Cedar Hill's Superintendent's Cottage

Thousands of people drive through Cedar Hill's gateway each year. As they enter to visit their loved one's grave site or seek a moment of peace and solace or admire Cedar Hill's rich art and history, very few notice the Superintendent's Cottage that stands just to the right of the entryway. Built in 1875, the Superintendent's Cottage has been Bill and Sue Griswold's home for 30 years.

The Hartford Courant shines a light on Bill and Sue's life in the Superintendent's Cottage in the December 12th edition of the CTHOME Section. "Bill's protectiveness of the cemetery is evident when he talks of the long history of cemeteries in New England and the tradition that required supervisors to live on the cemetery grounds. But over the years, he says, that tradition has faded."

To view the entire Courant article, visit www.courant.com and type Cedar Hill in the search box or cut and paste the following into your browser: http://www.courant.com/features/home/hc-homecemetery1212.artdec12,0,833880.story. Cedar Hill is proud to have Bill as its Executive Superintendent and this article genuinely reflects Bill's commitment to and love of Cedar Hill.

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet - A Cedar Hill Notable

December 10, 1787 marks the birth date of Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Gallaudet was an intelligent young man who earned an undergraduate and graduate degree from Yale University. He then became a preacher after graduating from Andover Theological Seminary.

In the early 1800s, Gallaudet became interested in teaching the deaf when he met Alice Cogswell, the nine-year-old deaf daughter of his neighbor. He managed to teach Alice words by writing them in the dirt with a stick. With Alice’s father, Gallaudet traveled to Europe to learn more about teaching methods for the deaf.

In 1817, Gallaudet assisted in founding the Hartford School for the Deaf - now recognized as the American School for the Deaf - and he served as its principal for many years. In 1821, Gallaudet married a former student Sophia Fowler.

Thomas’s son, Edward Miner Gallaudet, founded the first college for the deaf in 1864 in Washington, D.C. In 1986, the college was renamed Gallaudet University.

Thomas Gallaudet died on September 10, 1851. He, his wife and his son Edward are interred at Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Thanksgiving Well Wishes

Cedar Hill Cemetery & Foundation wish all our friends and families a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. Cedar Hill's offices will be closed Thanksgiving Day but will reopen at 8:00am on Friday to serve you.

Unique Holiday Gifts from CHCF

With the holidays quickly approaching, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation wanted to offer you some unique gift ideas for friends and family on your gift list.

1.) Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect. This beautiful table-top book shares the life and accomplishments of one of the world's pioneer landscape architects. Weidenmann's commissions include Bushnell Park and Cedar Hill Cemetery. Through December 30, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is offering author signed copies of Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect at 10% off the cover price - $47.65 (includes tax).

2.) Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation membership. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation offers three levels of annual memberships. Memberships include reduced rates to tours and events, invitations to members-only events, and a one-year subscription to Cedar Hill Cemetery & Foundation's Gateway newsletter.

3.) Make a memorial gift. Remembering a family member's or friend's loved one through a memorial gift is a unique and thoughtful holiday gift. Memorial gifts made to Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation are recognized in Cedar Hill's Book of Remembrance located in the Northam Memorial Chapel and in the corresponding year's annual report. Memorial gifts can be restricted for a specific project or support the overall mission of the Foundation. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation will inform the person for whom the holiday gift was made by sending a card detailing the memorial gift information.

4.) Arrange a private Cedar Hill Notables Tour for you and a group of your friends. This is a wonderful way to spend time with your friends while taking in the art, culture and history that Cedar Hill has to offer.

To learn more about any of these gift opportunities, please contact Wendi Fralick at Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation by calling 860-956-3311 or emailing wfralick@cedarhillcemetery.org. Thank you and happy holidays!

Thousands of Reasons to Visit Cedar Hill

Even though Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's tours and events season has come to a conclusion for 2008, there are still thousands of reasons to visit Cedar Hill on your own. With more than 30,000 people interred at Cedar Hill, there are countless stories to be told and each monument tells us a little about each person interred here. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation also offers self-guide tour maps guiding you through the historic sections to the final resting places of some of Cedar Hill's most notable residents, including J.P. Morgan, Katharine Hepburn, and Samuel and Elizabeth Colt. We hope you will continue to visit Cedar Hill Cemetery in the coming months, and we look forward to seeing you again during our 2009 tours and events season.

HHLT and New York Times

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation welcomed 250 people to its annual Haunted History Lantern Tour. "Tourists" were visited by the "spirits" of Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, Colt gun manufacturers Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, women's suffragist and spiritualist Isabella Beecher Hooker, the Mark Howard "Bad" Angel, and dentist Dr. Horace Wells. Each of these notables shared a piece of their lives and accomplishments with the audience. The event has received rave reviews, and we are already looking forward to next year's Haunted History Lantern Tour.

In addition, Cedar Hill Cemetery was recognized in the Sunday, October 26th edition of the New York Times: "Among the state's most beautiful cemeteries is Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, 270 acres of scenic walkways, a lake, specimen trees, jogging trails, a chapel and hillocks stippled with mausoleums, Egyptian obelisks and tombs of notables of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On its hills and byways are Charles Dudley Warner, who co-wrote with Mark Twain The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, the artist William Glackens and the poet Wallace Stevens." If you have still not visited Cedar Hill Cemetery, come and see why people love Cedar Hill Cemetery for yourself.

