52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Week 37 September 9 -15, 2024
Tombstone
I find old cemeteries fascinating, even though my family may think it’s a bit morbid! As it turns out, there actually is word for those of us who enjoy walking cemeteries, looking at the beautiful art, and reading historic epitaphs. Its “taphophile,” otherwise known as a tombstone tourist or a cemetery enthusiast. Ever since I was child, I loved the hour-long trip to the historic and beautiful cemetery in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. It is the Wildwood Cemetery where my great-grandparents, my grandparents, my great-uncle, and since 2003 and 2011 where my parents are buried.
I thought I’d share a short history of Wildwood Cemetery and then some interesting facts about a structure in the cemetery where some of my Allen ancestors are buried.
18 August 1863 – Wildwood’s Founding
Founded by many of the prominent leaders of Williamsport’s industries, Wildwood Cemetery was created and incorporated because of the tranquility found in the lush, rolling hills on which it rests. Existing flora was paired with new ornamental additions to match the beauty envisioned by the cemetery’s advisors to continue the elegance and allure into the future. Many Civil War veterans are buried in special area of the cemetery that features a patriot statue in the center, near to the Allen plot.
June 1896 - Chapel Construction
Under the supervision of John McMinn and Robert Faries, the engineers responsible for Wildwood’s design, the cemetery finished building its chapel. Made of sandstone, terracotta, Buffalonian stained glass, and Pennsylvania lumber it is one of the finer structures completed by either man during their lifetime in Williamsport.
1930s - Cemetery Expansion
As the cemetery expanded, so did its volume of needs. The office gained an addition, the roads were improved, and a reservoir developed to supply water to the grounds. Old water spigots can still be found throughout the grounds, though they are now defunct. The cemetery’s size grew at this time to 437 acres.
1972 - Crematorium Opening
The first crematory in Lycoming County was built at Wildwood Cemetery in 1972, serving the various needs of families. Tens of thousands of cremations have been performed since the opening.
1972 through 2022 - Alternative Interments
Throughout the next 50 years new internment options were created to meet the needs of the community. The Garden of Memories has expanded over the years, and now houses new charcoal granite niches with custom laser-engraved nameplates to honor the deceased alongside bronze cremorials.
Now
Wildwood Cemetery has been in existence for over 160 years, with 60,000 burials, and thousands of cremations.
As this blog post is about tombstones I’m adding photos of my ancestors gravestones. They are very modest when compared to many others in this beautiful cemetery. My great-grandmother, Florence Brenneman Smith Allen purchased this plot in 1921 when most of the Allen family still lived in Williamsport. I still have the original deed. There are eight spaces in the plot, seven are filled.
As I wrote earlier, I loved to visit this cemetery as a child. I have written an earlier blog post about how it inspired me to study the genealogy of my own family tree. Thinking back, I asked my parents all kinds of questions about some of the tombstones and burial vaults in this historic cemetery. But there was one question that they never answered. Maybe because they did not have any facts regarding the question or maybe because they did not want to burden or scare my brothers and me about the history of a certain vault. We always passed this vault on our way to the Allen burial plot. I have since researched this vault and thought it may be an interesting story to add to my blog post about “Tombstones.”
Here is the story of the Pursell Escape Burial Vault Hatches in Wildwood Cemetery:
Thomas T. Purcel, a retired engineer, firefighter, and a resident of Williamsport’s First Ward created an interesting contraption, an advanced version of the safety coffin that can be seen today in Wildwood Cemetery. He wanted to be sure that neither he nor his family would suffer the nightmare of a freak awakening six feet under.
Obsession with the safety coffin became especially intense between the 18th and 19th centuries, born from the widespread fear of being buried alive. Historical records dating back to the Middle Ages name specific victims of this cruel fate, the paranoia becoming especially rampant in an age when coma and other death-like medical conditions were sparsely understood. Thus, the safety coffin was invented in various iterations to draw attention to the gravesite should the person occupying the coffin not actually be deceased. Coffins were outfitted with bells, a tube for air and, even a means for feeding. Edgar Allan Poe, the master storyteller, in one of
his short stories, “Premature Burial” weaves a particularly unnerving tale about this actual occurrence. There were a series of inventions in the 19th century which would aid someone who was buried alive to escape, breathe and signal for help. It is not clear if Poe inspired these somewhat creepy inventions or if he was merely tapping into the feelings of the time.
But Purcel, who was particularly obsessed with the thought, took matters into his own hands. His belief was that a ringing bell in a cemetery would not suffice. He created an escapable vault apparatus that would allow the revived to ventilate their coffin from the inside via a patented wheel lock. Each tomb was lined with felt for comfort, warmth, and safety should they begin to panic over their circumstances. In addition, any fallen family member was laid to rest with tools and bread.
Purcel’s burial hatch is a peculiar stone structure bearing five metal wheels, one for each tomb beneath the grave marker, should the worst come to fruition. Purcell was buried in his own creation at the age of 82 in 1937 with no sign of attempted escape. Nor do any of his family members’ tombs show signs of escape. Add to that the odd fact that of the nine family members buried there, four were children, one less than a year old. How would those unfortunate children know how to escape from the vault?
As a taphophile or a cemetery enthusiast this vault has to be in my top five of cemetery discoveries. How about you? Do you have any favorites? If not, you just might want to visit beautiful Wildwood Cemetery in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for some interesting cemetery education.
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