SUMMER 2014 There and Back Again

Heritage Gazette ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY • SUMMER 2014 There and Back Again

ive years after their temporary disinterment, the residents of the Causten Vault have been safely returned to their final resting place. Before work could begin on a $25,000 repair to the partially above- ground Causten Vault in July of 2009, Congressional Cemetery con- Ftacted National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) forensic anthropologist Douglas Owsley and a team of anthropologists and archaeologists. Owsley and his team removed remains and systematically analyzed the skeletons and associated artifacts of the sixteen individuals buried inside. These remains represent three lineages of families who lived in Washington, D.C. in the nineteenth-century. After an intensive genealogical investigation, researchers discovered a close family connec- tion between the individuals in the Causten Vault and America’s renowned Shriver family. The Smithsonian research team was able to successfully identify the remains of sixteen people, ranging in age from fourteen days to 86 years, and including the parents of Henrietta Causten Shriver, the wife of Shriver family patriarch Joseph Shriver, and several of her siblings. Causes of death for family members range from illnesses such as dysen- tery, nephritis, enteritis, and heart disease to death related to childbirth. Infant mortality was also a common occurrence during this time period. In addition to skeletal remains, several silver-plated nameplates belonging to interred family members were recovered from the vault, including the nameplate of Josephine Shriver. Josephine was the daughter of Henrietta Causten Shriver and Joseph Shriver, and died from unknown causes in 1847 when she was only four years old. On June 11th, Congressional Cemetery hosted a re-interment ceremony and memorial service in the presence of the Shriver family. The descendants listened to presentations by Doug Owsley and Laurie Burgess about the research process and findings, and handled items found in their ancestors’ coffins. Following the services, the remains were re-interred and locked away in the restored Causten Vault. Thanks to the dedicated research of and collaborative effort between Historic Congressional Cemetery and the Smithsonian’s NMNH, the residents of the Causten Vault now are safely interred in a sound home, and we all know a great deal more about their lives and their deaths.

WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 1 Letter from the Chair

April marked my first month as the new Chair THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY of the APHCC Board. As I transition from my previous position as Secretary, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and accomplish- 1801 E Street, Southeast Washington, DC 20003 ments of former Chair John Gillespie. He certainly left big shoes 202-543-0539 to fill, and I hope to continue to build upon and sustain the tra- www.congressionalcemetery.org dition of strong and thoughtful leadership of our organization. [email protected] Of course, I could not do so without the support of others, and BOARD OF DIRECTORS I am grateful to be assisted by the talented and engaged Execu- Kelly R. Crowe, Chairperson tive Committee consisting of Chris Kennedy, Sid Neely, Sue Chris Kennedy, Vice Chairperson Urahn and HCC’s President Paul Williams. Sid Neely, Treasurer One of the first things I did as Chair was to invite all past Susan Urahn, Secretary Board members that we could find electronically to a coffee & Amy Ballard doughnut hour before the Annual Meeting. About a dozen Ted Bechtol Board alumni came together and shared their stories and love of Sharon Bosworth Congressional Cemetery. The experience led me to reflect on Stephen Gardner the past and current board members, dedicated staff, and thou- Edward S. Miller sands of volunteers who have poured their time, talent, treasure Rebecca Roberts and emotion into this hallowed site. We are unique in our histo- Rhonda Sincavage ry of supporters and fans, and I am proud to have a small part in Beverly Ward preserving and continuing this outstanding legacy. I want to extend my genuine gratitude for every single one of those peo- STAFF ple that individually and collectively have paved the way to Paul K. Williams, President where we are today. Margaret Puglisi, Vice President Lauren Maloy, Program Director With stable operations, a full event calendar, an active site sales Daniel Holcombe, Grounds program (including for our new columbarium), and continuous Conservation Manager improvement on the buildings and grounds, this Board is focus- Crystal Pate, Office Manager ing, to a large degree, on our development strategy. Fundraising Dayle Dooley, Archivist and development is difficult for any organization but we are Andrea O’Hara, Finance committed to creating and building the financial foundation Randolph King, Groundskeeper necessary to carry HCC through the next 207 years and beyond. The Association for the Preservation of I look forward to sharing our progress with you in the coming Historic Congressional Cemetery is a months and thank you for your continued support of Congres- nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. All sional Cemetery. donations are deductible to the extent per- mitted by federal tax laws. Funding for the preservation and maintenance of Historic Congressional Cemetery is provided in part —Kelly Crowe by the Congressional Cemetery Endowment, which was created with matching funds provided by the U.S. Congress and administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

