Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-21
Hollywood Cemetery.

Hollywood Cemetery.
Hero in this tranquil city of the dead
Tens of thousands Of our kith and KIN
tlesp. II these slumberng hosts could
wake 20 life and I'll the hills and daies
with their bodily presence there would
hardly be elbow-room enough for oil OF
them on the seventy cight acres comprised
within the cemetery grounds as the three
or four Thousand brought after the
war from Gettysburg aud other battle
fields occupy but little space, time having
stripped tho flesh from their bonos before
they found sculpture here.
Kiohmond's first public cemetery was
St Johns church-yard. Before the
establishment Of It the settlers probably
buried their dead in the numerous family
tur.al-grouHds on the farms and lots IN
tbs vicinity. Some of these family
grounds wcTe maintained and used until a
comparatively recent date.
From some Of these the dead have been
transferred 10 public cemeteries: others
still exist. their tombs and mounds in sad
dofacement aud decay. and others yet
have been wholly uprooted and obliterated
10y building operations in the city. The
rude forointhers Of this hamlet were not
I'm narrow cells forever Land" Their oc-
Cupgucy Of these cells was only for sea-
t0u. But so u has ever been In all grow
lux communities. Tho sO-called cata-
combs Of Paris arc Int disusod quarry
openings wherein the dead from old city
erayeyerds have been gathered. London,
New YORK. Berlin. and all other great
CITIES have also been forced 10 adopt eX-
lc1ion's # ono sort or another TO get rid Of
tho b1uas-tho harmless boncs Of those III
thor midst whose earthly citizenship has
ended.
In selecting the grounds which now
comprise Hollywood II would seem to have
beeu tho purpose OF our fathers to secure
site which would be forever free from
Tho hustle and Intrusion of city life. At
that time Q5i9J corn-fclds lay between
hollywood and tho "Penitcntlary Bot
tom Now city residences environ Hol-
lywoOl except where 1t IS projected by the
iiyeror adjacent cemeteries These Gene
terlcs together with Hollywood, occupy
tlcuycr front for q milo or more and arc
There 20 stay--to stay for oil time. 1t
would seem. For reasons somewhat
emilar-that Is. that they arc not
very much IN they way Of the clty's
growth Shockoo cemetery aud the jew
lsh cemetery and lakewood cemetery
would seem q be beyond danger of aban-
Comment. Certainly If there is any dan
cor n Is q century or moro of. Therefore
we may confidently spend our care upon
the graves OF our dead aud erect tombs
upon which generations yet unborn may
look.
The beauty Of Hollywood IL largely OF
natures making. There We have giant
forest oaks and pines, hollies and cedars.
O topography diversified 10y hill and dale
and murmurlng brooks. and wIthal a view
which shows the falls "a we'll as the tidal
waters of the James which shows. also,
the greater part Of the business sections
of Richmond and Manchester and in tho
distance the lowlands of Chesterfield coun-
Is, rich with the kindly fruits Of tho
earth.
Ii has ever been the aim of the Holly
wood Company 10 cherish aud preserve
these gifts. Colonel Thomas ii. ELLIS.
who was Its first President, and who only
retired from the position IN 1870. when he
removed from the city, rendered services
never 20 be forgotten: services which
were the product Of engineering skill
and of mind otherwise richly stored
with learning. Mr.. WILLIAM HENRY HAxALL
who was It's president so long. was a man
OF classical education, and his artistic per-
ceptions had been enlarged and cultivated
10y much travel and great study. Holly
wood was for years and years the object of
his fondest care. Often and over his arm
stayed tho hand of Improvement" He
would let no tree DO cut down-a policy
still adhered 70, we beleve-saying that
marbles If spoiled, could be replaced,
bat that the loss Of tree would be we'll
nigh irrepaTabie. HIS successor in tho
presidency, ANToNI BARGAMIN, Esq. ia
equally efficient, equally devoted, and
equally generous in giving to the company
ond public valuable ss1vIcos for which he
receives no compensation. We owe TO
these gentlemen much. Hollywood would
not be tho Hollywood ii 10 but for what
they have done, aud the personal sacrifices
they have made.
Not many years ago it was found neces-
sary TO enlarge the cemetery grounds, and
year by year since the work of grazing,
and building roads aud walks, &c. has
been going on IN the new part" as il Is
called. At this very time work of great
Importance is gong on under the direction
OF President BABoANIN, which will open
roadway alongside the canal from the spot
whore the old steam-pump once stood 10
the western limits OF the grounds. To
make this some OF the rugged and insight
~ bluffs have been cut and sloped.
THIS riverside road will lead up towards
the Davis Circle--that beautiful sub
plateau III which the grave of our ex-Presi-
deaf Is soon 10 be made. THIS circle is.
however. already accessible by several
othor roads. Go 90 tho TALDorr monu-
ment-a tail marble column surrounded by
IN urn-in the new part face the river, and
look down the grassy slope before you.
See an elliptical circle with fountain IN
the middle. aud near 1t a heart-shaped
grass-plot, and little farther westward
true circle. covered with grass, in which
two oaks stand. This 70-foot circle is the
DAVIS Circle. lie will be buried in the
centre Of II. which will be between tho
TWO oaks. II is a beautiful spot. From no
o'her spot in Hollywood is the view 30 OK
tensiyo or impressive,
On tue bluff overlooking the canal an d
H'er and near by the Davis Circle is the
grave Of Jons RANDOLPH OF Roanoke.
ni'hn fcw hundred yards rest President
hoNEot and President Tyler. Thus the
Oonfederacy's President will lie In good
ana great company, and his tomb will
surely become the shrine Of thousands Of
'enera,ing visitors.
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