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Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween ... From Sleepy Hollow Cemetery


Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord Massachusetts isn't the least bit frightening.  I have visited several times and find the historical graves rather interesting.  Here in this modest grave rests the famous Harvard graduate, American  author, philosopher and poet Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862).  Many of you will remember him for his book Walden or from some of his famous quotes. "Be true to your work, your word, and your friends."
Buried nearby on Authors ridge is Thoreau's friend Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)  another Harvard graduate was a prominent member of the Transcendentalist Movement.  Emerson's final resting place is more ornate than the other authors on the ridge, yet still rather simple by today's standards.  Most of Emerson famous essays were written for the 1500 lectures he gave. "Do not go where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path and leave a trail."  I have always loved that quote.
Is there a girl out there who hasn't read Little Women written by Louisa May Alcott ?  (1832-1888) The novel is based loosely on her life with her sisters in their home in Concord MA..  Louisa was also a feminist and was the first women to vote in a school election in Concord.   Her father was Bronson Alcott another famous member of the Transcendentalist Club and who was also the founder of the Utopian Fruitlands in Harvard Ma.   You might remember from an earlier post, I visit there quite often.  Louisa has so many notable quotes it is hard to choose just one,  so I will choose two that have been meaningful to me.  "Stay is a charming word in a friends vocabulary." the other "Far away in the sunshine are my aspirations, I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."



Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) is another famous author and friend of Emerson and Thoreau.  The  Scarlett Letter and The House of Seven Gables  are two of the more notable books written by Hawthorne. I can remember reading The Scarlett Letter in high school and my heart aching for Hester Prynne. Great book!!    One more inspirational quote.  "Happiness is like a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."


I hope you  have enjoyed your Halloween visit to Authors Ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

29 comments:

  1. What a great post!!! Really enjoyed the visit.

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  2. Would you believe I've never visited! I've read every one of those authors! Thank you for the virtual tour, it was fantastic! I love this post!

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  3. That was fascinating. Thank you!

    I don't think I have every come across a cemetery with 'offerings' of coins, pencils, stones, etc.

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  4. Wow, that is really neat! I never knew they were all in the same place.

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  5. Hi Susan, I am glad that I found your blog. I love cooking too.
    A great post for Halloween.

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  6. me too. I sure like the simplicity of the simple name. To see "Henry" has been my Halloween treat!
    xx
    julie

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  7. Thank you! Emerson and Thoreau are two of my great literary loves. Happy Halloween!

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  8. Oh thank you!! I have always wanted to see it. I have always loved the quote about the butterfly but I never knew who said it. I just love looking at these headstones. It always helps my mind to know they were real. Isn't that weird? I will have to show my family this evening because it really is so very cool.
    You made my day.

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  9. What an interesting post and discovery you have made. I love quotations and you came up with some fabulous ones. Happy Halloween to you too.
    Thank you for your visit.
    Rita

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  10. Awesome post and photos. I to find old grave sites very interesting. Have a Happy Halloween

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  11. I love your Authors Ridge cemetery. It's so rich in history and timeless wisdoms. Thank you for sharing.

    BOO!

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  12. Loved this post! I had no idea that all of these great authors were from the same area and buried in the same cemetery.
    Have a Happy Halloween!

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  13. Tanks for this virtual visit!! I really appreciated!
    Happy Hallowen

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  14. Perfect for today! Have you visited Louisa's homestead? Such a great place ... there are summer programs there that I have always wanted to attend ... in her father's schoolhouse on the hill behind the house.

    Happy Halloween, Susan!

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  15. What a great post .... I read and re-read Little Women when I was young . Like every other girl, i wanted to be Jo!!!
    We've just seen your snow storm on TV over here. It looks horrendous! Hope it doesn't last too long!
    xxx

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  16. I love Louisa May Alcott. This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing!

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  17. A very interesting visit on this day! Happy Halloween:@)

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  18. This was a wonderful post for Halloween night! I really enjoyed the visit via your blog and would some day love to visit there in person myself. How interesting. My mother was an avid geneologist and I have fond memories of visiting some very fascinating cemetaries looking for our ancestors. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
    ~Debby

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  19. I loved this. Thanks for posting the pictures.

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  20. Really a fascinating post, loved the photos! I too wanted to be Jo in Little Women, write in a garret (was never too enthused about the one penny per word pay she got though). Happy Halloween!

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  21. I really enjoyed the visit! Great post.
    Happy Halloween!

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  22. I did enjoy the visit to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. I was there several years ago. My sister lives in Westford and I really enjoyed visiting Concord. So much history! I am so glad to have found your blog. Thank you for commenting on mine--I just became your newest follower!

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  23. I love this, cemeteries have always fascinated me. I agree, I don't find them spooky at all, I've been collecting photos to do a post of our local cemeteries, but they don't have such illustrious residents as this one.

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  24. When visiting Boston this past summer I was so disappointed to not have the chance to trek to Concord. Thank you for taking me.

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  25. I have such a fasination with cemeteries and this is one of my favorite to visit. I love Concord, Mass. and it's surrounding area, just so much history. Thank you for taking us along. Happy Halloween!

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  26. Really...all in the same place?! That would be a lovely place to visit. There's something to be said for visiting the past:D

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  27. great post! It was a lot of fun to read!

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  28. I too love that quote, Susan. Your Halloween post is a delight for my eyes and senses.
    Thanks for stopping by.

    hugs,
    Pam

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