Contributed by Jim Hartman, Nov., 2012
:
The Pittsburgh Daily Gazette
Allegheny Cemetery
We employed a leisure afternoon, a few days
since, in visiting the beautiful location selected by the good
taste and secured by the enterprise of the people of
Pittsburgh, to be used for the purpose of burial in all time
to come. It is situated near the left bank of the
Allegheny river, about one-fourth of a mile above the United
States Arsenal, and about two miles from the city. The
grounds comprise one hundred and ten acres, beautifully
diversified with gentle hills and lovely dales, open lawns and
thick woods, mounds, slopes, copses, and every imaginable
variety almost of natural sylvan scenery—uniting, on the
higher grounds, some of the finest views of the two cities and
surrounding country we have seen anywhere.
As we approached the grounds from the city, we found the
sacred enclosure defended by a stone wall, substantial and
well laid in mortar, and about 12-feet high. This wall
at present extends the whole length of the road, being about
one-fourth of the circumference of the grounds, but will be
extended around the whole as the means of the Directors will
permit. A beautiful gateway, from a chaste design of the
Architect, is to be erected at the principal entrance as you
approach from the city, and another, less imposing in its
structure, at the side entrance, further up the road.
At the main entrance is a Lodge for the keeper of the gate,
where visitors are admitted, and who are permitted to ride
through the grounds in carriages or on horseback, but not to
go faster than a walk.
The gentlemanly Superintendent and Architect of the grounds,
John Chisslett, Esq., who resides on the premises, kindly
accompanied us over the grounds, and pointed out the various
improvements in progress and contemplated, and the singular
fitness of the location for the purpose to which it is
devoted.
The ground is all of a rolling character, composed of hill and
dale, but yet gradually ascending from the main entrance to a
beautiful ridge near the rear. The Managers are dividing
it into sections by means of roads running through it in every
direction. These roads are at present designated as the
“Main
Tour” and “Sectional Avenues.” The Main Tour is a wide
carriage way commencing at the main entrance and winding about
among the beautiful little hills and gentle slopes, almost
always on a gently inclined plane, until it surrounds the
grounds, giving to the visitors a view of every part, and some
most charming views of distant scenery. Tis Main Tour
will be in length about three miles, and will afford one of
the most delightful drives to be found in this country.
We can scarcely conceive of anything more beautiful, when the
ground are fully improved and decorated by the hands of taste
and affection.
The Sectional Avenues, which are laid out for the convenience
of approach to the different sections of lots, are wide enough
to admit carriages conveniently to pass. They are never
located in straight lines, but in gentle curves accommodated
to the ground, and most generally on inclined planes.
They run into each other and into the Main Tour, and the whole
will furnish a ride of about twelve miles, without even
passing over any part of the ground more than once.
All the roads are covered with a gravel, found on the
premises, which becomes by usage, as hard as a stone, making a
road as smooth and solid as a McAdamised turnpike, but free
from the annoying dust of such roads.
We were astonished to learn, from the Superintendent, that
family lots are taken as fast as they are prepared for
market. Indeed, the section on which the workmen are now
employed, is nearly all taken. No family that can afford
to secure a place for sculpture, in about these cities, who
have visited the grounds, but will hasten to secure a lot.
About one-hundred and fifty persons already sleep in these
grounds, and many fine monuments of white marble add to the
beauty of the scenery.
We rejoice, as citizens of Pittsburgh, in this noble
institution. We feel a pride and pleasure in it which we
can scarcely express. We look upon it as having more
influence in binding our people to the city of their nativity
or adoption, than all their stores, or workshops, or swelling
houses. It is a spot around which the heart of every
Pittsburgher will ever linger with fond remembrances, and his
last earthly wish will be to rest with his friends and fellow
citizens in the peaceful shades of Allegheny Cemetery.
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