A Week of Saint Mondays

                As spring melts into summer, special events and tours at the burial ground occur frequently. I am once again getting ready for another round of Philly Beer Week tours. This is the third year that I am presenting my special “Brew N History” tour and I am excited that  the tour is being offered every day instead of just on Fridays as it was in previous years. While doing research for the tour, I discovered new information about many tavern owners and others who are buried here and who are connected with Philly beer history. My beer tour has become one of my favorite tours that I give. I enjoy it because it introduces our history to a different crowd that may not otherwise visit our historic site. I am also glad to give a tour that isn’t so serious and has a few shots of humor poured into it.

                To learn more about our founding fathers and their connections to beer history and to find out what Saint Monday means, take our 30 minute tour. It is offered daily from June 1^st to June 8^th at 5:30 pm and the admission fee is $10. The tour takes place at Christ Church Burial Ground located at 5th and Arch Streets. Tickets for the tour can be purchased at the burial ground. 

Guided by the Light

As we slowly march into springtime, I am getting myself into shape for the new tourism season at the burial ground. As the graveyard trees slowly wake up, the beauty and color of the flowers and trees are a fair trade off for my sneeze filled afternoons. Spring is always busy between getting the burial ground season into shape and working sexton duties for the church.

My sexton duties kept me quite busy during Holy Week. Each year, I include the burial ground into our Easter service by collecting branches and sticks from the burial ground for use at the Easter Vigil service at 5:30 am. I am always proud to start the fire at the Easter service and watch as the branches from the trees that surround the dead become the spark that lights the single candle. This lit candle in turn creates the light for the church service and its people and represents new life.

After such a busy week at the church, there is no rest for the Crypt Keeper as I plan our first event of the season at the burial ground.

On Wednesday, April 18^th from 12-3 pm, we will celebrate Bens’ Day,  the official kick off of the new tourism season. This date is the day between the deaths of the two famous Bens in our burial ground, Franklin died April 17^th 1790 and Rush on April 19^th 1813. We would rather celebrate their births but they were both born in January, too cold to host an outdoor event! Activities include Meet the Crypt Keeper, Dr. Physick soda tasting, special displays to honor Rush and Franklin, and a chess board for visitors to challenge our tours guides in a game of chess. Benjamin Franklin is in the Chess Hall of Fame and wrote the “Morals of Chess” in 1786. http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/benjamin-franklin-on-the-morals-of-chess

By the way it’s been a year since I’ve been writing this blog and I am grateful for all the great response and interesting feedback.

Happy Bens’ Day!

 Hop

The Art of the Matter

Any place as old as Christ Church and the Burial Ground have connections to many other historic institutions and landmarks. The Union League, located in Philadelphia and established in 1862, is no exception. It is not as old as other sites connected to us but its roots run deep. The Allee section of our burial ground, which contains vault row, is the final resting place of many Union League members and early leaders, including their first President William M. Meredith. A few Saturdays ago, I slipped away from the church to attend the open house for the Union League. It’s hard to believe that given our connected history, this is the first time I’ve ever been there.

 I was excited to see portraits of people who are buried in Christ Church Burial Ground, including the McCall’s, Cadwalader’s and Major McEuen. Not only did I recognize the spirits from the past but I also knew many of the guides who were presenting the site to the public, including a parishioner of Christ Church who portrays President Lincoln and Francis Hopkinson at public events in the city.

 I was amazed at the collection of artwork.  In particular, I noticed many Thomas Sully paintings throughout the Union League's historic halls. The first piece of art  the Union League purchased was a Sully portrait of George Washington. Every day, while sitting at my desk, I can look over my right shoulder and smile at the 1826 Sully portrait of Reverend Abercrombie, an assistant minister who served Christ Church for 35 years. I think it is really cool that I have a Thomas Sully painting right next to my desk. I don’t think many people can say that, and the fact that I’m an artist makes it more awesome.  It’s kind of weird that my Hopart drawings sometimes are on the desk below this painting. When I’m not crypt keeping, I’m a bit of an artist. I often draw inspiration from the graveyard for my drawings. The fact that artists like Francis Hopkinson, Edward W. Clay and Thomas Pratt are buried here is very inspiring for me. I have recently combined my two worlds with an art project I created titled Said It,  which is a collection of thirteen drawings combining the quotes of Benjamin Franklin with my Hopart surrounding the quotes. I am proud of this because it shows off not only my work but how the words of my pal Franklin are still relevant and are incorporated into the mind and heart of a 21^st century man.

