Cave Hill Cemetery…A Stunningly Intense Park in Kentucky
by Tom Hoepf
(Reprinted from AntiqueWeek, a friendly tabloid whose articles always know what details to mention—really brings out the human side of why anyone would like old stuff. Casually erudite surprises abound. Weekly. 3-mo sub $3.50. POB 90 AP, Kinghtstown, IN 46148.)
The mention of Kentucky horse country brings to mind pastoral images of bluegrass and white fences stretching over a rolling landscape.
On the first Saturday in May, Louisville Ky., will grab the national spotlight with the annual running of the Kentucky Derby. A boisterous crowd will gather at Churchill Downs to cheer their favorite three-year-old thoroughbreds to victory.
Young and old attend the race on Louisville’s biggest day of the year. Among the latter who regularly attended the races were my wife’s aunt, Agnes Haynes, and her husband, Jim. They even had seats in their own box in the grandstand. Derby Day was the most important social event on their calendar.
It had been many years since Agnes and Jim were able to attend the Kentucky Derby. Jim died in 1984 at the age of 96, and Agnes passed on last year at the age of 96.
“Let the place of graves be rural and beautiful. Let it be under the free air and the cheerful light of heaven.” These thoughts were expressed by the Rev. E.P. Humphrey on July 25, 1848, at the dedication of Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.
In the last century and a half, many of Louisville’s prominent citizens have been interred at Cave Hill Cemetery. Located at the far east end of Broadway, the former farm was in the country when Cave Hill Cemetery was created. Since then urban sprawl has encompassed the 296-acre grounds. Yet inside the walls of the cemetery, away for the bustle of the city, remains a peaceful place.
Cave Hill Cemetery grew quickly as communicable diseases prevalent in the l9th century claimed the lives of Louisville citi zens, young and old. This created a great de mand for lots in the cemetery, which in the mid-1800s was called the “city of the dead.”
As of 1994 more than 118,000 people have been interred on the grounds. And now my wife’s Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jim are among them.
While passing through Louisville recently I took time to find Cave Hill Cemetery and visit their graves. Locating the cemetery from Interstate 65 was easy; take the Broad way exit and drive east a mile or two until Broadway ends at the intersection of Baxter Ave. and Cherokee Road. The attendant at the sales office provided a brochure and a map to the correct lots. The map was necessary because there are 16 miles of paved roads on the cemetery grounds.
After locating the family plot and paying my respects, I realized Marilynn’s aunt and uncle were buried just a stone’s throw from the grave of Colonel Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. There I learned that the colonel was really a native Hoosier. Colonel Sanders’ monument was impressive, consisting of a pediment supported by four columns. A center block of granite holds a life-size bronze bust of Col. Sanders, which was sculpted by his daugh ter Margaret. The colonel’s wife, Claudia, is buried beside him.
Many Louisville residents are apparently under the mistaken belief that Cave Hill is filled to capacity. Actually there is room for 48,000 more burials on 40 acres of undeveloped land.
Cave Hill Cemetery is meticulously main tained by a staff of 40 groundskeepers. Management continues to follow the land scape theory of creating a naturalistic en vironment of a traditional rural cemetery.
If there can be a little bit of heaven in the heart of a city, Cave Hill Cemetery is one such place.
Cave Hill is more than a ceme tery. Not only is it a outdoor museum of 19th-century landscape architecture it is also one of the finest arboretums in the United States. Cave Hill has more than 500 varieties of trees and shrubs, many of which will be in bloom in the coming weeks of spring. More than half of the trees and shrubs are identified with markers. Ex amples include mature ginkgo, bald cypress, cedar of Lebanon, dogwoods, witch hazel, crabapples and American Lotus. A tree bro chure may be purchased at the administra tion office.
Cave Hill’s main lake is home to many varieties of waterfowl. Ducks and Canada geese have the right of way crossing the roads.
Cave Hill Cemetery is open daily, weather permitting, from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Pets, joggers, motorcycles, bicycles, motor homes and buses are not allowed in the cemetery. Picnicking – no matter if it’s a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken – is not permitted.
In the older areas of the cemetery can be found some of the most outstanding examples of l9th-century monumental memorials to the dead. One of the most mov ing is the Wilder monument, which was erected in memory of Minnie, the Wilders’ only child, who died at the age of 7. The monument was designed by Robert E. T,aunitz, who is considered the father of monumental art in America. The Wilder monument depicts the grieving parents standing beside a large medallion that pic tures their daughter. Rising over their shoulders is a small angel looking toward the heavens.
A little further down the lane I found a life size bronze sculpture of a magician. The monument marks the grave of Harry Col lins, whom I was told loved magic and per formed it as a hobby. My first impression, based on the body language and formal at tire of the statue, was that I had found the grave of Bela Lugosi.
The nearby Lithgow monument features marble sculptures of the Angel Gabriel and four figures representing Faith, Hope, Mer cy and Religion.
Elsewhere in the cemetery are the monu ments of explorer George Rogers Clark, the founder of Louisville; Nicola Marchall, creator of the Confederate uniform and flag of the Confederacy; Gideon Shrycck, a na tionally known architect who designed many local government buildings including the Jefferson County Courthouse; and Jim Port er, a 7-foot-8-inch giant who drove an omnibus for a living.
The management of Cave Hill reminds visi tors that it is first and foremost a cemetery not a public park. Tours for groups of 10 or more people may be arranged by calling the administration office at (502) 451-5630.
The cemetery brochure states: “For many of our visitors a visit to Cave Hill is symbolic of their remembering loved ones with love and affection. Everyone’s behavior should be guided accordingly.”
