Leaving Pebbles or Stones on a Grave Marker

As you explore Mt. Hope you may notice a pebble or small stone left on top of a tombstone. This Jewish tradition signifies that someone has honored the deceased person’s memory with a visit to the grave. While a Jewish tradition, you will find that this has spread into general use while retaining the meaning originally behind it.

Victorian Symbolism

In the late 1700s the perception of death was changing from evil and sin to hope and forgiveness. Instead of skulls and crossbones, the enlightened Victorians used willow trees and angels, anchors and ivy, more natural and positive symbols on grave markers. The elaborate and simple grave markers which represent this change in ideals, can be found throughout the cemetery,

There are many obelisks to be found reaching for heaven at Mt. Hope. Often topped with a pyramid, this was a symbol for the Egyptian god Ra, who had the power to recreate. There are tree trunks telling of a life cut off, urns relating to the mourning of a family, flames announcing eternity and inverted torches telling us of a life snuffed out. Many variations of the endless-knot can be found. The delicate, endless design often addressed the belief in reincarnation.

As you discover stars, broken columns, lambs, and drapery, rest assured that a message is there waiting for you. If you want to know more about the messages, there are many accessible publications about Victorian cemetery symbols.

The Civil War In Rochester

The 140th Vol. Infantry, led by Col. Patrick O’Rorke (namesake of the drawbridge in Charlotte), is likely the better known of Rochester’s regiments but many Rochester men served many regiments. Mt. Hope’s Civil War plot (Section BB) is a testament to those who gave their “last full measure,” but even more of this war’s casualties are buried throughout the cemetery.

The bronze sculpture at the Civil War plot was created by Sally James Farnham who studied under Frederick Remington (the American artist best known for his paintings, drawings and sculptures capturing the vitality and spirit of the American West).

Mausoleums

Mount Hope is home to 75 building-like tombs, a statement of opulence, class or just preference.

General Jacob Gould, a Revolutionary War hero, shoe merchant and Rochester mayor, who ironically opposed the land purchase that would become Mt. Hope Cemetery, had his mausoleum built into the hillside (Section C). Its style is purely Egyptian and is topped with an Egyptian obelisk, a symbol of Ra.

Nathan Stein, of the Stein-Bloch Clothes in Rochester, erected the largest mausoleum in Mt. Hope. Built in the Greek Doric style, this awe-inspiring mausoleum can “sleep” twenty and still have room to dance the night away.

Originally, the mausoleums provided not only shelter from the weather for family and friends visiting the departed, but also shelter from the distractions of the outside world. Many of the mausoleums had lovely stained glass windows and relatively comfortable sitting areas. Now, many of these incredible structures are locked or permanently sealed to protect the residents. Their outer glory remains an intrigue and statement of personal taste.

The Gatehouse and Gazebo

At the north entrance is the Neo-Romanesque style gatehouse built by A.J. Foster in 1874 (on the left) and the Moorish-style gazebo, erected in 1872 (on your right). Both look incredibly new, as they should, considering they have undergone major restoration.

The Original Chapel (1912 Chapel)

After coming in through the north gate and driving past the cast-iron Florentine fountain you come face to face with the original 1862 Gothic Revival chapel and its 1912 addition. The newer addition fits in particularly well with the original structure, except for its enormous chimney. Constructed this way to lift the smoke up and over the chapel and nearby ridge, designed by J. Foster Warner (son of the gatehouse designer, A.J. Warner), who was able to blend together the chapel and the main crematory styles quite well, without sacrificing the proficiency of the chimney. It was one of the earliest crematories built in the United States.

“there have been more than 375,000 burials at Mt Hope, marked or unmarked.”

The Monuments

Early tombstones were generally made of marble or slate, but Victorians used granite most often. Granite didn’t flake like slate, was incredibly hard and came in a wide variety of colors and textures. Marble was a second choice.

If you look closely you may come upon a few bluish gray markers. This is molded metal. Not stone. It’s almost pure zinc so as it ages, it protects the metal underneath and its color change often appears to be that of stone. While inexpensive and often ordered from catalogs, the century old, molded metal monuments in Mt. Hope have hardly lost their detail.

Burial Numbers

Surely, as you wander through Mt. Hope you must wonder how many people are buried here. You may have noticed small, flat markers, no larger than a football engraved only with the single word BABY or GRANDMOTHER or GRANDFATHER. Yes, there are unmarked graves as well. However, incredibly thorough records of the burials have been kept throughout the cemetery’s history. Because of this, we know there have been more than 375,000, marked or unmarked.