In my last blog I mentioned the opening of the Bruce Springsteen exhibit at the National Constitution Center. I got to see the exhibit last week. I have to say how inspiring it was to see his hand written song lyrics and the connections to art and America. The whole time I was at the exhibit, I had one line from the song “Atlantic City” in my head- everything that dies sometimes comes back again. It reminds me of the way we tell the history of people often forgotten.

 By the way the Burial Ground reopens on March 1^st, weather permitting.

Hop

5th Street Freeze Out

As winter arrives and Mother Nature forces the closure of the burial ground, I find shelter at the church doing tours. Anyone who is acquainted with me knows that I am more of an outside cat and will find any excuse to leave the warmth of the inside and go to the graveyard.  In January, four of the founding fathers have birthdays, so I was able to find a good reason to wander over to 5^th and Arch Streets. Robert Morris was born on January 31^st and is buried behind the church. The other three are at the burial ground.

 Back on January 4^th, we had a small gathering for Dr. Rush’s birthday-a special thanks to all those who braved the cold that day to remember the great doctor. On Friday, January 20^th, the annual birthday bash for Franklin was held which included a parade and wreath laying ceremony. His actual birthday is January 17^th. The birthday of Joseph Hewes on January 23 seems to get lost in the shadow of his more famous colleagues. I do not forget Mr. Hewes and find my way over to his marker for a birthday visit. Happy birthday and thanks to these great men.

So as my co-workers and I count down the days til the burial ground is open again, I bone up on my church history. I must admit that it is interesting to get a chance to work in the church to tell stories and talk about people I don’t always get to when conducting tours at the graveyard. I also have gained a greater appreciation for the work my colleague Neil does as historian of the church. I am learning many things from the time we work together in the winter months. But I am always thinking about the burial ground and new ways of telling our stories and continuing to preserve our historic sites. 

When the burial ground reopens for the season on March 1, we will continue to present our Revolutionary Heroes tour as well as special events including a commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812 with a special tribute to Commodore Bainbridge, Bens’ Day on  April 18^th, Signers’ Day, a beer tour, and  the yellow fever tour.

You may have noticed that most of my blog titles are song titles or references to rock music. This particular blog title is a take on the Bruce Springsteen song “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out.”  In February, our neighbors across the street at the National Constitution Center will feature Springsteen in a new exhibit.

Happy winter!

Hop

The Remembered

 

     On Sunday December 4^th, I unlocked Christ Church for Sunday morning service, walked to the chancel, stepped up, and exclaimed thank you to a cold and empty church. A Hopish smile came over me as I realized how crazy I would seem to anyone who saw me.

      I was thankful for the church vestry and the resolution they passed 150 years ago on December 4^th, 1861. The resolution authorized Church Warden Edward Clark to create a book of every inscription on the existing graves in and around Christ Church and in the burying ground at 5^th and Arch Streets. This three year project took place during the Civil War. I am so grateful for the book because in a sense this work that Clark produced has given me a profession. I understand how much harder my job would be without the 1864 inscription book.

      One reason they decided to create a record of burial inscriptions was because that year, the city of Philadelphia needed to widen Church Alley, the street on the south side of the building, thus prompting the church to reinter the bodies and relocate the markers next to the church.  Also, there was concern about the conditions of the markers and fear that the words once inscribed on them would be lost forever.

Even though it’s believed that over 5000 people are buried in our grounds, Clark was only able to find inscriptions for 1,400. It’s because of his passion and dedication that today, I am able to preserve the memory of those buried here whose names have been washed away by the hands of time.  Clark also believed that the sale of his book would help to preserve the gravestones that already needed repairs in the 1860s. The preservation ideals that Clark held dear, we still value as our mission today.

     I know that without the work of Clark, my job would be almost impossible, and I forever am grateful to him and the 1861 vestry. And I am always proud to send em a shout out, be it in an empty church on a December morning or out to you all in the computer world. It is because of Mr. Clark that today we continue to keep the memory of the dead alive in the hearts of the living.

   By the way, the Burial Ground is closed in January and February.

Happy New Year!

 Hop

Another Fall in Philadelphia

As the 2011 tourism season is slowly winding down at the burial ground, I try to enjoy each nice day that is left before I scramble to locate my hat and gloves and embrace winter. On a Wednesday in early November, we had an awesome fall day. It was so nice and I didn’t want to pull myself from this rare autumn treat but I needed to attend a Wednesday after service at Christ Church. A small group gathered for service and to witness (a man celebrating his 100th birthday) a renewing of vows in the very church where this man’s ancestor Captain Oswald Eve married Anne Moore on June 2nd, 1744. In itself this proved to be an interesting event to attend, but I was there in memory of a wedding that never happened in Christ Church. 

