[Cinci-nfb] {Spam?} RE: {Spam?} RE: Cincinnati NFB Chapter Spring Grove Tour Article

Mon Jun 20 15:48:38 UTC 2016

OK, thank you.

From: Cinci-nfb [mailto:cinci-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Christopher Sabine, ONH Consulting via Cinci-nfb
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2016 11:37 AM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Cincinnati Chapter List'
Cc: Christopher Sabine, ONH Consulting
Subject: [Cinci-nfb] {Spam?} RE: {Spam?} RE: Cincinnati NFB Chapter Spring
Grove Tour Article

Annie. I did, and I will. The article is posted to the Facebook Page. That
was a wonderful article.

Chris

From: Cinci-nfb [mailto:cinci-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Annie
McEachirn via Cinci-nfb
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2016 9:55 AM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Cincinnati Chapter List'
Cc: Annie McEachirn
Subject: Re: [Cinci-nfb] {Spam?} RE: Cincinnati NFB Chapter Spring Grove
Tour Article

Chris,

Thank you.  We did miss you, but we understood your prior commitment.

I enjoyed sitting at the same table with you at the picnic.  Have a great
day and do something special for yourself.

Smile,

Annie

From: Cinci-nfb [mailto:cinci-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Christopher Sabine, ONH Consulting via Cinci-nfb
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2016 9:29 AM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Cincinnati Chapter List'
Cc: Christopher Sabine, ONH Consulting
Subject: [Cinci-nfb] {Spam?} RE: Cincinnati NFB Chapter Spring Grove Tour
Article

Annie. That was a very beautifully written article-as always. I will post
this to our Facebook page.

I'm sorry I couldn't make it due to the Autism Expo being that same day, but
the article was very enjoyable.

Very Best,

Chris

From: Cinci-nfb [mailto:cinci-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Annie
McEachirn via Cinci-nfb
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2016 7:27 PM
To: 'NFB of Ohio Cincinnati Chapter List'
Cc: Annie McEachirn
Subject: [Cinci-nfb] Cincinnati NFB Chapter Spring Grove Tour Article

Spring Grove: A Measure of Rest, Hope and Peace

By Annie M. Carson

When I joined the Cincinnati chapter of The National Federation of the
Blind, one of my first tasks was to organize a tour to a cemetery (or so I
thought). A solemn visit to view some headstones, a few blades of grass, and
shade trees was not the kind of event I could be excited about. In the past,
my experience had been limited to small churchyard cemeteries crowded with
simple plots in which flowers were placed on gravesites once or twice a
year.

Due to the encouragement and persuasion of a couple of chapter members
enthusiastically touting the uniqueness and relevance of the tour, my
curiosity was peaked. Consequently, I was convinced to take the tour.

***

When we met inside the customer service area on that May 7th afternoon,
there was an overcast of clouds and small drops of rain were beginning to
fall. We were skeptical about taking an outdoor tour but the majority ruled
saying we could risk it. Nine Cincinnati NFB chapter members, a dog guide,
and four guests boarded the Spring Grove Cemetery tram with Robert and
Marcha who gave us an oral history, guided tour and tactile exploration of
this extraordinary facility. Although the excursion provided for a
fascinating and pleasurable afternoon, little did we realize what an
all-encompassing experience we would have as we listened to the history of
the Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum.

The tour narrative began with the story of the death of Peter Neff's wife
and the fact that he did not want her to be buried in a crowded churchyard
cemetery. Consequently he, a   board member of the rural horticultural
society, and some of his business friends decided they wanted a "rural
cemetery" like that of Boston and Philadelphia. Therefore, after an
extensive search for just the right location, the current site as it exists
today was selected.

In 1845 Spring Grove Cemetery was dedicated. Immediately after it formally
opened, burials from downtown cemeteries were reinterred to Spring Grove
Cemetery. In 1854 Adolf Strauch, a landscape gardener, was given full
authority at Spring Grove. He became the 3rd Landscape
Architect/Superintendent from 1860 - 1883 and is responsible for the park
like setting it is today. 

As I listened to the purpose and design of this cemetery, all I could think
was that it offers a serene atmosphere where nature and art intermingle to
their mutual pinnacle. What an opportunity for families and loved ones to
visit relatives and friends in their unique burial spots, see the beautiful
scenery, visit to meditate or contemplate their hearts desires, or simply
say good-bye to a loved, deceased individual.

I ask you to come along with me as I share what I learned that day. I had
the opportunity to see through touch exploration and to interpret through
oral explanation, mounds, a small lake surrounded by Cypress trees and their
"knees", a variety of other trees, downward torches, an Emery angel statue,
and six dignitaries' family burial monuments with exquisite artwork and
designs. Due to a plethora of art details, imagery representation and
numerous trees and beautiful flowers at Spring Grove, only the mounds,
Garrard Family mausoleum, William Redman's burial plot, and the Emery angel
statue will be highlighted.

Imagine a huge park (open lawn) described as a cemetery with iconography
including an arboretum. If you have a puzzled look on your face by now and
are wondering what in the world is that, so did I. Consequently, I looked up
iconography and arboretum. As defined by the Oxford Dictionary (American
English), iconography is "the use of images and symbols to represent ideas,
or the particular images or symbols used in a work of art or the study or
interpretation of these." On the other hand, arboretum, according to
dictionary.com <http://dictionary.com/> , is "a plot of land on which many
different trees or shrubs are grown for study or display." OK, I thought,
how do I picture a cemetery with the setting of a park with images, symbols,
trees and shrubs?        

The first stop carried us to the Civil War section. Spring Grove offered
this special area to honor the Civil War dead who were brought to Cincinnati
hospitals after being wounded but had died as a result of having no
antibiotics during this time. There were three mounds, each housing 333
soldiers. In the midst of each mound stood a 12 to 15 foot cannon with its
barrel reflecting the grand republican army.   This cannon represents an
obelisk. For ancient Egyptians, the obelisk represented blessings.
Ultimately, obelisk were placed by city gates; the idea was to give anyone a
blessing that passed through their city gates.      In the Victorian era,
they were used as funeral markers. Also, Egyptian kings used them to
represent their strength and power.

>From there, we visited a beautiful mausoleum (could be thought of as a
locked mansion) which housed the Gerrard family's 4 Carrere Marble female
statues with each one standing in a corner representing the four seasons of
the year. A beautiful base of flowers is featured in the center of the
mausoleum.

There was a burial spot of a young boy named William Redman, which included
a statue of a dog, about the size of a Labrador, on the ground with a small
portion of chain emphasizing that the dog was unchained. The dog is sitting,
waiting, and guarding the area of this young boy. My 18-month-old grandson
was obviously intrigued as he literally hugged the statue of the dog. The
story is that the dog had always watched for William so the Redman's placed
the statue of the dog as a marker. In addition, his parents had an open book
as a second marker on his burial spot, which I believe   represented the
Bible. 

The statue that moved me to an emotional high was the Emery Angel. The Emery
family moved the angel to Spring Grove after Christ Cathedral Church was
remodeled and no longer had room for it. As I touched the angel described to
me by Marcha, my mind drifted to the importance of angels as noted in
Matthew 18:10 and their beauty. In fact, it reminded me of my experience as
a young child getting off the school bus and being in the middle of the
street crossing to go to my house. The next thing I knew, I had been moved
several feet out of harm's way and lay face up on the grass as I heard the
bus rush out of sight. I have always believed that was an angel who
protected me from receiving not even a scratch.

On this site was a bronze angel who wore a flowing gown. Over the years, the
bronze, through the weathering process, had turned into a soft, greenish
blue color, upon looking at her, gave the appearance of tears running down
the statue's cheeks. The facial features, hands, feet, and toes (including
toe nails) were brilliantly displayed. The life-sized angel with open wings
was seated, palms facing upward. Her features felt like that of a real
person inspite of her angelic imagery.

As the tram moved quickly to our exit point, a bird flew over with its, what
I call, praise song. The words iconography and arboretum passed through my
mind, as I truly could understand now how they were attached to the
description of this cemetery park. Stepping down from the tram, I thought
Spring Grove represents a ministry of encouragement where rest, hope, and
peace can be experienced. With all of the beautiful, detailed artwork on the
various family burials denoting their life professions, morals, and beliefs,
family legacies are shared with all who visit Spring Grove today. The small
lake, puzzle-like paths, collection of trees, shrubs, and flowers planted
throughout the cemetery, not to mention benches on which one can rest,
reflect, or eat, create an atmosphere that brings to mind Philippians 4:7
which states "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will
guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." In summary, whatever the
season you visit Spring Grove Cemetery and arboretum, I guarantee it will
have a profound impact on your life; and if you come away with what I view
as the central theme, displayed through the ivory plant with the three
leaves representing the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you may
never be the same.

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