2 HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG From the President

ummer is in full force at Con- into a smartphone or tablet app apps for smartphones, and even gressional Cemetery, and April for future visitors, with all of our ground-penetrating radar. If you showers have brought many self-guided tours eventually mak- know anyone who may be inter- Sflowers indeed. But many of the ing their way into the digital age. ested, let them know about this blooming flowers are new to the We believe that HCC is the only unique opportunity by directing cemetery grounds this year, a cemetery in the world with a them to our website or via benefit from a growing program dedicated LGBT section. email to Margaret Puglisi at – pun intended – established by Vice President Margaret mpuglisi@congressional grounds conservation manager Puglisi has created a two day cemetery.org. Daniel Holcombe that has hands-on workshop on Septem- Work is finishing up nicely on neighbors, dog walkers, and even ber 20 and 21 for cemetery our mausoleum roof restoration staff adopting family gravesites all enthusiasts (for details see page project and we expect a new over the cemetery. Formerly just 5). “Operation Conservation” addition to the project to be covered in grass, the new gardens will feature discussions by lead- installed by late July: two green sprouting up provide a fresh and ing experts in the field, with roof systems from LiveRoof. interesting landscape for all to whom we’ve worked with in the They will retain the rain water enjoy, planters and visitors alike. past, providing lectures, demon- runoff, and provide a nice tasty If you visit soon, I think you’ll strations, and even hands-on ses- treat for our honey bees, who agree. sions showing others how to have newly expanded hives now Program Director Lauren clean historic stones and upright located on the roofs nearby. We Maloy and former employee fallen stones, for example. The expect to harvest honey from Terri Maxfield joined forces this workshop will also include talks them in July, which will be avail- spring to bring a new event to on topics such as conservation of able in our gift shop. the cemetery: an art show in the funerary objects, walking tour —Paul K. Williams restored chapel. Coined “Back to Life,” the professionally curated show was a smashing success and just another example of the diversity of events and uses for the space. It was very rewarding to host our second annual Pride 5k on June 6th, with a record 1,000 runners partaking on a glorious spring day. DC Front Runners and Pacers Events had their hands full, but wooed the crowds with food and beer following the dusk race. Short biographies and Pride flags marked the dozens of LGBT graves found in the cemetery; these sites will form the first walking tour converted Pride runners on Mausoleum Row.

WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 3 Around the Gatehouse ence and interpreted 18th-centu- DRINK UP! annual Pride 5k, held again at Congressional Cemetery. This ry medicine and surgery at the year, President Paul Williams most fascinating, yet disturbing, designed and placed interpretive table at the event. signs at many of the LGBT graves in the cemetery, and runners wandered among the graves on an informal tour following the 5k. The weather was gor- geous, the crowds enthusiastic, and a good time was had by all.