Even though Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 2008 tours and events season has come to a conclusion, we welcome visitors and offer self-guided tour maps for people interested in discovering some of Cedar Hill's extensive history. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Cedar Hill's Haunted History Lantern Tour

Join us Friday, October 24th for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's Annual Haunted History Lantern Tour. This is the only night during the year that Cedar Hill opens its gates to the public. Groups of 30 people will be led by lantern light through the historic sections of the Cemetery to meet some of Cedar Hill's most notable residents played by character actors. The tour will take approximately 45 minutes. Tickets will be available for $5.00 for CHCF members and $8.00 for nonmembers. Children 12 and under are free. The rain date for this event is Saturday, October 25th. Please call 860-956-3311 for additional information.

Civil War Men and Monuments Tour Tomorrow!

Civil War expert Mike McBride will lead Saturday's Civil War Men and Monuments tour. This tour will commence at the Samuel and Elizabeth Colt monument on Section 2 at 10:00 am. While Cedar Hill Cemetery did not have its first burial until 1866, after the conclusion of the Civil War, there are several Civil War soldiers interred here. Mr. McBride will share with you their stories during this tour.

Sunset Tour and Civil War Men and Monuments Tour

Join us Thursday, October 2 for our Cedar Hill Sunset Tour and Saturday, October 4 for our Civil War Men and Monuments tour.

Led by Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's Director of Development Wendi Fralick, the Cedar Hill Sunset Tour will begin at the flagpole at the end of the entranceway drive at 6:00 pm. Ms. Fralick will lead you through Cedar Hill Cemetery's historic sections and introduce you to some of Cedar Hill's most notable residents, including Dr. Horace Wells, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, financier J.P. Morgan and actress Katharine Hepburn.

Civil War expert Mike McBride will lead Saturday's Civil War Men and Monuments tour. This tour will commence from the flagpole at the end of the entranceway drive at 10:00 am. While Cedar Hill Cemetery did not have its first burial until 1866, after the conclusion of the Civil War, there are several Civil War soldiers interred here. Mr. McBride will share with you their stories during this tour.

The weather for both of these events is expected to be perfect. With these being two of Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's three remaining tours and events for the 2008 season, we hope you will join us.

Exceptional Women Tour Canceled

With the rain looking endless today, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation has canceled the Exceptional Women Tour scheduled for this evening.

Don't forget to join us next Thursday, October 2 at 6:00 pm for the previously rescheduled Cedar Hill Sunset Tour. If the weather cooperates, you will enjoy a tour of some of Cedar Hill's most notable residents as the sun sets over Cedar Mountain. With fall's colors already making their debut at Cedar Hill, it's the perfect time of year to join us for a tour. This tour is free for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members and $5.00 for nonmembers.

For more information, please call 860-956-3311.

Exceptional Women Tour this Friday

Don't forget to join us this Friday, September 26 at 6:00 pm for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's Exceptional Women Tour. Led by Rebecca Scorso, former managing director at the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame, you will learn about some of the women who played key roles in the women's rights movement. This tour is free for CHCF members and $5.00 for nonmembers and will begin at the flagpole at the end of the entranceway drive. In the event of rain, please check back here or visit Cedar Hill Cemetery & Foundation's website - www.cedarhillcemetery.org - for possible cancellation information.

Mediumship 101 is an Amazing Event

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's Connecticut Ghosts and Mediumship 101 was amazing. Elaine Kuzmeskus, director of the New England School of Metaphysics, discussed her experiences of the paranormal while researching her book Connecticut Ghosts and the various ways in which people communicate with people who have passed on. The climax of her presentation was when she began to "read" for people in the audience. To one event attendee, Ms. Kumeskus said that she could see this person in the legal field. The woman responded that she was a district attorney. To another event attendee, Ms. Kuzmeskus said that she saw a trip to Arizona or New Mexico in their near future. Come to find out, the woman's husband was leaving for Arizona the following morning. And to yet another attendee, Ms. Kuzmeskus said she thought this person would be good in the medical field because her of her kind and healing aura. This attendee admitted that she works in a doctor's office.

In addition to reading the attendees, Ms. Kuzmeskus connected people with their ancestors who have passed on. One woman was met by her mother who had died recently after a long illness. One gentleman was greeted by his father who had also died recently of a long illness. Another attendee was greeted by her uncle who came through so say that while he was wheelchair bound in life, he could now walk.

The entire event was interesting and thought-provoking. Listening to Ms. Kuzmeskus bring messages from beyond to the audience can make one believe that life, in some form, goes on after death.

Don't forget to join us this Friday at 6:00pm for Cedar Hill's Exceptional Women Tour led by Rebecca Scorso, former managing director of the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. For more information, please visit www.cedarhillcemetery.org or call 860-956-3311.

CT Ghosts and Mediumship 101 this Saturday!

Join us this Saturday, September 20, at 10:00 am for Connecticut Ghosts and Mediumship 101. Elaine Kuzmeskus, director of the New England School of Metaphysics and author of Connecticut Ghosts and Séance 101, will share her experiences with the paranormal while doing research for her book Connecticut Ghosts. She will also demonstrate Mediumship and answer audience questions. This event will take place on Section 2 at the Colt monument and is $5.00 for CHCF Members and $8.00 for nonmembers. Reservations are highly recommended but not required. To make reservations, please call 860-956-3311.

