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 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.

Colt's Home for the Holidays a Wonderful Event

Colt's Home for the Holidays was an overwhelming success. Attendees enjoyed touring Samuel and Elizabeth Colt's historic home, music filled the normally quiet halls, groups gathered to toast to the holiday season, exquisite food was available at every corner, and the evening concluded with guests coming together to sing holiday carols. As expected, it was a truly festive event and an incomparable start to the holiday season.

Beyond guests enjoying the Armsmear affair, the event was also successful in launching the Colt Memorial Restoration Campaign. All proceeds from the event will be restricted for the restoration of the Colt Memorial at Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery. We are hopeful that we can now leverage additional support from foundations and companies who recognize the importance of preserving Hartford's history.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to UHY LLP who was the presenting sponsor for this event. Their support and their commitment to preserving this important piece of Hartford's history is greatly appreciated. To learn more about UHY LLP visit http://www.uhy-us.com/.

We would also like to thank the Trustees, staff and residents of Armsmear. Since Armsmear is a private residence, we are grateful to them for opening their doors to us for this unique and spectacular event. We would also like to thank Colt's Manufacturing for donating $2,500 to support this project and the Colt Collectors Association for pledging an additional $2,500.

Finally, we would like to thank Aetna Foundation who supported Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation this year through a 2007 Tours and Events Sponsorship. Aetna Foundation's ongoing support ensures that we can continue to offer educational tours and events to the community in order to share Cedar Hill's rich history and the significant stories of those residing here in eternity.

We thank everyone who attended this event for your support, and we hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

Get Your Tickets Today

It's official - the holiday season is here!! Thanksgiving has come and gone, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas is playing on the radio, gift shopping is in full swing and holiday decorations are making their way to front lawns. With the holidays upon us, don't miss your opportunity to join us for Colt's Home for the Holidays: A Cedar Hill Affair at Armsmear presented by UHY LLP. Tour the historic home of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt as you enjoy hors d'oeuvres, seasonal beverages and live music. This event is sure to be a unique and festive start to your holiday season.

Colt’s Home for the Holidays:
A Cedar Hill Affair at Armsmear presented by UHY LLP
Saturday, December 1, 2007
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Armsmear, 80 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford

Tickets are $125 and are still available

by calling 860-956-3311, ext. 13.

All proceeds benefit Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation and will be restricted for the restoration of the Colt Family Memorial at Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Tickets Still Available

Tickets are still available for Colt's Home for the Holidays: A Cedar Hill Affair at Armsmear presented by UHY LLP December 1, 2007 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to tour Samuel and Elizabeth Colt's historic home. Decorated for the holidays in Victorian-era style, attendees can take self-guided tours of the formal living room, Samuel Colt's study, and the picture-filled halls. As you tour, enjoy a variety of hors d'oeuvres, including shrimp cocktail, hand-carved New York sirloin and hickory-smoked turkey breast, and an assortment of desserts. Grab a drink at the beverage bar where, in addition to wine, you can really celebrate the spirit of the holiday season with a glass of egg nog or hot apple cider - with or without the spiced rum! When your tour is complete, talk with friends as you gather around the piano to listen to festive music in the formal living room.

This unique event will surely be an incomparable start to your holiday season. Purchase your tickets today by calling 860-956-3311, ext. 13 or email wfralick@cedarhillcemetery.org. Tickets are available for $125 per person and all proceeds benefit Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation and will be restricted for the restoration of the Colt Memorial at Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery. A portion of each ticket is tax deductible.

We look forward to seeing you December 1st!

Haunted History Lantern Tour Update

As of now, Cedar Hill's Haunted History Lantern Tour is still planned for this evening from 7:00pm - 9:00pm. However, due to the impending rain, the event may be canceled. A final decision about whether the event will be canceled or not will be made by 2:00pm. Return to our blog or visit www.cedarhillcemetery.org after 2:00pm for our official decision. Thank you!

