Love is buried at Laurel Hill ground

Laurel Hill Cemetery shared eternal love stories from the grave in “‘Til Death Do Us Part.”

Mary Peterson’s heart is buried alongside her first husband. Her body is buried alongside her second.
Her heart lies in Laurel Hill Cemetery at 3822 Ridge Ave. Peterson is one of the many 19th-century residents of Laurel Hill Cemetery. She lived a very long life, and after her first husband died at the age of 37, she remarried. She died shortly after the death of her second husband.

In light of Valentine’s Day, Laurel Hill cemetery held their annual “’Til Death Do Us Part: The Love Stories of Laurel Hill Cemetery” on Saturday. The storytelling event celebrated the beautifully ambiguous word that is the subject of many poets and artists thoughts: love.

“We always find that events associated with a holiday get the most turnouts,” said Gwen Kaminski, the director of development and programs and the program tour guide.

It can be inferred that love is not constrained to the emotions that one lover finds for their mate, but can be expanded to the feelings a mother has for her child or the feelings one sibling has for another.
Laurel Hill Love Stories, an annual fundraising event held by the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, takes participators around the 78 acres of the second major rural cemetery in the United States. Stories were told about the love between siblings, spouses and parents.

Another more famous story centers on the famous abolitionist, John Brown. After Brown was incarcerated for his leadership in the Harpers Ferry raid, his wife, Mary Ann Brown traveled down to Harper’s Ferry accompanied by their good friend, Hectar Tyndale.

As a result, Mary Ann was able to have dinner with her husband the night before he was put to death. Afterward, Tyndale accompanied Mrs. Brown as she traveled back to New York to bury her husband in the face of animosity from many Southerners along their journey.

Laurel Hill Cemetery, established in 1836 is the first cemetery to be designated a National Historical Landmark. It is also the resting place of many famous names, including General George Meade, the commanding officer during the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Philadelphia Phillies’ late announcer, Harry Kalas.

Nadia Elkaddi can be reached at nadia.elkaddi@temple.edu.