Mary Ellen Colier's funeral was held during the time in which Oakland Cemetery was closed due to a Tornado. I was allowed in to train new guides. I opened the Bell Tower and allowed the lingering members of the funeral party inside to use the restroom. One of them gave me a check for a wine stopper made of Oakland wood. The gift shop was closed so they just gave we an estimated price which I left with a note to staff. I often wonder if they toast Mary Ellen with a glass of wine from time to time. Libba Grace died recently and her funeral was also held while the cemetery was closed, but this time for road repairs.
It was heartbreaking. When the angel Gabriel fell the ground looked OK initially and them it collapsed and there was a big hole. You could see the edge of coffins like a strange dust came up for a few days. I didn't see the smoldering sight, but I did see where it collapsed and inside the whole. They said water had washed out around Vaults and the impact of the shaft falling caused it to collapse.
Wow. The story about Teddy Roosevelt is so interesting, I cannot imagine the emotions he felt.
Mary Ellen Colier's funeral was held during the time in which Oakland Cemetery was closed due to a Tornado. I was allowed in to train new guides. I opened the Bell Tower and allowed the lingering members of the funeral party inside to use the restroom. One of them gave me a check for a wine stopper made of Oakland wood. The gift shop was closed so they just gave we an estimated price which I left with a note to staff. I often wonder if they toast Mary Ellen with a glass of wine from time to time. Libba Grace died recently and her funeral was also held while the cemetery was closed, but this time for road repairs.
Thanks for sharing these memories, Rosalind. That must have been something to have seen Oakland with extensive tornado damage.
It was heartbreaking. When the angel Gabriel fell the ground looked OK initially and them it collapsed and there was a big hole. You could see the edge of coffins like a strange dust came up for a few days. I didn't see the smoldering sight, but I did see where it collapsed and inside the whole. They said water had washed out around Vaults and the impact of the shaft falling caused it to collapse.