Notables Tour this Tuesday!

Don't forget about Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 3rd Tuesday Notables Tour on Tuesday, September 16 at 10:00am. If you would like to join us, please RSVP by Monday at noon by calling 860-956-3311. Hope to see you there!

An Evening of Jazz and Upcoming Events

An Evening of Jazz at Cedar Hill was an overwhelming success attracting 100 people from the Greater Hartford community to listen to live jazz music by The Steve Lord Quintet and The Tony Allen Quintet. To view photos from the event, visit www.cedarhillcemetery.org and click on the link at the bottom of the Home page.

Also, mark your calendars to join us for an upcoming tour or event. Below you will find the next two events in our calendar. For the full tours and events listing, please view the toolbar to the right. We look forward to seeing you soon!

3rd Tuesday Notables Tour
Tuesday, September 16, 10 am
Members free, $5 nonmembers
Take a guided stroll through Cedar Hill Cemetery's historic sections and learn about many Hartford notables who helped to shape the world in which we live. Please RSVP by noon on previous Monday by calling 860-956-3311, ext. 13. Tour Length: 1.5 hours

CT Ghosts and Mediumship 101
Saturday, Sept. 20, 10 am
$5 members, $8 nonmembers
Elaine Kuzmeskus, director of the New England School of Metaphysics and author of Connecticut Ghosts and Séance 101, is a nationally renowned spiritualist medium and has been certified by the National Association of Spiritualist Churches as a medium. Ms. Kuzmeskus will discuss her experiences of supernatural activity while doing research for her book Connecticut Ghosts. She will also demonstrate Mediumship and answer questions from the audience. Follow signs at the Cemetery to designated the location. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 860-956-3311or emailing info@cedarhillcemetery.org. Event Length: 1.5 hours

An Evening of Jazz a Success

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's An Evening of Jazz at Cedar Hill was a great success attracting 100 people. People from all ages gathered under the beautiful August evening sky. Some brought chairs and tables and laid out full dinner feasts while others laid out blankets and enjoyed pizza and sandwiches. Children danced about on the lawn and couples danced in the shadows of a nearby tree. It was truly a spectacular event that we plan to host again next year. Pictures of the event will be posted on Cedar Hill Cemetery & Foundation's website (www.cedarhillcemetery.org) next week. Please be sure to check them out.

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming tour or event in September!

An Evening of Jazz at Cedar Hill THIS Saturday!

Bring your blankets, chairs and picnic baskets and join us Saturday, August 23 at Cedar Hill Cemetery for An Evening of Jazz at Cedar Hill. This unique event will feature The Steve Lord Quintet and The Tony Allen Quintet. Tony Allen made Front Street famous with his album and title track "I Remember Front Street."

The concert will take place from 6:00 pm until 8:30 pm. Guests will enjoy the sounds of jazz while sitting under the August evening sky surrounded by the beauty and serenity of Cedar Hill Cemetery. Tickets are $10 for CHCF members and $15 for nonmembers and can be purchased prior to the event by calling 860-956-3311 or the evening of the event at the gate.

Whole Foods Market in West Hartford has kindly donated a $100 gift card to Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation, which will be raffled off at the event.

For additional information, visit www.cedarhillcemetery.org or call 860-956-3311. This event is hosted by Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation and sponsored in part by Aetna Foundation.

Mystery Scavenger Hunt

Don't miss Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's Mystery Scavenger Hunt tomorrow, Saturday, August 16, at 10:00 am at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Someone has stolen Anne Tracy Morgan's beloved necklace, and we need your help in finding out who. This family-friendly scavenger hunt will have you traversing Cedar Hill's historic sections as you find and follow clues to the suspected thief.

The fee for this event is $10 for scavenger groups of 2-4 people and $5 for individuals. Individuals and smaller groups will be combined to make as many groups of four as possible. Reservations are highly recommended for this event. For more information or to reserve your place to participate, please call 860-956-3311.

Upcoming Tours and Events

Due to Thursday's severe weather, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation had to unfortunately cancel the Cedar Hill Sunset Tour. The good news is that due to the popularity of this tour, we have rescheduled it for Thursday, October 2 at 6:00 pm. In addition to watching the sunset over Cedar Mountain and learning about some of Cedar Hill's notables, attendees will also have the opportunity to traverse the historic sections on this guided tour as the colors of fall set in. Let's all hope for nice weather and mark this on your calendars now!

In the meantime, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation still has several tours and events coming up. Next Saturday, August 16, join us for our family-friendly scavenger hunt. Teams will be given clues to solve the mystery of who stole Anne Tracy Morgan's adored necklace. Although it's a race to the finish, this event is sure to be fun for everyone. Admission for this event is $10.00 for a team of 2-4 people.

Also, on Saturday, August 23, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation will be hosting An Evening of Jazz at Cedar Hill featuring The Steve Lord Quintet and The Tony Allen Quintet. Bring your chairs, blankets and picnic baskets and join us for an entertaining evening of jazz under the August evening sky surrounded by Cedar Hill's exquisite beauty. This event is $10 for CHCF members and $15 for nonmembers.

For the complete listing of tours and events, check out the calendar listing to the right or visit www.cedarhillcemetery.org. We hope to see you soon!

