The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-11-18
Evergreen Cemetery.


side of Portland, or if all the people even in
this city, have any adequate idea of the good
taste, the sad beauty and the OUTLAWS of wealth
that cluster about the lovely spot known as
Evergreen Cemetery. We had heard of it F.:
we had read brief descriptions of it; we had
supposed it was naturally pleasant location
for such consecrated spot; We had no doubt
in time it would be made highly ornamental
and become place creditabe to our city, but
that now, in so few years from the purchase
of the grounds, there should be spot so near
the heart of our town equal in many respects
superior in some - to Mount Auburn, we
had never for a moment dreamed within the
range of possibility. A few days since, in
company with S. w. LARRABEE, Esq, the
Superintendent of the Cemetery, we spent a
brief hour in that hallowed spot; spot where
the cherished dead lie in sweet repose, and
where the living may go to commune with the
departed finding all about and above them
the surroundings in harmony with the stiffness,
the retirement and the beauty SO consonant
with feeling of devotion and SO well fitted
to quicken holy memories and to inspire
blessed hopes.
II we recollect Alright the grounds embrace
about sixty acres Of dry, sandy soil, slightly
undulatng, covered with growth easily re-
duced to ornamental proportions, and in close
proximity to rich deposits of mould which,
mixed with the sandy soil, forms an excellent
bottom for flowers, shrubs or anything that
taste or affection may prompt one to plant on
or near the grave Of friend. The city owns
the grounds, which are traversed by numerous
and winding paths by which every part of the
enclosure may be reached. The lots, grouped
four together of about sixteen feet square
each, are sold to individuals for $40 apiece,
and all the money thus derived from the sale
OF lots is used for improving and identifying
the ground, planting trees, fencing. and pay
ing the Superintendent salary. Individuals
consult their own taste in fitting up and or
namenting tae lots; and the taste here dis
played is creditable to our citizens.
There is not such a display of costly and
extravagant monuments as at Mount Auburn,
but quite as good taste has been consulted,
and the effect upon the eye and upon the heart
Is quite as pleasant as in that more preted-
tious resting place of the dead. One portion
OF the grounds was intended for the "Stran-
gers Circle" but since the purchase of other
beautiful and eligible grounds in another To-
cality, this plan has been abandoned. We
would suggest, since the lots are being so rap
Idly disposed OF, and the remains of so many
buried in other grounds are being removed 70
this place, whether prudent forecast and
wise economy do not require the pur-
chase of additional acres adjoining the present
cemetery grounds, while it may be done at a
moderate price, and before the crowded state
of the cemetery shall force such purchase at
an extravagant cost.
The Horse Railroad, when completed. will
pass directly by the entrance to Evergreen, so
that our people will be able to visit the resting
places Of their cherished ones without the ex-
pense now attending ride to that locality.
That such visitors will do much to swell the
revenues Of the road no one can doubt. There
is no spot within a halfday's ride of the city
which, with all its sad associations, gathers
about it SO many elements of beauty, or where
a few hours may be more pleasantly or profit
ably spent.
The new Receiving Tomb is now finished,
and is well planned and admirably construct
ed for the purposes to which it is to be deyot-
ed 1t is built OF granite, but deeply covered
with earth except the front elevation, and
neatly sodded over, and contains 1O4 crypts,
or receptaeles for cofilns, which are closed
with doors all properly numbered. These
crypts are all connected with fues which lead
TO main ventilator so that no disagreeable
efiiuvia is discoverable or entering the central
hall to the tomb. The hall or passage way,
on each side of which are the crypts, has a
granite floor, and is wide enough to turn
coffin in it. 1t is furnished with heavy mar
BILE table upon which to rest the collins before
they placed within or after they are taken
from the crypts. The stone work of this tomb
has been done by Mr. J. Il. Emery, and does
credit alike to his workmanship and fidelity.