HUZZAH! Congression- GRAVEYARD GRUB al Cemetery Hungry locals lined up on May Art that makes you thirsty: a giant hosted the 17th to savor goodies from five beer mug made of balloons. Annual food trucks for Congressional Cemetery’s first food truck festi- Congressional Cemetery cele- Meeting on val, Graveyard Grub. The event brated with bocks and books at Saturday, was a huge success, drawing over Maibockfest on May 10th. The April 20th. a thousand visitors to HCC. The event served as a book party for APHCC for- festival is the first of what the author Garrett Peck’s recently- mer and cur- The gracious Dr. Cemetery hopes will be many published “Capital Beer: A rent board Wm. Clift. such festivals, with the next gath- Heady History of Brewing in members, ering scheduled for July 19th. DC” and also kicked off the staff and the interested public Save the date to enjoy grub in Brewers Tour, a brand new walk- gathered to hear about how 2013 some of the best digs in town! ing tour designed by Peck (avail- treated the cemetery and to bid farewell to former Board Chair able in the Gatehouse and on SESQUICENTENNIAL OF Congressional Cemetery’s web- John Gillespie. Following the WASHINGTON ARSENAL site). Stops on the walking tour meeting, the first of three firing EXPLOSION were appropriately marked with demonstrations kicked off our June 17, 2014 marked the 150th red Solo cups in honor of the Revolutionary War living history anniversary of the Washington occasion. Three local breweries, day. This year, Doctor Wm. Clift Arsenal explosion. The hot June Port City Brewing, Mad Fox, graced the event with her pres- day in 1864 caused fireworks to and Capital City, treated lucky explode into a choking room visitors to three versions of bock, where workers were filling car- a German winter lager named tridges with gunpowder. The after billy goats. Needless to say, resulting explosions and fire the combination of history, claimed the lives of 21 women, brews, and books was delightful. many of them young Irish immi- grants working as the sole SECOND ANNUAL PRIDE 5K providers for their families. 17 of A record 1,000 runners registered these victims are interred at for DC Front Runners’ second The College Company of William and Mary fires. Congressional Cemetery. 15

4 HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG women were laid to rest beneath organized by Steve Hammond, a the Arsenal Monument, and two Civil War historian and esteemed are interred separately in family HCC docent who has worked plots. It is a vivid moment in his- tirelessly for years to recognize tory and a tragic insight into and memorialize the young Civil War-era Washington, D.C. women killed. As a result of his Congressional Cemetery host- efforts, the cemetery hosted a ed two ceremonies to commem- dedication on June 21st to honor orate the Arsenal explosion. On the victims. Erin Bergin June 18th, the Irish Deputy Voorheis, the daughter of the late Prime Minister (Tánaiste) Brian Bergin (author of “The Gilmore laid a wreath on behalf Washington Arsenal Explosion”) of the Government and people spoke about her father’s book of Ireland in honor and recogni- and the Arsenal disaster. Both tion of the Irish women who ceremonies shed light on the died so tragically 150 years ago. tragic sacrifice of 21 young Tánaiste Gilmore honors the Arsenal The second ceremony was women, 150 years later. victims.

WHAT: Metro: Stadium-Armory (Orange/Blue) The Association for the Preservation of Historic Con - Street Parking Available gressional Cemetery, partnering with the D.C. Metro Chapter of the Association for Gravestone Studies, will WHY: be hosting Operation Conservation, a workshop to pro- Cemeteries serve as cultural institutions, and by educat- vide educational outreach for those in our area who are ing the community, we enhance the community’s interested in cemetery conservation. understanding of the importance of cemetery conservation. The format of the program will integrate a variety WHO: of informative lectures with hands-on experience Conservators, Cemetery Employees, Anthropologists, through technique demonstration. Presentation topics Archaeologists, Historic Preservation Architects, Historic will range from conservation of funerary objects and Preservation Students, Preservation Officers, structures to preservation planning and Cemetery Aficionados, Cemetery Admirers engineering. Cemetery preservation planning presentations will address interpretive and interactive technology options, endangered cemeteries, and discovering unex- WHEN: Saturday, September 20, 2014 from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm pected burials. Hands-on demonstrations will consist of Sunday, September 21, 2014 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm repointing, ground penetrating radar, and common cemetery conservation techniques. WHERE: Historic Congressional Cemetery REGISTRATION IS OPEN: 1801 E Street, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 https://sites.google.com/site/conservationworkshop/

WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 5 American Heritage The Lyman Family and the Knickerbocker Disaster

BY KEVIN AMBROSE It was their Saturday evening routine. avid Lyman, Jr. was the pride and On one particular Saturday, joy of his family. David had January 28, 1922, the Riggs Ath- excellent grades at Western High letic Club made plans to meet at School, he was a star athlete on the Knickerbocker Theater for a Dhis club baseball team, and his team outing. During that day, striking good looks strongly however, a record-breaking resembled his father. snowstorm buried Washington David also loved baseball. Dur- under a heavy blanket of snow ing the spring and summer of which stalled traffic and shut 1921, he worked as an usher at down most of the city’s street- Griffith Stadium during Wash- cars. The snow depth that after- ington Senators baseball games. noon exceeded 24 inches and David would take a baseball to snow was still falling as evening work with him and scope out his approached. Most of the boys on David Lyman, Jr. favorite American and National David’s team either decided to league players for their signa- stay home or could not make it waited for the film to begin as tures. Over the course of many through the snow to the theater. the orchestra played music below. games, David managed to get his Undaunted by the heavy They also waited for Charles to baseball signed by Babe Ruth, Ty snow, David made plans to walk arrive. Cobb, Walter Johnson, George to the theater. He asked his 18 Charles, who had stayed home Sisler, Tris Speaker, and Lee Fohl. year-old cousin, Charles H. to finish his homework, finally David treasured his autographed Lyman III, to go see the movie finished and rushed out into the baseball, and it was his most with him. Charles, who was fin- snowstorm to meet David at the prized possession. ishing a homework assignment, theater. The time was about 9 After school, David played said he would meet David at the p.m. and Charles quickly trudged baseball and basketball for a local theater after he was done. through knee-deep snow toward club team called the Riggs Ath- David left home without the Knickerbocker Theater, letic Club. The boys on the Charles and met a good friend thinking that he would only be a Riggs club went to different and Riggs teammate, Kirkland few minutes late. Heavy snow fell high schools in the Washington Duke, at the Knickerbocker The- as Charles approached the the- area but they were all good ater. Kirkland, who attended ater. When Charles was only one friends. The team was also very Central High School, was a year block away from the Knicker- competitive in the Washington, younger than David. David and bocker Theater he heard a very D.C. area. After Saturday games, Kirkland each paid 25 cents for a loud, crashing noise. The roof of the boys of the Riggs Athletic movie ticket and they took their the theater had just collapsed club would often meet at the seats on the left side of the bal- under the weight of the snow. Knickerbocker Theatre to relax, cony as they did for every Charles rushed into the the- hang out, and watch silent films. Knickerbocker movie. The boys ater. Under huge heaps of rubble