Cedar Hill Sunset Tour

Join us Thursday, August 7th at 6:00 pm for Cedar Hill's Sunset Tour. During this tour, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about some of Cedar Hill's most notable residents as the sun sets behind Cedar Mountain. This tour offers some of the most breathtaking views of the Cemetery at sunset. Wear comfortable shoes as this tour will take us traversing through the historic sections. The full tour is expected to take an hour and a half. This tour is free for CHCF members and $5.00 for nonmembers. For more information, please call 860-956-3311, ext. 13.

LGH Hosts Summer Social at Cedar Hill Cemetery

Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) recently held their Annual Summer Social at Cedar Hill Cemetery. LGH invited leaders of today to enjoy Cedar Hill's art, history and beauty amongst the leaders of the past at this unique summer celebration. Attendees enjoyed hors-d'oeuvres, cocktails, dinner, live music, a scavenger hunt, a caricature artist and games from the 1800s. Several attendees took the opportunity to tour the historic grounds and visit the final resting places of Hartford notables such as J.P. Morgan, George Beach and Katharine Hepburn. From infants to retired adults, everyone enjoyed this outdoor event.

Cedar Hill Cemetery & Foundation welcome groups who want to use the grounds for recreational and educational purposes. Designed in a park-like manner, Cedar Hill Cemetery was once the place for families to go for picnics and leisure activities. Furthermore, many of Cedar Hill's notables are linked to businesses that still exist throughout Greater Hartford today. To learn more about scheduling a private tour or event at Cedar Hill Cemetery, call 860-956-3311, ext. 13.

Cedar Hill Legacy Society

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation recently received a generous bequest from a long-time supporter of the Foundation. These funds will be used to preserve and protect the art, history and natural resources of Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery in perpetuity. Supporting the Foundation through a bequest is a meaningful way to ensure Cedar Hill remains a welcoming and beautiful place for future generations to visit their loved ones.

Several people have already joined the Cedar Hill Legacy Society by informing the Foundation of their intent to leave a bequest in their estate plans. Each of these gifts is vital to supporting the Foundation's mission in perpetuity.

If you have included Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation in your estate plans, please contact us so we may include you as a Cedar Hill Legacy Society member. If you have not included Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation in your estate plans but would like to learn more about doing so, please call 860-956-3311, ext. 13. There is no small act of kindness, and we thank everyone who supports the Foundation's efforts to preserve and protect Cedar Hill's unique and beautiful memorial grounds in perpetuity.

Cedar Hill Sunset Tour - August 7

Mark your calendars now to join us Thursday, August 7 at 6:00 pm for the Cedar Hill Sunset Tour. Learn about Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy under Abraham Lincoln; Joseph Hopkins Twichell, Asylum Hill Congregational Church's pastor for 47 years and very good friend of Mark Twain; Horace Wells, Hartford dentist and discoverer of anesthesia; and many more Hartford notables. We will traverse the historic sections while taking in some of the most breathtaking views of the Cemetery as the sun sets over Cedar Mountain.

Wear comfortable walking shoes for this hour and a half tour. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members are free and non-members are $5.00.

Cedar Hill Notables Tour July 15

Cedar Hill is the final resting place for many Hartford notables, including Dr. Horace Wells, Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, J.P. Morgan and Katharine Hepburn. Learn about these and other notables who helped to shape the world in which we live at our next Notables Tour on Tuesday, July 15 at 10:00 am. This tour is free for CHCF members and $5.00 for nonmembers. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by noon on Monday, July 14 by calling 860-956-3311, ext. 13. For more information about this event or for the complete 2008 Tours and Events schedule, visit www.cedarhillcemetery.org.

Gideon Welles is Born 206 Years Ago

July 1 marks the birthdate of Cedar Hill Cemetery resident Gideon Welles. Gideon Welles was born July 1, 1802 in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He earned his degree from Norwich University, became a lawyer by “reading the law,” and became founder and editor of the Hartford Times in 1826.

Welles became active politically. He started his political career as a Democrat and served in the Connecticut State Legislature. In 1854, Welles joined the newly-established Republican party and founded the Hartford Evening Post in 1856. Welles had strong anti-slavery views and was an avid supporter of Abraham Lincoln. When Lincoln became President, he named Gideon Welles Secretary of the Navy.

While the navy was in complete disarray when he took office, Welles is credited with establishing order and implementing some of the founding principals upon which the navy still functions today. During his tenure, he and his wife became quite close to the Lincoln family. In fact, Welles was in the room with President Lincoln as he lay dying from his gunshot wound. Of this experience, Welles wrote the following in his diary on April 15, 1865:

“…About 6 a.m. I experienced a feeling of faintness and, for the first time after entering the room, a little past eleven, I left it and the house, and took a short walk in the open air. It was a dark and gloomy morning, and rain set in before I returned to the house, some fifteen minutes later. Large groups of people were gathered every few yards, all anxious and solicitous. Some one or more from each group stepped forward as I passed to inquire into the condition of the President and to ask if there was no hope. Intense grief was on every countenance when I replied that the President could survive but a short time. The colored people especially – and there were at this time more of them, perhaps, than of whites – were overwhelmed with grief.

A little before seven. I went into the room where the dying president was rapidly drawing near the closing moments. His wife soon after made last visit to him. The death struggle had begun. Robert, his son, stood with several others at the head of his bed. He bore himself well, but on two occasions gave way to overpowering grief and sobbed aloud, turning his head and leaning on the shoulder of Senator Sumner. The respiration of the President became suspended at intervals and at last entirely ceased at twenty-two minutes past seven.”

