Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-05-25
Cemetery.

and kin sleep. Ii these slumber-
ing hosts could wake to life and
fill the hills and dales with their
bodily presence there would hardly
be o,bowsroom enough for all OF
them on the seventyseight acres
comprised within the cemetery
grounds, as the three or four thous~
and brought after the war from
Gettysburg and other battlesfelds
occupy but little space, time hay
ing stripped the flesh from their
bones before they found sepulture
here.
Richmond's first public GENES
terry was St. Johns church-yard.
Before the establishment of it the
settlers probably buried their dead
in the numerous family burial~
grounds on the farms and lots in
this vicinity. Some of these family
grounds we're maintained and
used until a comparatively recent
date.
From some of these the dead
have been transferred to cemeteries;
othere still exist, their tombs and
mounds in sad detacemeut and
decay, and others yet have been
wholly uprooted and obliterated by
building operations in the city,
The rude forefathers" of this
hamlet were not sin narrow cells
forever laid" Their occupancy Of
these cells was only for a season.
But so it has ever been in all grow
ing communities. The sc.called
catacombs at Paris are but dis
used quarry-openings wherein the
dead from old city gravesyards have
been gathered. London, New York,
Berlin, and all other great cities
have also Teen forced to adopt ex-
pedIents of one sort or another to
get rid Of the bones-the harmless
bones Of those in their midst whose
earthly citizenship had ended.
In selecting the grounds which
now comprise Hollywood it would
seem to have been the purpose of
our fathers to secure a site which
would be forever free from the
hustle and intrusion of our city
lite. At that time (1840) corn-
fields lay between Hollywood and
the "Penitentiary Bottom" Now
city residences environ Hollywood
except where it is protected by the
river or adjacent cemeteries. These
cemeteries, together with Holly
wood, occupy the river front for a
mile or more and are there to stay
to stay for all time, it would
seem. For reasons somewhat SINH
lar-that is, that they are not
very much in tie way of
the city's growth -Shockoe GENE,
terry and the Jewish cemetery
and Oakwood cemetery would
seem to be beyond danger
of abandonment. Certainly if there
is any danger it is a century OF
more eff Therefore We may cons
fdently spend our IRE upon the
graves of our dead and erect tombs
upon which generations yet I'M
born may look.
The beauty OF Holly wood is
largely of natures making. There
we have giant forest oaks and pines.
hollies and cedars, a topography
diversified by hill and dale and
murmuring brooks, and withal {
view which shows the falle as vel
as the tidal waters Of the James
which shows, also, the greater par
Of the business sections Of Rich.
mond and Manchester and in the
distance the lowlands of Chester,
field county, rich with the kindly
fruits of the earth,
1t has ever been the aim of the
Hollywood Company to cherish
and preserve these gifts. Colone.
Thomas II. Ellis. who was it's frs
President, and who only retired
from the position in 1870. when he
removed from the city, rendered
services never to be forgotten
services which were the product O.
engineering skill and of a mine
otherwise richly stored with learn
ing. Nj. William Henry Haxal
who was It's president so long, wal
a man of classical education, anG
his artistic perceptions had beer
enlarged and cultivated by muct
travel and great study. Hollywood
was for years and years the objec
of his fondest care Often and ovel
his arm stayed the hand of "im'
proyement." He would let no tree
be cut down-a policy still ad-
hered to. we believe-saying tina.
marbles if spoiled, could be re-
placed, but that the loss of a tree
would be wellnigh irreparable. Hi
successor in the presidency, Anton
Bargamin, Esq is equally efficient
equally devoted, and equally gene
roue in giving to the company ane
public valuable services for which
he receives no compensation. w
owe to these gentlemen much
Hollywood would not be the Holly
wood it is but for what they hav,
done, and the personal sacrifices
they have made.
. Not many years ago it was found
necessary to enlarge the cemetery
grounds. and year by year sine,
the work of grading, and building
roads and walks. &c. has been 90