Hints of the past

Walter Norton’s monument doesn’t state his occupation, but I’m going to guess that he was a sailor, possibly specifically a captain or navigator, since he has both an anchor and an astrolabe on his monument.

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A Grave Concern: Anchor

The anchor is a very old Christian symbol of hope, and I don’t think I’ve photographed one more lovely than this example from the Steinbrenner family monument in Lake View Cemetery.

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Anchors aweigh!

The anchor, as I mentioned last week, is often interpreted as a Christian symbol of hope, and so it often accompanies the statues we see atop magnificent monuments looking heavenward for salvation and comfort. The Haines family’s statue is holding an anchor – it’s a little hard to see from this angle, but look for the bottom of it protruding at the front right hand side of the monument.

A very detailed anchor rests at the side of the statue atop the Hubby-Doubleday monument.

The Smith family has a towering white monument, with this beautiful statue thrust toward the skies.

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Gazing to heaven

Despite all the photographs of angels I post here, most cemetery statues are not angels, but mourning figures. Some are grief-stricken, faces downcast and weeping, and others are the picture of sad optimism – gazing heavenward as they stand over the deceased. They often hold symbols of hope like anchors, while clasping their other hand over their chests.

High atop the Holenshade monument at Spring Grove, this woman looks to heaven.

She stands not far away on a marker for George Fox.

The Calvert statue’s head is thrown back so far her facial expression is almost completely obscured.

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Anchors

The anchor is an old symbol of hope, dating back to when early Christians used it as a disguised cross.

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