Welles was an accomplished as well as, at times, a controversial figure. Welles had been known for purchasing the freedom of slaves and employing them and other previous slaves in his home. Henry Greene was one of his employees who had previously been a slave and during his tenure with the family, he became very close to the Welles’. In fact, when Welles completed his government service, Henry Greene returned with the Welles family to Hartford. Gideon Welles died in 1878 and Henry continued to work for the family until he died in 1911. In his will, Gideon Welles had expressed his wish for Henry Greene to be buried at the Welles lot at Cedar Hill Cemetery. On June 17, 1811, the Hartford Times covered the burial of Henry Greene at Hartford’s elitist Cedar Hill Cemetery on its front page. Many were upset to find that a former slave had been interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Henry Greene is still buried at Cedar Hill, and we are honored to have the task of keeping his memory alive.

An Evening of Jazz at Cedar Hill

Purchase your tickets today to join us for An Evening of Jazz at Cedar Hill featuring The Tony Allen Quintet and The Steve Lord Quintet on Saturday, August 23 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm. Tony Allen has performed alongside the likes of Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. In 2003, he put Front Street in Hartford on the map with his second album and title track I Remember Front Street. Steve Lord has over 35 years of performing experience and has opened for many celebrities, including Ray Charles, Slide Hampton and Sammy Davis Jr. These two groups are sure to provide an incomparable evening of entertainment at Hartford's historic and incomparable Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Join us for this unique evening of music at Cedar Hill under the August evening sky. Attendees are invited to bring chairs, blankets and picnic baskets and to find the perfect spot on the open lawn to partake in this fabulous evening of jazz.

Tickets are available for $10 for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members and $15 for nonmembers. The rain date for this event will be Sunday, August 24. To purchase your tickets or for more information, please call 860-956-3311, ext. 13.

3rd Tuesday Notables Tour - This Tuesday!

Join us for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 3rd Tuesday Notables Tour on Tuesday, June 17 at 10:00 am. Led by our expert tour guide Doris Griffith, you will learn about some of Cedar Hill's notable residents who helped to shape the world in which we live. For instance, do you know for what Dr. Horace Wells is famous? Do you know what J.P. Morgan's monument represents? Do you know from where the Hepburn memorial came? Join us to find the answers to these questions and many more.

If you are planning to join us, please RSVP by noon on Monday, June 16 by calling 860-956-3311. We look forward to seeing you there!

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 2008 Tours and Events Season is sponsored in part by Aetna.

They Called me Lizzy is Simply Remarkable

The East Haddam Stage Company's performance of They Called me Lizzy. . .from slavery to the White House was simply remarkable. Stephanie Jackson, who played Elizabeth Keckly in this one-person performance, was amazing. While it was a smaller turnout than we had hoped, those who did attend raved about Stephanie's performance and this truly heart-felt story about a woman who was a slave for 30 years and, after buying her and her son's freedom, became First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker and confidante. We hope to continue to bring East Haddam Stage Company performances to Cedar Hill in the future.

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's next event is the 3rd Tuesday Notables Tour, which will be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery on Tuesday, June 17 at 10:00 am. Learn about Hartford's history and the people who contributed to the world in which we live, including Dr. Horace Wells, Isabella Beecher Hooker, Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, J.P. Morgan and Katharine Hepburn. This event is free for CHCF members and $5.00 for nonmembers. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Monday, June 16 at noon by calling 860-956-3311.

East Haddam Stage Company to Perform at Cedar Hill

Join us Saturday, June 7 at Cedar Hill Cemetery as the East Haddam Stage Company performs They Called me Lizzy. . .from Slavery to the White House. This one-person show tells the story of Elizabeth Keckly, Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker and author of Behind the Scenes, 30 years a slave and four years in the White House.

This event will take place on the Colt lot at the top of Section 2 and will begin at 10:00am. Admission is $5.00 for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members and $8.00 for nonmembers.

CHCF Receives Award from HPA

The Hartford Preservation Alliance awarded Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation two awards last night at their 7th annual awards celebration. The first award recognized Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's stewardship and preservation efforts of Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery. The second award recognized the Foundation and author Rudy Favretti for the publication of Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is grateful to all the people, businesses, foundations, and government entities that support our efforts to care for and preserve Cedar Hill's incomparable memorial grounds. We would also like to thank the Hartford Preservation Alliance for recognizing our efforts.

Don't forget that Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation will be hosting its annual tree walk with tree expert Ed Richardson on Saturday, May 31 at 10am. This tour is free for all. From our monument preservation to our meticulous care of the trees and plants, we are committed to preserving these impressive memorial grounds. Come see for yourself.

Cedar Hill's Annual Rare and Notable Tree Walk

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is hosting its annual tree walk on Saturday, May 31 at 10:00 am. Led by tree expert Ed Richardson, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about some of Cedar Hill's rare and notable trees. The tour will begin at the flagpole at the end of the entranceway drive and is expected to take between an hour and an hour and a half. This tour is free for all.