Haunted History Lantern Tour - THIS Friday

Don't forget that Cedar Hill's Haunted History Lantern Tour is THIS Friday - 7:00pm until 9:00pm. Tickets will be available from 7:00pm until 8:30pm and are $5.00 for Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation members and $8.00 for nonmembers. Don't miss out on this opportunity to join us for what promises to be a very "spirited" evening.

Cedar Hill's Haunted History Lantern Tour

With Halloween only two weeks away, children are securing their costumes while adults are securing the necessary candy to keep the spirited trick-or-treaters happy. Here are Cedar Hill Cemetery, we are getting ready for our own spirited event - the Haunted History Lantern Tour.

We invite you to join us Friday, October 26th for the only evening during the year that the Cemetery is open to the public after dark. Led by a tour guide, you will have the opportunity to meet General Griffin Stedman, Governor Morgan Bulkeley, and Samuel and Elizabeth Colt, among other notables.

Tickets go on sale at 7:00pm and are $5.00 for members and $8.00 for nonmembers. Tours will begin immediately thereafter. Each tour takes approximately 45 minutes and covers about three-quarters of a mile. Ticket sales will cease at 8:30pm so come early to be a part of this unique and spirited event at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Call Cedar Hill Cemetery at 860-956-3311 with any questions.

October at Cedar Hill

If you haven't been to Cedar Hill Cemetery recently, now is the perfect time of year for a visit. Our expansive arboretum is celebrating the arrival of fall through its myriads of color, the animals are busy preparing for the approaching winter, and the crisp autumn aroma gently envelopes your senses. Walking through the grounds, take a moment to kick up the leaves and watch as they return to the ground with the utmost ease.

On Friday, October 26, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation, with support of our 2007 Tours and Events Sponsor Aetna Foundation, will be hosting its Fourth Annual Haunted History Lantern Tour. Complete with tour guides, character actors, and hot chocolate and cookies, this is the only night during the year in which the Cemetery is open to the public. The event starts at 7:00 pm and ends at 9:00 pm, however, tickets will only be sold until 8:30 pm. Last year, 330 people came to Cedar Hill to participate in this tour. Whether you have joined us in the past or are new to the Haunted History Lantern Tour, we hope you are able to join us this year. Tickets are $5.00 for members and $8.00 for nonmembers.

Public Book Signing of Jacob Weidenmann

Professor Emeritus Rudy J. Favretti, UConn, proves he has more teaching to do with his latest publication, Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect. With encouragement from his lovely wife Joy, Mr. Favretti has spent the last forty years researching the life and work of Jacob Weidenmann in hopes of learning more about the man who made numerous contributions to the field of landscape architecture. His resulting book 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 surviving 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. Recognizing the importance in sharing Weidenmann’s accomplishments, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation, in cooperation with Wesleyan University Press, published this educational and enjoyable manuscript.


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. Mr. 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, Mr. 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.


Mr. Favretti will share his experience researching and writing Jacob Weidenmann: Pioneer Landscape Architect at a public booksigning on Wednesday, September 26 at 5:30pm at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Following his presentation, books will be available for purchase and signing. We hope you will join us.

Have you heard about the Hartford Bicycling and Walking Tour? On Saturday, September 8, 1,000 bikers are expected to participate in a 10-mile bike tour introducing riders to some of Hartford's historical sites and attractions. Some of the highlighted sites include the Colt redevelopment area, the Connecticut Creative Store, Hartford Hospital, Trinity College, including its new Community Skating Rink, and our very own Cedar Hill Cemetery.

For those wanting to do more, a 25-mile tour will also be offered and includes sites such as Mark Twain's House, Elizabeth Park, and the newly completed Riverfront walkway.

For those individuals not interested in biking but interested in participating, you can take advantage of the walking tour, which will start at Bushnell Park and end at the Colt Complex. Like the bike tours, the walking tour will include several sites of interest along the way.

The Hartford Bike and Walking Tour is a great way to participate in a local event designed to educate you about Hartford history and sites of interest. For more information about this event or to register online, visit www.hartfordbiketour.org. We look forward to seeing you riding through Cedar Hill on Saturday morning!

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!

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.

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!