The History of Labor Day

When you think about Labor Day, what comes to mind? Do you think of summer’s end? Fall’s approach? Another school year? Vacations past? The history of Labor Day?

Under the assumption that many people don’t think about the history of Labor Day when they think about the holiday, we thought it would be nice to take a moment to share the history. According to the United States Department of Labor, Labor Day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is one day during the year paying tribute to American workers who have contributed to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.

While Labor Day is more than 100 years old, the question of who proposed Labor Day has never been definitively answered. Some records indicate Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, and Matthew McGuire, secretary of the Central Labor Union, have each been connected in some way with this tribute to American workers.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City and was planned and attended by the Central Labor Union as a demonstration and picnic. The Central Labor Union held the second Labor Day on Wednesday, September 5, 1883. In 1884, the Central Labor Union adopted the first Monday in September as the official Labor Day holiday and urged similar organizations in other cities to follow their example in promoting a “workingman’s holiday.” With labor unions across the country supporting this idea, Labor Day was honored in many industrial centers in 1885.

Over the next decade, several states, including Connecticut, passed legislation recognizing Labor Day as a holiday. On June 28, 1894, the United States Congress followed suit by passing an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal national holiday. This year, in addition to the many things that Labor Day signifies for you, remember that this is the only day during the year created to pay tribute to America’s working men and women. We hope you take advantage of this day by enjoying a safe and relaxing weekend. Happy Labor Day!

Fall Events at Cedar Hill Cemetery

With fall just around the corner, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is preparing for the end of the 2007 Tours and Events season. Rudy J. Favretti, professor emeritus UConn and author of Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect, will be hosting a book talk and signing for the public on Wednesday, September 26 at 5:30 pm. Based on four decades of work by Mr. Favretti, Jacob Weidenmann is the first comprehensive biography of this pioneer landscape architect covering his life and career in depth and illuminating his importance in the field of landscape architecture. Mr. Favretti will share his experience researching and writing this tribute to a man who - until now - has been overshadowed and underacknowledged.

On Saturday, September 29, Steve Courtney, co-editor of The Civil War Letters of Joseph Hopkins Twichell: A Chaplain's Story and author of a forthcoming biography on Twichell, will lead event attendees on a tour of Cedar Hill to learn more about Mark Twain's companions and cohorts. While Mark Twain does not reside at Cedar Hill Cemetery, many of his friends and peers do, including his closest friend Reverend Joseph Twichell, the best-selling novelist Charles Dudley Warner, and women's rights activitist Isabella Beecher Hooker. Mr. Courtney will tell us more about each of their lives and how their lives intertwined with Twain's.

We wrap up the 2007 Tours and Events season on Friday, October 26 with our much anticipated Haunted History Lantern Tour. This event begins at 7:00 pm and is the only time during the year that the Cemetery is open to the public at night. Tour groups are led through Cedar Hill's historic sections where you meet some of Cedar Hill's most notable residents played by character actors. This is a fun, family-friendly event that attracted more than 300 people last year.

To learn more about these and other tours and events for the rest of the season, visit http://www.cedarhillcemetery.org/.

Forty people from across Greater Hartford arrived at Cedar Hill Cemetery last evening for our first-ever twilight tour. Cedar Hill Historian Irene McHugh led the group on an hour-long excursion through the Cemetery that included visits to the final resting places of Dr. Horace Wells - the discoverer of anesthesia, Isabella Beecher Hooker - womens rights activist and wife of John Hooker, Samuel and Elizabeth Colt - gun manufacturer and philanthropist, Griffin Stedman - Civil War General, and J.P. Morgan - wealthy financier. At 7:30 pm, the group was led to the edge of Cedar Hill's older sections, which is located on a hill and looks over Cedar Hill's new sections facing west. Here, we were able to pause for a moment and take in the view of the setting sun. We sincerely hope all who attended enjoyed the tour, and we will plan another twilight tour during next year's tours and events season.

Our next tour is scheduled for Saturday, September 15 at 10am. Grace Parks Mitchell, former assistant director of the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame, will introduce attendees to Cedar Hill's exceptional 19th and 20th century women. Mark your calendar's now to join us.