6 HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG that had once been the roof of for the disaster was 98. David’s mother, devastated by the the Knickerbocker Theater came The Lyman family sued the loss of both her husband and cries for help and moans of pain. Knickerbocker Theatre Company oldest son, would never go to Over one hundred movie-goers but the courts were unable to church again for “fear of crying.” were buried under the rubble. determine who was liable. The The family of David H. Lyman, Charles joined a chaotic rescue Knickerbocker Theatre Compa- Jr., however, would rarely discuss effort that grew larger as more ny’s defense was simple: a huge, the tragedy and most of their volunteers, police, and firemen unforeseeable snowstorm was to Knickerbocker-related informa- arrived. The rescue effort became blame for collapsing the roof of tion would remain hidden from much better organized late in the the theater and the company had the family for many years. evening when hundreds of sol- previously complied with all Charles Lyman, David’s cousin diers arrived carrying lights, saws, building codes and regulations. who missed the collapse by min- sledge hammers, chisels, acety- The Lyman family appealed the utes, was appointed to the Naval lene torches, and jacks. Charles court’s decision. In the appeal, Academy in 1923. After gradua- assisted with the rescue effort Lyman vs. Knickerbocker Theatre tion in 1926, Charles received a that night but he never found his Co. (5 F.2d 538), the court again commission to the US Navy. cousin, David. sided with the Knickerbocker Charles did very well in the The next morning, David was Theatre Company. The Lyman Navy. In September of 1943, identified at the morgue by his family, like all of the families Charles was given command of mother, Josephine Lyman. She impacted by the disaster, never the destroyer USS Lewis Han- recognized his Boy Scout pants received a cent. On November cock with its 327 officers and and boots. His cause of death was 21, 1922, the United States men. In 1945, Charles was given documented as a crushed chest. Supreme Court refused to con- command of Destroyer Division David, like many of the other sider Knickerbocker appeals. 10 and became assistant chief of Knickerbocker Theater victims, In 1923, a year after David’s staff for operations of Amphibi- was identified by their clothing death, tragedy struck the Lyman ous Group Three, Pacific Fleet. because many of the victims family again when David’s father Charles led his men in multiple were horribly crushed. David’s died of tuberculosis. David and WWII battles and engagements, friend, Kirkland Duke, was also his father were buried side-by- including assaults on the Mar- among the dead. The death toll side in Congressional Cemetery. shall Islands, Guam, Leyte, Truk, and Lingayen Gulf. Charles was later promoted to rear admiral. David’s mother, Josephine, never remarried after her husband died in 1923. She found various jobs as a building rent collector which allowed the family to live rent-free, she worked in a boarding house, and she worked in an antique shop. The family lived paycheck-to-paycheck and struggled financially. Their Knickerbocker lawsuits had failed and they were unable to replace David Sr.’s income. Josephine’s brother, Dessie Trenholm, was a lawyer in New Knickerbocker Theatre during recovery efforts. Continued on page 10

WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 7 Stone Stories Mausoleum Row Restoration

BY MARGARET PUGLISI

hanks to our Partners in Preser- vation Grant and the loyal support of our community, two of the structures on Mausoleum Row have been getting a great Tdeal of much-needed restoration attention. After being awarded a $50,000 grant in June 2013, the next step was to find a structural engineer. Nathan Hicks is a Senior Engineer at Robert Silman Asso- ciates Structural Engineers. His role was to provide a structural investigation of our 17 mausoleum roofs. The main issue was to investigate the roofs of the mausoleums and explore meth- Graham and Hodges Mausoleums after cleaning.

ods of reducing water infiltra- to establish the priority of repairs tion. needed and prepare recommen- Nathan’s Observations: dations for a contractor to • Spalling due to freeze-thaw follow. of moisture Recommendations • Organic growth and staining • Removal of fill material • Hairline cracks in 3D orna- • Repointing of barrel vault mentation • Installation of tie rods for • Deteriorated concrete slab stabilization over barrel vaults • Installation of polystyrene • Hairline cracks in interior foam blocks • Water infiltration • Installation of waterproofing • Corrosion layers • Stresses from lateral thrust • Pouring of 3” lightweight • Deteriorated mortar concrete slab By recording his observations • Installation of a green roof of the current state of the struc- system ture and employing ground pen- Nathan put us in contact with etrating radar to investigate and several preservation construction evaluate the stability of the roof firms, and we ultimately chose Fill above the barrel vault. configurations, Nathan was able Worcester Eisenbrandt to per-

