Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Individual Post--Walkabout #3 CITY CEMETERY

By: Kaitie Jowers

We visited the Salt Lake City Cemetery for our third walkabout.  We took two different buses to get there, but we realized once we arrived how close it actually was and we probably could have walked there.  


I had been to the cemetery a few times before, both with my church group and my family.  It is a beautiful place filled with history.  I loved walking around and thinking about all those who are buried there and seeing the unique headstones and reading the different names. It is very peaceful at the cemetery, and offers quiet time to reflect and think. Especially when we were there, it is quiet and not many people are there.  However, we did see and hear a coffin being put in the ground.  There were many gorgeous trees and bushes that were well maintained.  Some graves even had their own trees or shrubs planted next to the tombstone.  We didn't see any animals, except a few squirrels and birds. 


The different decorative qualities of each burial plot was incredible.  Some were in the ground, some had an upright tombstone, some had a large obelisk, while others had giant sepulcher-type structures.  Like the tombstone pictured below, many had representations of the individual or family.  Many had both the husband and wife's information on a shared headstone.  We saw one family plot, which looked very rundown.  However, many tombstones shared last names, which we assumed were all family.    


This cemetery has significance to me, which made it even more interesting and exciting to visit.  Some of my ancestors are buried there, most of whom were Mormon pioneers.  While I didn't get to see their tombstones on this walkabout, I have visited before with my family.  

This cemetery also had significance to Lisa Homel, who is one of my roommates and is in my walkabout group.  Her aunt is buried there, and we got to visit her tombstone.  It was interesting to hear of Lisa's Jewish ancestry and some of their customs, especially relating to burial.  It affirmed to me the vast cultural history that is apart of the Salt Lake City Cemetery, which I find fascinating.  I love how there is so much history in one spot, and that the various groups of people that are represented in Salt Lake City come together at the cemetery to remember loved ones. 

Also, I am a member of the LDS church, and many of our prophets and leaders are buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.  Our group was able to walk over to a small part of the LDS section of the cemetery, and I was able to see the tombstones of some of our leaders, such as Orson Pratt, pictured below.  As I mentioned previously, the history is rich at the cemetery.  On a previous visit with my church group, we had a tour given by someone who worked at the cemetery, which was fascinating.   




Below is a map from http://famroots.org/showmap.php?cemeteryID=32, showing how large the cemetery is and how it is divided up.  Similar to the grid system of Salt Lake City, the cemetery is carefully laid out and has different sections for different religions and groups of people.  The cemetery is very easy to navigate and explore.



The cemetery is a very individualized place, that allows for reflection and peace.  While we did not see anyone at the cemetery during our walkabout, we inferred that this place was very special to all who had ever been there.  Each of us had different experiences and gained different insights out of our walkabout, which is probably how all who visit feel.  I loved walking around the beautifully maintained grounds and learning more about the Salt Lake City Cemetery.  



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