham cemeteries]]
[[Category:Birmingham cemeteries]]
[[Category:Martin Luther King Jr Drive]]
[[Category:Martin Luther King Jr Drive]]
[[Category:Elmwood burials|*]]

Revision as of 09:04, 10 July 2021

Aerial view of Elmwood Cemetery from the east

Elmwood Cemetery and Mausoleum (originally Elm Leaf Cemetery) is a 412-acre cemetery located in Birmingham's West End neighborhood. It is roughly bounded by Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Dennison Avenue Southwest, 14th Place Southwest, and railroad tracks. The main entrance is aligned with the western end of 6th Avenue Southwest.

The cemetery and crematory was established by a group of Fraternal organizations who incorporated as The Elm Leaf Cemetery Company in October 1900. The company's officers were W. M. Newton, S. G. McWhorter, and E. T. Shaw. The original 40-acre parcel was, "laid off in the shape of an elm leaf," reflecting the development's name. The first burial was of Annie Cleveland, an eight month old girl, on the morning of October 28, 1900. In December Shaw displayed a map of the cemetery layout at the offices of his Warner-Smiley Co. undertakers at 312 20th Street North.

The cemetery was taken over by the Jemison Real Estate in the early 1900s. They doubled its size and renamed it "Elmwood" in 1906. Another 80 acres were added in 1910, followed by parcels of 43 acres in 1924 and 83 acres in 1928. The more spacious and modern Elmwood soon eclipsed Oak Hill Cemetery as the most prominent burial place in the city. As of 2002, it was ranked as the 12th largest cemetery in the United States.

Dionicio Rodríguez sculptures at Elmwood Cemetery

In the 1930s Mexican sculptor Dionicio Rodríguez contributed several cast-in-place concrete sculptural elements, including a mushroom-shaped "Natural Beach Umbrella", "A Rustic Bench" in the form of a fallen tree trunk, a Chinese-style lantern, and a walking bridge over the cemetery's drainage ditch, which flows north toward Valley Creek.

The Lackey family constructed a funeral chapel for Johns-Ridouts Mortuary adjoining the cemetery at 800 Dennison Avenue Southwest in 1962.

Originally, the cemetery was whites-only. It was integrated in 1970 after Vietnam War veteran Bill Terry Jr's family won a federal lawsuit barring the owners from discriminating based on race. There are currently around 130,000 individuals interred at Elmwood.

Notable burials

Main article: List of Elmwood Cemetery burials

External links

References

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Elmwood_Cemetery&oldid=182006"