River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-20
ANN LOHMAN'S GRAVE.
So Many Visitors that the Grass "a Wori
Away about the Mound.

/ MAuy VISITORS that the Grass fs w Orn
Away about the Mound.
In neglected lot on the north side of
the Second avenue of Sleepy Hollow
Cemetery at Tarrytown, about hundred
| yards east of the main entrance, on the
road leading to Sing Sing, is the grave of
the notorious Ann Lehman, better known
as Madam Restell. Tho lot, which does
not contain tree or shrub of any sort,
is irregular in shape, its twenty feet Of
depth at It's western boundary diminish
ing to twelve or fourteen ct its easterly
end. 1t las forntage of perhaps the lar
ger figure on the avenue. Square posts
of rough hewn stone, connected by rusty
IRON chains, serve as fence for the lot.
| The chains between the middle posts in
front are broken down, and lie trodden
into the ground. They were so broken to
allow the entrance of Madam Restell's
coffin, and have not been restored. In
the centre of the lot is an eblong pedestal
of white marble. surmounted by glass
case, enclosed with marble top and cor
ners. In the case is the undraped figure
of sleeping infant cut in marble. The
right hand and arm arb used for pillow,
on which the head reposes, with the face
turned toward the avenue. The left arm
is thrown across the breast. One leg care
lessly crosses the other. The figure is
about two feet long, and the receptacle is
large enough and wide enough to hold it
conveniently. The case is about four fee;
from the ground, and you can inspect the
figure without much STOPPING, but the
rrt.o Sc n cd
that only at the ends can satisfactory
view be obtained.
Immediately under the figure on the
side facing the avenue are the lines
Hush tread light, our child is sleeping;
Her life on earth is DER;
Vacant hearts at home are weeping
She sleeps to weep no more.
On the reverse side is the inscription:
Erected to the memory of Frances Annie,
daughter of Isaac L. and Caroline s. Purdy.
Born Jan. Z, 1856. Died Feb. 1, 1859.
At the end toward the west is the adj
ditional inscription:
Also, Florence Annie Born Dec. 1, 1860
Died March 23 1868.
Except that the glass portion is so
clouded as not to be transparent, the
monument has the appearance of being
constantly cared for, the marble being
remarkably white and well preserved,
Notwithstanding It's exposuse to the
weather for more than twenty years.
In striking contrast to the condition of
the monument is the appearance of the
lot itself. The grass grows wild, where
it does grow, and has evidently never
known the scythe. Only in patches does
it attain to any length for in all direc-
tons it is trampled down and worn away
by the tread of many feet. Unlike the
right green turf of the surrounding en-
0losures, it is dingy in color, and every
where the yellow sand shines through its
scattered roots. To complete the look
of neglect, the leaves of dogwood tree
on a lot near by Written the ground.
The grass is the most worn away be-
tween two graves which lie lengthw;se
with the heads toward the Avenue inn
mediately in frort of the monument of
the Purdy children. There, only the
bare earth appears, The easterly grave
is that of Ann Lohman. The other is her
husbands. No stone or inscription
serves to distinguish the husbands grave
from the wife's, or to tell which is
the head or foot of either Although
raised the later, the mound over Mrs.
Lohman's grave is more sunken than its
companion, and the turf has an older
look.
The neglected lot with two stoneless
graves and single monument is more
visited than any other enclosure In
Sleepy Hollow cemetery The first in
auiry that visitors make is, .'Where is
Madam Restell's gravegn and more per.
sons come to see it than visit the former
place of pilgrimage where Washington
Irving is buried. 1t is estimated that
nearly hundred persons week have
visited tie Lehman lot since Madam
Restells burial there the first week In
April. The visitors, small majority OF
women, are well dressed. They are mainly
from the surrounding towns of New
burgh. Sing Sing, and other Hudson
river hamlets.
Before Mrs. LObman's grave was COW
erea with turf, some Of the visitors took
away handful or more cfthe sandy soil |
of which the mound Is made. This was /
done to a sufficient extent to account al /
most for its diminished size as compared /
with its companion. 1t was also the act
of relic hunters, dressed richly. and pro-
Tossing to be persons OF social conse
ouence. Few of the visitors 60 away
without calling attention to the mIsap-
of the figure of an infant
forming the only monument in the bur-
ial ward of Madam Restell. which the
explains is that Of her grand
children.
-. 4 49, AZ E. - a. .ss.,s s.s,t