The clouds that have been hovering over Connecticut for the past couple of days are expected to make their departure just in time for Cedar Hill's twilight tour this evening. With the return of the sun, come join us as Cedar Hill's Historian Irene McHugh shares tidbits and anecdotes about some of our most notable residents. The tour will begin at 7:00 pm and is free for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members and $5.00 for nonmembers. We look forward to seeing you this evening!

What better way to spend a pleasant August evening than walking the grounds of Cedar Hill Cemetery. This Thursday, August 23, Cedar Hill Historian Irene McHugh will be leading a walking tour through Cedar Hill's historic sections introducing participants to some of the Cemetery's most notable residents, including Isabella Beecher Hooker, Dr. Horace Wells, barnstormer George Hamilton, and Samuel and Elizabeth Colt. This tour will be especially pleasant as we watch the sun set over Cedar Mountain. The tour will begin at 7:00 pm and is free for members and $5.00 for nonmembers.

Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect

There is a lot of excitement right now around the arrival of Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's first book, Jacob Weidenmann, Pioneer Landscape Architect. For the past forty years, Professor Emeritus Rudy J. Favretti, UConn, has been researching the life and accomplishments of Jacob Weidenmann (1829-1893) who pioneered the profession of landscape architecture as it is today. As a result of his research, Favretti has created a beautiful masterpiece that includes images of Weidenmann’s original design plans and final works as well as the personal story of the man who came from Switzerland and left his mark on landscapes across the United States.

Weidenmann’s contributions to Hartford include the design of Bushnell Park, Cedar Hill Cemetery, and the Butler-McCook Gardens. In addition to being its landscape architect, Weidenmann served as Cedar Hill’s first superintendent and now resides at Cedar Hill Cemetery in eternity. Recognizing the importance in sharing Weidenmann’s accomplishments, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation, in cooperation with Wesleyan University Press, published this educational and enjoyable manuscript, which will be a wonderful addition to any library.

Born in Stonington, Connecticut, author Rudy Favretti received degrees in horticulture, landscape architecture, and regional planning from the University of Connecticut, the University of Massachusetts and Cornell. Favretti served as a professor of landscape architecture at the University of Connecticut for 33 years during which time he founded UConn’s nationally accredited landscape architecture program. In addition to his career in education, Favretti conducted a private practice specializing in landscape preservation. His commissions include Thomas Jefferson’s “Monticello” and George Washington’s “Mt. Vernon.” He also served on the board of directors at Cedar Hill Cemetery for 10 years.

Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect will be available for sale everywhere in October, however, you can reserve a copy now by contacting Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation. Author Rudy Favretti will sign all books purchased through Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation. For more information or to reserve your book now, visit www.cedarhillcemetery.org.

Tell Us What you Love about Cedar Hill Cemetery

People tell us all the time how much they love Cedar Hill Cemetery. Some love it because it offers a peaceful, beautiful place to remember their loved ones while others enjoy the convenience of escaping the hustle and bustle of every day life in a place that is welcoming and serene. There are many other people who have fond memories of Cedar Hill Cemetery from their youth. Some would come with their families on a sunny Sunday afternoon to picnic on the grounds while others remember fishing in Lyn Mawr or sledding down vacant, snow-covered hills. And still others love to come to Cedar Hill to birdwatch, study the trees, paint the surroundings, bike the winding roads, walk the rolling hills, and meditate in a private corner. We welcome all who want to come and enjoy Cedar Hill Cemetery while being respectful of this unique place of remembrance.

We encourage you to share your stories about why you love Cedar Hill Cemetery. Simply click on the "comment" button below and tell us why you love Cedar Hill Cemetery. We may use your comment in a future Cedar Hill Cemetery & Foundation publication. We look forward to hearing from you!

Cedar Hill's Twilight Tour is on the Horizon

More than 30 people attended Saturday's Symbols in Stone tour with Ruth Brown, executive director of the Connecticut Gravestone Network. It was a perfect day for a Cedar Hill tour, and we sincerely appreciate so many people coming out to learn more about memorial art.

Our next tour is scheduled for Thursday, August 23 at 7:00pm. During this twilight tour, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about some of Hartford's most notable residents, including Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, Isabella Beecher Hooker, General Griffin Stedman, and Dr. Horace Wells, as the sun sets beyond the cemetery grounds. This is sure to be an educational and beautful tour that you don't want to miss. We hope to see you there.

Symbols in Stone Tour - Tomorrow!