Hartford Courant Highlights Irene McHugh

Did you see the article about Irene McHugh in the Wednesday, May 21st edition of the Hartford Courant? Susan Campbell shared with her readers Irene's contributions to Cedar Hill during her time with Hartford's historic cemetery. With Irene retiring from Cedar Hill Cemetery at the end of the month, it was a fitting tribute for someone who has done so much to bring Cedar Hill's history to life.

If you missed the article, visit http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-susan0521.artmay21,0,7142579.column.

Don't miss your last opportunity to participate in a guided tour with Cedar Hill's Education Director, Irene McHugh, prior to her retirement on May 30. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 3rd Tuesday Notables Tour will take place on Tuesday, May 20 at 10:00 am starting at the flag pole at the end of the entryway drive. Ms. McHugh will share with you the lives and accomplishments of some of Cedar Hill's most notable residents, including Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, J.P. Morgan and actress Katharine Hepburn. This tour is free for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members and $5.00 for nonmembers. For more information, call 860-956-3311, ext. 13.

Come Visit Cedar Hill

If you haven't taken time to visit Cedar Hill Cemetery recently, now is the perfect time. The flowering trees are in bloom, the birds have returned from their winter excursions, and the peaceful serenity of the surroundings is unmatched.

There are several more reasons to visit Cedar Hill now. The 120 year old entryway gates have been restored and are again adorning the historic entrance to Cedar Hill; Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation has launched its 2008 Tours and Events Season sponsored by Aetna which includes a variety of educational opportunities to learn more about the art, history and culture of Cedar Hill; the Oswin Welles bronze memorial on Section 1 was restored in the fall and looks better than ever against the backdrop of the warm, bold spring colors of the trees; and restoration work on the Colt memorial will begin tomorrow which offers a perfect opportunity to see our conservators at work on one of the most recognized and historically significant monuments at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Saturday, May 17, you can join Roaring Brook Nature Center's Jay Kaplan on a bird walk and talk through the woods of Cedar Hill. The tour will begin at 6:30am and will leave from the entranceway bridge. On Saturday, May 31, you can also join tree expert Ed Richardson for a Notable Tree Tour through Cedar Hill's historic sections. The tour will depart at 10:00am from the flagpole at the end of the entranceway drive. We look forward to seeing you at Cedar Hill soon - whether at one of our educational tours or simply taking a self-guided tour with one of our many tour guide maps.

Bird Walk and Talk this Saturday

Join us this Saturday, May 17 at 6:30am as Roaring Brook Nature Center's Jay Kaplan guides us through Cedar Hill's ornamental foreground in search of a variety of birds that call Cedar Hill home. Bring your binoculars and your walking shoes for this nature tour where it's quite possible to see more than birds.

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 2nd Annual Run for the Roses was a huge success. More than 130 people joined us at The Hartford Golf Club for the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. Guests came from as far away as Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont for the festivities, which included mint juleps, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, a silent auction, and live music. From watching the Kentucky Derby on the big screen television to dancing to Elton John's Piano Man, guests enjoyed the evening from start to finish. All proceeds support Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's mission to preserve and protect the art, history and natural resources of Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery in perpetuity. We hope you will join us the first Saturday in May in 2009 for the 3rd Annual Run for the Roses.

Don't Miss the 2nd Annual Run for the Roses

The 134th running of the Kentucky Derby is nearly here and tickets for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 2nd Annual Run for the Roses are only available until Friday, April 25. Don't miss your opportunity to join us for the "greatest Derby party in West Hartford" celebrating "the greatest two minutes in sports." This party includes live coverage of the Kentucky Derby festivities from Churchill Downs, two hours of open bar, two hours of stationary and passed hors d'oeuvres, the viewing of the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, a fantastic silent auction, dinner, dessert, and live music by pianist and singer Jeff Wieselberg who will be taking your requests. Joe D'Ambrosio, our emcee for the evening, promises to add a unique element of entertainment.

Purchase your tickets today to join us at The Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford, CT on Saturday, May 3 starting at 4:30 pm for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 2nd Annual Run for the Roses. We will be celebrating the American tradition of the Kentucky Derby while supporting the preservation of a national historic landmark - Hartford's Cedar Hill Cemetery. Tickets are available for $125 each or a table for 10 can be reserved for $1,000. To purchase your tickets, call 860-956-3311, ext. 13 or email info@cedarhillcemetery.org. We look forward to seeing you there.

Last day for Early Bird Special

Today is the last day for members to take advantage of the members-only, early bird special for discounted Run for the Roses tickets. Members sending in their checks today can purchase tickets for $100 each. After today, all individual tickets can be purchased through April 25th for $125 each. A table of ten can be purchased for $1,000.

You don't want to miss this event! Cheer on your favorite Kentucky Derby contender as you enjoy hors d'oeuvres, cocktails - including mint juleps, and a silent auction. Following the race, you will enjoy dinner and live music by pianist Jeff Wieselberg. Jeff will turn the Hartford Golf Club into an exciting piano bar as he plays your requests. Joe D'Ambrosio, WTIC radio personality, Voice of the UConn Huskies and friend of Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation, will be our emcee for the evening. Bring your friends for what promises to be a good time for all. Tickets are selling fast - don't miss out!

The Run for the Roses will be held on Saturday, May 3 at the Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford, Connecticut. All proceeds support Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's mission to preserve and protect the art, history and natural resources of Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery in perpetuity.

