Pittsburgh Cemeteries

Pittsburgh Cemeteries

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  • John Reed Tombstone, Oak Spring Cemetery

    A tombstone from 1817 remembering a father and daughter. Since they have different surnames, it seems likely that the daughter married; but perhaps her husband had no money for a tombstone, and it was not until her father died (he outlived her by eight years) that she had any memorial.

    Old Pa Pitt was not able to read the last part of the inscription, but here is what he could read:

    In memory of John Reed Esq. who Departed this life April 14th 1817 in the 73d year of his Age——and Cathrine McLean his daug[hter] who died in the 25th year of her Age 1807 they liv’d in peace with the world in love with their [neighbors?] death…

    Note the spelling of “Cathrine.” Reeds were among the very earliest settlers in the Canonsburg area; this is probably a branch of that family.

    The stonecutter was the craftsman we identify as the Master of the Curly G, who had a wide-ranging practice: stones of his also show up in Robinson Run Cemetery and Union Cemetery (Robinson Township).


  • Samuel Thompson Tombstone, Oak Spring Cemetery

    If this tombstone was erected in 1805, then it may be the oldest legible stone in this cemetery, and one of the oldest in this area. (Older stones were often of shale or other impermanent materials.) The cemetery’s Web site tells us that the oldest readable stone is the James Ross stone from 1807, but Father Pitt does not know whether that is because this stone is known to be younger than its inscribed date, or because this stone was simply missed in someone’s survey of the oldest stones in the cemetery. Oak Spring Cemetery is one of the largest early-settler burying grounds in the area, and it does not seem to have been thoroughly surveyed.


  • John and Jane McKeman Tombstone, Oak Spring Cemetery

    This is an exceptionally elaborate tombstone for 1830. As a piece of folk art, it is priceless. The stonecutter did outrun himself a bit in John’s inscription, forcing him to squeeze the date “1810” into a very small space; but on the whole, even with the damage we see here, this is one of the most attractive stones of that era Father Pitt has ever seen.


  • Donahoe Monument, Calvary Cemetery

    An unusual classical monument: a pediment with two columns flanked by curved benches. The effect is something like a gateway, with the repaired cross behind representing the destination.


  • Shepherds’ Rest Mausoleum, Calvary Cemetery

    A mausoleum for priests who have gone home. The style is interesting: the overall shape is very much Egyptian, but there are no pagan Egyptian details, and the rusticated stone and Celtic-style uncial inscription are quasi-medieval.


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Pittsburgh Cemeteries

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