8 HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG to be revised to include the incorporation of new concrete curbs to make sure that the roof would slope appropriately because, with the removal of the fill material, it was revealed that the Hodges barrel vault is actual- ly taller than the Graham barrel vault. As an innovative solution to reducing the burden on the barrel vault, polystyrene blocks were installed in place of the removed fill soil. Topped off with a lightweight concrete slab, the roof restoration of the Graham and Hodges mausoleums are almost complete. A waterproof Polystyrene blocks to reduce the burden on the barrel vaults. membrane will be mounted onto the cured concrete slab. The form the work recommended by removal to a halt as Robert Sil- installation of the LiveRoof sys- Robert Silman Associates. man Associates reexamined the tem in mid-August will bring Based on the amount of our capacity of the roof and deter- our Partners in Preservation grant and the prioritization of mined what amount of material Grant project to a close. Be on risk, Worcester Eisenbrandt chose removal was required to continue the lookout for the next devel- to focus on the Graham and the project. During the standstill, opments of this restoration as we Hodges vaults. Their proposal the crew moved on to other prepare to seek funding to aligned exactly with the recom- phases of the project including restore the remainder of Mau- mendations from the structural cleaning the exterior, reparging soleum Row’s late 19th and early engineers, and we accepted. the back of the parapet, and 20th century tombs. Construction began on May repointing mortar joints. Fortu- We greatly appreciate every- 12th with the removal of the fill nately during this time period, one who supported the Associa- material, but we quickly ran into the structural engineers deter- tion during this experience and issues. Instead of the expected mined that the location of the thank the community for rally- soil and rock mixture, the fill fixed concrete and brick fill ing around Congressional Ceme- above the barrel vault turned material would not affect the tery as a place of meaning worth into a slurry of concrete and integrity of the mausoleum preserving for generations to brick. This issue brought the roofs. The scope of the work had come.

Elevation of Mausoleum Row.

WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 9 KNICKERBOCKER catch with David’s baseball in the years earlier. The stones were Continued from page 7 Lyman’s yard. As spring turned to well-cut from granite and would summer, and the games of catch last a very long time. Frank and York and he came to the rescue continued, the cover of the base- Lilla paused to reflect and to take with financial support and also ball began to peel from the ball’s photos, and walked out of the acted as a surrogate father for the center core. Frank’s last memory cemetery. other Lyman children, Frank and of David’s prized baseball was Lilla. Dessie may have also leaving it in a patch of ivy near Kevin Ambrose is the author of helped with the family’s his house. “The Knickerbocker Snowstorm,” Knickerbocker lawsuits. On a sunny fall afternoon in “Washington Weather,” “Blizzards As for David’s autographed November of 1978, the brother and Snowstorms of Washington, baseball, his most prized posses- and sister of David Lyman, Jr., D.C.,” and “Great Blizzards of sion, it was put into storage and Frank and Lilla, stood in Con- New York City.” Ambrose is a free- kept safe by his mother, gressional Cemetery admiring a lance writer and photographer for the Josephine. In 1942, Josephine set of new gravestones. Their Washington Post’s Capital Weather moved into the home of her son, mother, Josephine, had passed Gang and currently works as an Frank, in Bethesda, Maryland. away in 1957 and the family did account executive for Adobe. Ambrose One spring day in 1945, eight not have the financial means to stumbled upon the story of David year-old Frank Lyman, Jr., David’s purchase a gravestone at the time Lyman, Jr. after a visit to Congres- nephew, found the baseball in his of her death. Twenty years later, sional Cemetery which left many grandmother’s trunk. The signa- Frank and Lilla finally purchased questions about the Lyman family tures on the ball were meaning- their mother a gravestone. In the unanswered, and has since lectured less to Frank but he knew the process, they also replaced the about the Knickerbocker Mystery purpose of a baseball. For weeks, gravestones of their brother and that he solved as part of the Con- Frank and his friends played father who had died over 50 gressional Cemetery lecture series.

Historic Congressional Cemetery Wish List • Oriental Rugs for boardroom and hallways • Wall display cabinet • Storage shelving for our archival collection • Laptop • 3D Printer • Tools • Used recording/podcasting equipment • 1200 bricks (approximately $2400)