Meet Robert W. Hamilton

As part of its mission, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is committed to educating the community about the history of Cedar Hill Cemetery and the many people who are buried here. Most people know about the lives and accomplishments of Cedar Hill Cemetery's most notable residents such as J.P. Morgan, Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, and Katharine Hepburn, however, there are more than 30,000 people interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery and each has a story to tell.

We recently received an email from Patrick Hamilton in Brookfield, Wisconsin who informed us that his great, great grandfather, Robert W. Hamilton, is among Cedar Hill's residents. Unbeknownst to us, Robert Hamilton was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland in 1824 and emigrated to America, landing in New York, in 1850. He came to Hartford and began his career with Woodruff and Beach Company’s Corliss Engine Plant building steam engines.

When the Civil War began, Mr. Hamilton moved his family to New York where he built engines for monitor-class war ships, including the famous and innovative U.S.S. Monitor which used propeller rather than a paddle wheel and had a radical engine design. Mr. Hamilton played a key role in helping to meet the required 100 day deadline from the start of battleship contruction to war-ready completion.

At the end of the Civil War, Mr. Hamilton returned to Connecticut and settled with his family in Hartford. Demand for his services as a hydraulic engineer were great and necessitated his travel to many cities throughout the United States. Mr. Hamilton designed the first municipal water pumping system for many of America's largest cities, including Skaneateles, New York and Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Working with Edward Allis, later of the Allis-Chalmers fame, Mr. Hamilton won the bid for Milwaukee's project. Mr. Hamilton played an integral role in securing the bid as Allis was new to the construction of pumping systems at the time. In addition to these accomplishments, Mr. Hamilton designed the pumping apparatus satisfying the enormous water needs of the Great Calumet and Hecla mines in Michigan's upper peninsula - at the time the largest producer of copper in the world.

In his retirement years, Mr. Hamilton moved to Dalton, Massachusetts. In 1908, at the age of 83, Mr. Hamilton passed away. He was buried on Valentine's Day 1908 and was the 4,319th person to be interred at Hartford's Cedar Hill Cemetery and will continue to reside in perpetuity in Section 6.

We would like to thank Patrick Hamilton for sharing some of his great, great grandfather's life and accomplishments with us and encourage others to follow suit.

CHCF's 2008 Tours and Events

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is pleased to announce its tours and events for the 2008 season. From touring the landscape, to learning about Cedar Hill's notable residents to watching a performance about the life of Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker and confidante, you are sure to find an event just perfect for you. You can find a full listing of tours and events in the column to right.

If you are interested in scheduling a private tour or event at Cedar Hill Cemetery during our 2008 season, contact the Foundation at 860-956-3311.

WNPR Highlights Cedar Hill

As one of Connecticut's most prominent burial grounds and Hartford's historical attractions, WNPR's Catie Talarski spoke with Cedar Hill's historian Irene McHugh about the history and people that make Cedar Hill Cemetery so impressive. To see pictures from Catie's visit and to hear her interview with Irene about such residents as J.P Morgan, Samuel and Elizabeth Colt and Yung Wing, visit http://www.cpbn.org/cedar-hill-shadows-come-life.

MetroHartford Alliance Resurrects the DeLorean

Remember Back to the Future - the movie that made the DeLorean infamous by transforming it into a time machine? Well, the MetroHartford Alliance brought the DeLorean back on Monday, February 25 during their annual celebration at The Bushnell. With the theme "Look to the Future," the event included a video montage of Hartford in the future as well as MetroHartford Alliance President and CEO Oz Greibel driving on stage in a vintage DeLorean.

The event brought together more than 300 people representing companies from throughout Greater Hartford. In addition to being an overwhelmingly sucessful event, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's Director of Development Wendi Fralick managed to make her way into the DeLorean. It's hard to believe that this car, which was made famous in the 1980s, is now an historical icon.

Save the Date - May 3, 2008

Mark May 3, 2008 on your calendars and join us for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 2nd Annual Run for the Roses at The Hartford Golf Club. In addition to watching the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby aired live from Churchill Downs, guests will enjoy hors-d'oeuvres, cocktails, dinner, live music and a silent auction.

Joe D'Ambrosio, WTIC radio personality and voice of the UConn Huskies, will be returning as emcee.

Tickets are available for $125 per person. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members are invited to take advantage of a members-only, early-bird special. Through Friday, April 4th, members can purchase tickets for $100 each.

All proceeds support Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's mission to preserve and protect the art, history and natural resources of Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery in perpetuity.

For more information, contact Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation at 860-956-3311. We look forward to seeing you for the festivities!

Mark Your Calendars Now!

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is in the midst of planning its 2008 Tours & Events Season. We are excited to announce that we will be launching the season with our 2nd Annual Run for the Roses fundraiser which will be held on Saturday, May 3rd at The Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford starting at 4:30 pm. Proceeds from this event support the mission and vision of Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation.

From the Run for the Roses through October there will be a plethora of tours and events to partake in at Cedar Hill. On Saturday, May 10, for instance, join author Rudy Favretti as he explains the components of the American rural cemetery movement and Jacob Weidenmann’s interpretation of it at Cedar Hill. During this hour-long tour, attendees will learn about Cedar Hill's exquisite landscape. Other events in May include a bird walk with Jay Kaplan on Saturday, May 17 at 6:30 am, Cedar Hill's Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony on Monday, May 24 beginning at 10:00 am, and a Notable Tree Tour with Ed Richardson on Saturday, May 31 at 10:00 am.

Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's complete 2008 Tours and Events calendar will be available in March. For tour and event information including fees, visit Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's blog often and visit Cedar Hill Cemetery & Foundation's website at http://www.cedarhillcemetery.org/ We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.

Barbaro's Final Resting Place

The 134th running of the Kentucky Derby is right around the corner as is Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's 2nd Annual Run for the Roses fundraiser. The Foundation's Run for the Roses is designed to celebrate the American tradition of the Kentucky Derby while supporting the preservation of Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery.

The year prior to launching the Run for the Roses, Barbaro won the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby by six and half lengths. He instantly became a favorite as he moved onto the Preakness. Unfortunately, Barbaro's career was cut short when he broke his hind leg while running the Preakness. After battling to recover from his injury for eight months, Barbaro's owners euthenized him knowing his quality of life had been forever diminished. It was just recently announced that after searching for the perfect final resting place for Barbaro, he will be interred at Churchill Downs - the first horse to ever receive such an honor.

This year as we celebrate the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby we will also celebrate the importance of each life and remembering those who have "run" before us.

New Book - Harriet and Isabella

In accordance with its mission, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation is committed to sharing the lives and accomplishments of its residents. Thus, we are excited to share with you a new book about Isabella Beecher Hooker, a Cedar Hill Cemetery resident.

According to Hartford Courant writer Carole Goldberg, author Patricia O'Brien bases her newest book, Harriet and Isabella (Touchstone, $25), on the prominent Beecher family, whose members included the Presbyterian preacher Lyman Beecher, his daughter Harriet Beecher Stowe - the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, her sisters Isabella Beecher Hooker and Catharine Esther Beecher, and their brother Henry Ward Beecher - the charismatic clergyman who became embroiled in an adultery scandal that rocked the nation in the 1800s. What became known as the "trial of the century" of Henry Ward Beecher caused a permanent divide in the normally close-knit family and set Harriet, who supported her brother, against Isabella, who did not.

To learn more about Harriet and Isabella and to find merchant locations, visit http://www.harrietandisabella.com/. You can also learn more about Isabella Beecher Hooker and visit her memorial site by visiting Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Where are the Entryway Gates?

If you have been to Cedar Hill Cemetery in the past few months, you will notice the entryway looks very different without the historic wrought-iron gates welcoming you as you enter. The gates were removed in August for a complete restoration. With the restoration process expected to take three to four months, we anticipated their grand return before the beginning of the new year. Well, 2008 is here and the gates are not!

Executive Superintendent Bill Griswold has been maintaining close communication with Cassidy Brothers, Inc., in Rowley, Massachusetts. The foundry staff are working diligently to complete the restoration. In order to ensure the gates are authentically restored and not simply rebuilt, they are doing much of the detail work by hand. This time-consuming process has resulted in a delay. Based on recent conversations, we are hopeful the gates will be returned before the arrival of spring.

The total cost to restore the entryway gates is $33,000. Due to the generosity of many supporters, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation has received more than $28,000 in donations restricted for this project. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who made gifts in support of this project, and we continue to seek additional restricted funds to reach the $33,000 goal. Once restored, we envision the gates welcoming residents and visitors to Cedar Hill’s memorial grounds for the next 120 years.

January 10, 1862

It was 146 years ago today that Samuel Colt passed away. The inventer of the Colt revolver and owner of Colt's Manufacturing, Mr. Colt passed away at the age of 48. At the time of his death, he had only been married to his wife Elizabeth for five years. During that time, Elizabeth had conceived five times. Unfortunately, starting a family proved to be very difficult for Samuel and Elizabeth. Their first two children, Samuel Jarvis and Elizabeth Jarvis, died in infancy and were buried on the grounds at Armsmear. When Sam died, Elizabeth was caring for two-year-old Caldwell Hart, a sick infant, Henrietta Selden, and was pregnant with their fifth child. Henrietta died ten days after her father and Elizabeth gave birth to their final child, a stillborn, the following July.

Elizabeth never remarried. She dedicated her time to raising Caldwell, running Colt's Manufacturing and erecting memorials in memory of Sam and their children. In January 1894, their only surviving child, Caldwell, passed away. It was then that Elizabeth disinterred her family from the family burial lot at Armsmear and reinterred them at Cedar Hill Cemetery. On May 25, 1894, Samuel, Caldwell Hart, Samuel Jarvis, Elizabeth Jarvis, Henrietta Selden and infant Colt were buried on Section 2 at Cedar Hill. Elizabeth died 11 years later on August 23, 1905.

Nearly 150 years old, the Colt memorial is in desperate need of restoration. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation has launched the Colt Memorial Fundraising Campiagn to raise the funds necessary to restore this artistic and historic Hartford treasure and to ensure the Colt's are memorialized as Elizabeth had intended in perpetuity. To learn more about this campaign and how to contribute, visit http://www.cedarhillcemetery.org/.

2008 Tours and Events Season - Suggestions Welcome

While our coldest days of winter may be here, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation staff are working diligently to finalize our tours and events calendar for 2008. Bird and tree walks are right around the corner, and we are seeking input from you about the tours and events you would like for us to include during the upcoming tours and events season. Do you have a favorite event you would like to see again? Do you have a suggestion for something new? Would you like to volunteer with the Foundation? Send us your comments. We look forward to hearing from you!