Thornrose Cemetery

Thornrose Cemetery is built on twelve acres of land in Staunton City, Virginia.

Before its opening, all burials in Staunton took place in the plot of Augusta Parish Church (now Trinity Episcopal Church). By the late 1840s, this cemetery became overcrowded and it was nearly impossible to add additional graves without potentially unearthing another. A committee was formed in 1848 tasked with creating a new major burying ground for Staunton civilians, on February 24th, 1848, Thornrose Cemetery Company was chartered by act of the Legislature. Twelve acres west of Staunton were bought and laid off in lots, roads and walks. Thornrose saw its first burial on March 29th, 1853, and became a formally dedicated cemetery on May 28th, 1853. A procession of Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance and other citizens was formed in town, and walked to the cemetery, where prayer was offered; and on returning to the Methodist Church, an address was there delivered by Professor McGuffey of the University of Virginia (UVA).

During the 20th century, Thornrose Cemetery continued to improve its impressive landscaping with stone structures, mausoleums and monuments that honored those who perished during America's armed conflicts. Today, Thornrose is recognized as one of the most beautiful and historic cemeteries in the country. It is also the largest cemetery in Augusta County, with more than 20,500 memorials as of July, 2020.

## **History**

Buried in a plot at the crest of the knoll upon which the cemetery is laid out, there 1,777 Confederate veterans of the American Civil War, Of these, 870 are known by name, company, and regiment; 207 by name only, and 700 whose identities were not ascertained. In 1906, each grave was still marked by a small iron staff surmounted by a Maltese cross. Above these graves, is a monument erected by the citizens of Staunton as a tribute to the Confederate soldiers. The monument is made of Italian marble and surmounted by the figure of a man garbed in the Confederate uniform, and from base to crown is thirty feet. On each of the four faces is an appropriate emblem of the different branches of the service - infantry, cavalry, artillery, and engineers - followed by the following inscriptions:

**1)** "Weigh not their worth by the balance of battle. These have glorified their cause by the record of noble sacrifice; the simple manhood of their lives; the patient endurance of suffering, and the heroism of death. May such Fidelity and Patriotism endure forever."

**2)** "There is true glory and a true honor; the glory of Duty done, the honor of the integrity of Principle. - Robert E. Lee"

**3)** "Honor to the brave. 870 lie here, recorded by name, company and regiment: From Virginia, 305; North Carolina, 176; South Carolina, 59; Georgia, 208; Alabama, 40; Florida, 8; Mississippi, 11; Louisiana, 19; Tennessee, 12; Arkansas, 20; Texas, 3. And 207 recorded by name only." On the base of this face are the words, "Confederate Dead."

**4)** "As unknown and yet well-known. Around this shaft are gathered also the remains of about 700 Confederate soldiers not recorded by name, from fields of Alleghany, McDowell, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Piedmont, etc. Virginia forgets not any who died in her defense."

This monument was unveiled in September of 1888 with a ceremony in which all of the Southern leaders participated. The first soldier interred there was D. C. McLeweray, of the Third Arkansas Infantry, who was killed by a train at the C. & O. depot in Staunton of July 9th, 1861, while his company was debarking.

## **Architecture**

**Main Entrance -** Located on West Beverley Street, the main entryway to the cemetery is a stone arch and gatehouse designed by famed Staunton architect T.J. Collins and built by William Larner & Company in 1896.

**Footbridge and Tower -** Near the entrance, up a slight hill stands a footbridge and tower also designed by T.J. Collins and built by Larner & Company. There is a female statue called *Perpetual Care*, and in the past, vandals were known to damage her by shoving her off the bridge.

**Fort Stonewall Jackson -** Located at one of the highest areas in the cemetery is a 22-foot marble Confederate infantryman. Dedicated in 1888, it marks the mass grave of 1,7000 Civil War soldiers who lost their lives at Cross Keys, Port Republic, Piedmont, McDowell, and other area battlefields. A small pavilion and stony terrace with cannons and planters are also located here.

## **Sections**

**The Vista -** Called "The Vista" because of its grand and peaceful view. Located on the eastern boundary of Thornrose Cemetery, these ten acres of undeveloped land are easily reached by an established network of well-maintained roads. The Vista is one of the most restful and pleasing views in the city, and is ideally suited for the kind of thoughtful, meticulously preserved landscaping Thornrose is famous for.

## **Notable Memorials**

* Charles W. Anderson - Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient.
* John Brown Baldwin - Legislator.
* Mary Julia Baldwin - Educator. Mary Baldwin University in Staunton is named in her honor.
* George Moffett Cochran IV - Virginia Supreme Court Justice.
* John Echols - Civil War Confederate Brigadier General.
* Armistead Churchill Gordon - Author, professor of English at the University of Virginia.
* Clara Fishburne Hamrick - First licensed woman embalmer in the United States.
* William Henry Harman - Civil War Confederate Army Officer.
* Gen. Kenton Harper - Printer, Soldier and Politician.
* George Moffett Harrison - Judge.
* John Newton Hendren - Judge and Treasurer of the Confederate States of America.
* Henry Winston Holt - Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
* Jedediah Hotchkiss - Civil War Confederate Army Officer.
* Robert Doak Lilley - Civil War Confederate Brigadier General.
* Shelley Isabel Mann - Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete.
* James Hubert Price - Governor of Virginia from 1938 to 1942.
* Julian Minor Quarles - United States Congressman.
* Harold Wilson Reid - Musician, co-founded The Statler Brothers. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
* Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart - United States Congressman, Presidential Cabinet Member.
* Richard Allen "Buddy" Winkelspecht - Musician, drummer for the bands *The Dead End Kids* and *Asylum*.
* Jacob Yost - United States Congressman. Mayor of Staunton.

## **Presidents**

* **George M. Cochran, Sr.** - the first president.
* **Arista Hoge** - elected January 26th, 1889, one of Thornrose Cemetery's most influential Presidents, under his regime, he directed the expansion and beautification of the grounds with extensive landscaping that now consists of 30 acres. He commissioned noted local architect T.J. Collins to design the limestone Gatehouse Entrance, Bridge and Tower, Mortuary Chapel, and Stone Walls that surround the property.
* **Gen. Morris T. Warner** - President of the company from December 1950 to January 1972.

Findagrave.com profileMap of Thornrose CemeteryMausoleum when it was a pavilion.Memorial SquareView from the lower terrace of Memorial Square