Wishing and hoping

10 HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG Archives Trinkets and Tokens: What’s Left Behind at Congressional Cemetery

any of us at HCC think of the of the best brothel in town in And then there are the puz- cemetery as a giant museum full Civil War-era Washington, D.C. zling gifts. David Herold, co- of stones and stories that deserve The archaeological dig of Mary’s conspirator in the Lincoln assas- Mto be preserved and interpreted. bordello site unearthed all sorts sination, does not have a marker As curators of a sort, in the of interesting finds, not the least in the cemetery. But he does course of our duties staff mem- of which were Piper-Heidsieck reside in the family plot, and we bers often discover tokens of champagne corks. The visitors found an unusual handwritten love, respect, and amusement at who leave these tokens of appre- letter tucked under a corner of gravesites. More often than not, ciation behind know her well, the Herold marker. The author we leave these objects where because Mary Hall only served of the letter professed her admi- they lie. Family members and the very best at her establish- ration for Herold in no uncertain friends often leave cards (which ment. terms. It would be unseemly to we leave unread), flowers, and Like Mary Hall’s champagne go into too many details, but suf- small trinkets to remember their bottles, the most interesting fice to say our more historic and loved ones by. But from time to objects left behind are those that unquestionably controversial resi- time, the objects left behind are are suited to something specific dents do not often receive such meant to be noticed and about the individual. Thomas personal notes. The gifts on remarked upon. Mann, whose gravestone is in the graves at Congressional Ceme- Perhaps the most frequent design of a library catalog card, tery range from unique offerings objects left behind are stones. left a groove in his stone for to simple tokens of remem- Once adorning primarily Jewish quarters. According to lore, brance. But regardless of the graves, it is not uncommon to librarians who leave a token of intention or the gift, we’re sim- find small stones on a wide range their appreciation at this unique ply glad that these individuals are of graves in the cemetery. The stone will receive luck, although remembered. accepted reason for placing whether it is intended for gener- stones, or at least the one often al luck in life or assistance in cat- told on cemetery tours, is that aloging, we’re not quite sure. A flowers perish quickly. Stones are similar tribute to a chosen pro- a more permanent, lasting way to fession was recently discovered recognize and remember a loved on Chip Clark’s marker. Chip one, and it is touching to see a Clark was a Smithsonian photog- number of markers adorned with rapher and his stone can be these small tokens. found a short distance from Champagne bottles, for the another eminent photographer, most part disappointingly empty, Mathew Brady. Recently, are often discovered at gravesites. groundskeepers discovered a roll The most common individual to of film on the corner of his benefit from these gifts? None gravestone in remembrance of other than Ms. Mary Hall, owner Clark’s passion for photography. A roll of film at Chip Clark’s grave.

WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 11 NON-PROFIT ORG. Yes! U.S. POSTAGE I want to help preserve and restore Congressioanl Cemetery PAID with a tax deductible donation. SUBURBAN, MD □ $25 □ $50 □ $75 □ $100 □ $250 □ Other______PERMIT NO. 3878 Special donation for the Sousa Gate Project: Anonymous □ Ye s □ No Association for the Preservation of 2013 Membership: □ $125 Individual □ $250 Family Historic Congressional Cemetery □Check enclosed, made payable to Congressional Cemetery 1801 E Street, Southeast Washington, DC 20003 □Please charge my credit card □ Visa □ Mastercard www.congressionalcemetery.org Card # ______Cardmember Name ______Exp______Signature ______Name ______Address ______City ______State______Zip______Phone/s______Email______□ My employer makes matching contributions. Please send me the matching gift form. Thank you! Please mail with your donation to the return address on the mailing panel or use the envelope inside this newsletter.

Calendar of Events July 19 Graveyard Grub: Food Truck Festival July 26 D.C.’s Muster the Militia Weekend: Free 1812 tours July 31 Tombs and Tomes Book Club August 24 Flee the British 5k August 30 Day of the Dog September 14 Notes from the Crypt: Chamber Music in the Chapel October 4 Dead Man’s Run October 25 Ghosts and Goblets Reserve your place in American History Congressional Cemetery is a non-denominational burial ground open to the whole community. Introducing burial niches next year. Traditional grave sites are available in a number of price ranges. Call today. 202-543-0539

12 HERITAGE GAZETTE / SUMMER 2014 WWW.CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG