Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Ivy




Old North Cemetery is a small cemetery on North Main Street, just a few blocks from West Hartford Center.  There are two old cemeteries, just a block apart.  I have driven past them for three decades without stopping.

The carved ivy vines and the rough texture on this tombstone caught my attention.  Adolph C. Sternberg was a Republican member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, who died in 1913 at the age of 74.

This post is linked to Taphophile Tragics.

25 comments:

VP said...

An ivy leaf was the symbol of the tiny and now defunct Republican party of Italy.

Unknown said...

It is amazing how we drive by places forever without ever stopping to explore, until we're retired! This is a wonderful shot - love the composition and focus on Sternberg's headstone.

Lowell said...

After 30 years, it's about time you stopped here and took some pictures! That's an unusually ornate tombstone I would guess.

Anonymous said...

Lovely... machines can't do that...

Sharon said...

That is an interesting headstone. One memory I have from a trip to the east coast back in the late 90's is visiting two cemeteries. One in Massachusetts and one in Vermont. The one in Mass had some pretty famous residents.

Sylvia K said...

Lovely old tombstone and a great shot for the day, Jack, as always! I do find them interesting although I have to admit I don't take the time to visit the cemeteries here, but I really enjoyed going to the ones in New Orleans!

Unknown said...

Wonderful shot. The craftsmanship that is seen on the monuments in the older cemeteries really put today's work to shame.

SeaThreePeeO said...

Such beautiful carving, I love the scrolling.

Beneath Thy Feet

Oakland Daily Photo said...

Wonderful, rough hewn sculpting. Invites touching.

Malyss said...

I'm always surprised to see how different and beautiful your cemeteries are..

Randy said...

That must been alot of work to make that one.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

That's a wonderful tombstone. I've never seen ivy depicted on a stone before though it often climbs all over them quite naturally.

EG CameraGirl said...

WOW! This is a handsome tombstone!

cieldequimper said...

I'm not sure I've ever seen ivy carved on a tombstone like that. Nice.

Isn't it strange how as CDP bloggers we stop at places we hardly ever noticed before?

hamilton said...

This is very different. I wonder if Adolph chose it himself?

Halcyon said...

A really neat tombstone. I've never seen carved ivy like that. Very original and certainly stands out!

Stefan Jansson said...

Thirty years is a long time. Unusual tombstone.

Michelle said...

I really like the architecture of an old cemetery.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

You never stopped before because you did not have a mission to share your photos with us.

VioletSky said...

I am now discovering cemeteries I hadn't even noticed before!
Is it not odd that there are no dates on this one?

Gemma Wiseman said...

The carving detail in this stone is remarkable! I would be attracted to this for a photo shoot too!

CaT said...

see! good that you stopped!
i really enjoy wandering around cemeteries, old ones at least

Unknown said...

Wonderful composition! Beautiful cemetery corner.

Julie said...

I am so glad you stopped and wandered around. You have found us this tombstone to enjoy. It certainly shows off the mason's skills.

It is interesting that someone else commented that they enjoy old cemeteries. Me so too. I simply do not go into the newer areas of all the cemeteries I visit. I think it is the ageing and the quaintness of the writing that attracts me to some extent.

Could it be that the dates and the data for Mr Sternberg are on the reverse of the stone?

Thank you for your contribution, Jack. I hope to see you back again in the future.

WorthyStyle said...

Completely stunned that I Googled my family relation and this photo and blog post were my first result! This gravestone and plot is of Adolph Carl Sternberg, my 3rd great grandfather. He was born 15 Aug 1838 in Stargard Gubinski, Lubuskie, Poland, and died on 19 May 1913 in West Hartford, Connecticut. He arrived in New York at the age of 14 in 1852 with his family, which included a sister, seven brothers, his father Charles "Carl" Sternberg, and his mother Bernhardine Crause Sternberg. They had a large estate in West Hartford near Mountain Road and Park Road. Adolph Sternberg married Francesca Soeckel in 1869. They had five children, with only one son, Adolph C. Sternberg, II.