If I am allowed to pick a favorite person of the over 4,000 people (interred in our burial ground) in my charge, it would not be Franklin or Hopkinson. I would pick Dr. Benjamin Rush, a kindred soul and my unofficial spirit guide. In recent times, I’ve identified with Rush on my levels including on a personal one. In my current studies of the Yellow Fever epidemic, I found it prudent to read the two volumes of Rush’s letters that I have. His letters give an intriguing look into the mind of a Revolutionary mind in the midst of the founding of our nation. His letters were written to various people including other founding fathers on many topics but the ones I find the most interesting were the ones to dearest Julia, his wife. His letters to me paint a picture of a real man with real problems and makes him seem more human then most founders. Benjamin and Julia had a long and loving relationship, he knew her all her life (he was 12 years older) and they shared a great bond. But what most people may not know that his heart once belonged to another. Many years before Ben married Julia he was in love with Sarah Eve, the daughter of Captain Oswald Eve. Ben and Sarah were to be married but she fell ill and died of Tuberculosis on December 4th, 1774. A funeral was held for her in Christ Church where they were to be wed. She was buried at the Christ Church Burial Ground, yet her marker no longer exists and it’s not known where she is buried. From most accounts Rush never seemed to fully get over this, even though he refused to ever speak of it. Even though Ben and Julia would later be married and have a love story for the ages, his love tragedy always stuck with him. When I read of this Ben’s great loss I couldn’t help but shed a tear for a man who never got to marry the woman he had been destined to be with. To me, its always been important to humanize the founding fathers, and I am always trying to learn more about them and their lives on a personal basis. 

Julia Stockton Rush

Dr. Benjamin Rush 

I will be participating in the First Person Arts Festival on November 20th, 1-4pm, along with other colleges from Christ Church. The even (1pm to 4pm) begins at Neighborhood House (20 N. American st) and will continue with a tour led by me of my personal experiences at the burial ground. For more info check out -

firstpersonarts.org 




- Hop

There With Bell On

I couldn’t help but grin and glow with a smug sense of historic presence as I gripped tightly onto the 309 year old church bell as it wildly swung in its wooden frame. I rode in the back of a red pickup truck that carried our 1702 bell. It was a beautiful September Sunday morning as we processed south on 2nd Street. The journey from 2nd and Market Streets to Saint Peter’s Church was a mission to help them celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of that church. 

The trip began inside Christ Church at the start of the 9 am service. The Rector said a few words, some of the youngest parishioners rang the historic bell a few times, and then we wheeled the bell out to the courtyard. A group of parishioners from both churches gathered to jointly march from our service to the service at Saint Peter’s. We followed with our bell in an attempt to recreate the events of 1761. When Saint Peter’s originally opened, a group of parishioners and church leaders marched from Christ Church to Saint Peter’s with this bell to kick off their first service. Our vestry minutes described the procession that details the sexton, clergy, and wardens leading the way. That is pretty much the people who were in the truck as we went to church on Sunday. I do wonder how long the original procession took because the muddy grounds and bad roads that made it difficult to travel to Christ Church is the reason Saint Peter’s was built. Not many people were on the streets to witness this event as we paraded down the sleepy Sunday morning street with a 309 year old bell in the back of a borrowed gravedigger’s truck. I must admit I did get chills when I rang the bell as we passed by Bishop White’s house and the homes of others connected to our history, including John Penn’s house that was a pit stop on the first trip. 

When we arrived at St. Peter’ Church, a nice size crowd greeted us and helped remove the bell and place it outside the church doors. The celebration and service was great and I even got to meet the Mayor again. All in all, the parishioners of Saint Peter’s put on a great birthday bash and I was happy to be a small part of it. There was a picnic in the churchyard as we quietly re-loaded the bell on the truck and brought it back home to Christ Church. I was a bit concerned that Saint Peter’s might think that the bell was a birthday gift, and I was relieved when it returned to the north aisle of Christ Church. 

The whole day made me think of Henry Harrison who is buried in our burial ground. He was the vestryman responsible for the creation of Saint Peter’s. I always like to include Mayor Harrison in my tours because after all he was the person who had the idea for the lottery that raised money for the steeple of Christ Church, even though Franklin, who sold the tickets, often gets that credit. 

Now I must go to wish a happy 274th birthday to Francis Hopkinson! 

- Hop

P.S. I also recommend a new way to look at history by checking out my colleague, Neil's blog at www.historymadefresh.blogspot.com - New posts frequently!