Don't forget that Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's Symbols in Stone tour is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, August 11 at 10:00am. As you drive through the entranceway, you will notice the gates have been removed for their long-awaited restoration. We look forward to their return in the fall, and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Cedar Hill's Historic Gates are Leaving the Station

Having welcomed residents and visitors to Cedar Hill Cemetery for nearly 120 years, Cedar Hill's historic entryway gates are leaving their station at the Cemetery's entryway to be restored. The Cassidy's, from Cassidy and Bros., are expected to arrive today to remove the gates and transport them to their foundry in Rowley, Massachusetts.

Erected in 1888, the gates are an impressive example of iron wrought on so large a scale. Containing no cast work, the gates' intricate leaf-design was wrought entirely by hand with hammer and anvil. The restoration will include replacing all missing and broken pieces with hand-forged replicas, repairing and refitting the hinges and latches, removing the soil and harmful deposits, painting them their originally-intended color - black, and hot-dip galvanizing, which is intended to preserve the gates for a longer period of time.

In accordance with its mission to preserve and protect the art and history at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation sees this as a fitting and important project. It is our hope that once restored, the gates will continue to welcome residents and visitors to Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery for another 120 years. We look forward to opening the newly restored gates for you upon their return in the fall.

Symbols in Stone

Memorial artworks often include symbols, which are used to share more about the person than just his or her name, birth date and death date. For instance, a broken column can symbolize a life cut short while a lamb can signify innocence and purity. Some symbols can have very specific meanings as they relate to a particular person. For example, the horseshoe can symbolize protection from evil, however, in the case of horse nail manufacturer George Capewell, the horseshoe and nail on his memorial signify his profession. While poppies can symbolize eternal sleep, the poppies on Dr. Horace Wells's memorial have more to do with his discovery of anesthesia and, thus, pain free medicine than eternal sleep.

This Saturday, you can learn more about the various symbols on Cedar Hill's monuments as you tour the grounds with the Executive Director of the Connecticut Gravestone Network, Ruth Brown. Ms. Brown will point out various funerary symbols, such as butterflies, orbs, doves and wreaths, and share their meanings. She will also introduce attendees to memorials that were created with symbols specifically relating to the person for whom the monument was erected, such as Dr. Horace Wells and General Griffin Stedman. Anyone interested in symbolism, art, oral storytelling and history will enjoy this educational Symbols in Stone tour.

The tour will begin at 10am on Saturday, August 11 at Cedar Hill Cemetery. It is free for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members and $5.00 for nonmembers. We look forward to seeing you then.

What's New?

It's hard to believe that August is already here. With summer half over, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is preparing for the arrival of fall with several projects in place. The first project is the restoration of the Oswin Welles memorial on Section 1. Erected in 1873 and designed by 19th century sculptor Carl Conrads, the monument is in desperate need of restoration. ConservArt, a monument restoration company located in Hamden, Connecticut, will be providing the restoration services for the Welles memorial. The Foundation has received financial support from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism's Historic Preservation Fund to assist with the cost of the work. Unrestricted donations to the Foundation will be used to cover the remaining costs.

Within the next week, Cedar Hill's entryway gates will be removed to undergo restoration work as well. For nearly 120 years, the gates have welcomed residents and visitors to the Cemetery's grounds. They are the Cemetery's most distinctive feature and symbolize Cedar Hill's commitment to caring for and protecting all who pass through. By restoring the entryway gates, Cedar Hill benefits from being able to preserve a piece of Hartford's architectural history and the community benefits from a beautiful, well-kept sanctuary to remember loved ones and tour the grounds. The Foundation has received several individual donations as well as support from the Ensworth Charitable Foundation to restore the gates, however, we are still actively fund raising for this costly project and welcome your support.

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation, in cooperation with Wesleyan University Press, has published its first book, Jacob Weidenmann, Pioneer Landscape Architect. Written by Professor Emeritus, Rudy J. Favretti, University of Connecticut, this book shares the life and accomplishments of landscape architect Jacob Weidenmann. Weidenmann designed Cedar Hill Cemetery's landscape, served as Cedar Hill's first superintendent, and now resides at Cedar Hill Cemetery for eternity. Books will be available for purchase in September but can be reserved now by contacting Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation.

In addition to these projects, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation has several tours and events coming in the near future. You can find the complete listing in the scroll bar on the right. We hope to see you there!