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Memories, History at Woodlawn• lt;f•! i-4*' r-iT^JSgf IlISpsr: '*■Sp9bsr-v■ »•;■.: :-;s« .V' -^: i«; :i W: '*/P^slSSlfW.'■(«-.f v■ :• •*■ x2;*:-A• ’•■’- :*wiijy^Csir»ViflllSIlisiiisiiSKTHE BENSON MEMORIAL — The statue of a woman deep in thought is one of the finest examples of craftsmanship in Woodlawn Cemetery, Carved above the woman’s head are the words: “Love, fairest flower in memory’s garden, though these thy petals lie enshrined here, thy essencelives in God’s eternity,” The statue was executed by a sculptress from Windsor, Conn., and donated to the cemetery 6y the Bensons, a prominent oil region family. They are also responsible for the Benson Memorial Library.DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT of Woodlawn Cemetery is in the capable hands of Larry and Linda Moore. The Moores have been caretakers of the grounds for the past seven years. The building-which contains their home and office is locatedadjacent to the cemetery’s main gates. The Moores stand beside some of the bronze grave markers which are on sale in the cemetery office. They are the parents of two children, Larry 10, and Leanne,7.SPECIAL PREVIEWSee the works entered in Pennbank’s1981 Art Photography Contest Tuesday evening, May 26, 7:00 p.m.8:30 p.m., 127 West Spring Street,Titusville, Pa. Open to the public.We've made fiennbanking easier for you.PennbankMEMBER FDlCCKMKTEKY’S FIRST SECTION — This monument stands over some members of the Kerr family. These burials were the first in Woodlawn.On April 4,1871, Thomas Stubbing, aged 65, was laid to rest. No doubt it was asad and solemn occasion for the members of his family and his Friends. Fame is fleeting and the mighty are fallen to the point where nobody remembers Thomas Stubbing 110 years after his demise. A tiny scrap of individuality clings to Thomas, however. His was the first recorded burial in Woodlawn Cemetery.In the intervening century-plus, 7,367 others have followed Thomas to a final resting place on the attractive, well-kept acres of Woodlawn.A cemetery is a vital need in a community. Someday, al! of us will have occasion to use a plot. For some, the smallspace will be the only real estate a personever owns.The first cemetery in Titusville was located just east of the head of Franklin Street, A veteran of the Revolutionary War was among the first to be interred. The cemetery also served as the temporary final resting places for Samuel and James Kerr and Jonathan Titus. Temporary, because in the 1870s their remains were moved to Woodlawn.In November, 1870, Jonathan Watson, E.H. Chase and R.D. Fletcher purchased from the late Samuel Kerr (the eldest son of James Kerr) a parcel of 17 acres in the northwest section of the city for the purpose of creating a cemetery. The plan for the cemetery was create! by William Webster of the firm of Coutant and Webster.In 1882, an addition of land was purchased making a total of 30 acres. In 1981,52 acres are cared for with room for expansion.Over the years, a great deal of money has been spent to erect monuments and mausoleums. A casual stroll through the neatly-manicured grounds gives one an impression of the wide range of architectural styles which have been in vogue during various epochs.Others have decided to keep the memorializing at a restrained level and have placed simple headstones over their loved ones.Today, Woodlawn is overseen by caretakers Larry and Linda Moore. They are aided by Paul Erickson. Moore and Erickson are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the grounds. They cut grass for a 52-acre space. In addition, the small crew rights stones which have fallen over through caprices of nature or vandalism.All shrubs must be pruned and leaves are raked in the fall. There is always something to be done.One of the focal points of the cemetery is the small brook which is located behind the Drake Memorial. Beautiful ducks have taken residence and they provide a colorful pageant for visitors to the cemetery.Technically, Memorial Day is set aside to honor the memory of those who have died in the service of America. The occasion, however, also lends itself well to the remembrance of those whose lives were devoted to the service of others.itFRIEND OF DRAKE — A bronze plaque has been affixed to the marker on the grave of Peter Wilson, 1818-1874. Wilson was a druggist in Titusville who managed to achieve a slice of immortality. In the famous photograph which shows CoS. Edwin Drake standing beside his oil well, Wilson is the man standing next to him.Strawberry Festival MeetingThe Centerville Volunteer Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary will have a special joint meeting Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m. at the fireball to finalize plans for the Strawberry Festival.All interested persons who can help in any way should attend and bring ideas.Volleyball PicnicThe YWCA annual volleyball picnic will be held at Valley View Turkey Farm Wednesday, May 27 starting at 9 a.m. This picnic is for all YWCA volleyball girls. Everyone is asked to bring their own meat and a tureen. The pool will be open for swimmers.THE TITUSVILLE HERALD, Titusville, Pa., Saturday, .May 23,1981 — PAGE SEVENDRAKE MONUMENT — Col. Edwin Drake is buried in front of this impressive monument near the entrance to Woodlawn Cemetery. The sculpture in the center of the monument is “The Driller” and was created by Charles Niehaus. The monument and an endowment fund for its perpetual maintenance was the gift of Henry R. Rogers, an official with the Standard Oil Co. Rogers entered the oil business in Titusville in 1861. On Oct. 4, 1901, the monument to CoJ. Drake’s memory was dedicated., ^.« ■(s.. * .... ..* y•*ti $:W£‘*$»■GRAVE OF IDA TARBELL — Ida Trabell, the noted journalist and historian, lies beneath this simple headstone in Woodlawn. She achieved worldwide acclaim for her history of the Standard Oil Co. and for her biography of Abraham Lincoln. She spent her infancy at Rouseville, grew up in Titusville and attended Allegheny College. She died in Connecticut in 1944 and her body was brought to Titusville for burial. She lies with her parents, brother and sister.I-*** * ■ yiN.' K ' •'/j ,') v.. IMp# • * ? • -h, \A*V:V■lt; A'*-;-VJ-- **x -L vm$§m**v -'MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP - Paul Erickson, a laborer a' Woodlawn, stands beside the equipment which is used to grade some of the cemetery’s roadways. Presently, 52 acres are mowed There is always some sort of upkeep work being undertaken. Tret limbs are cut, graves are maintained and debris is cleared.TITUSVILLERiversideSupefc WfcrikelWill Be OpenMEMORIAL DAYMonday May 25th10 A.M. to 5 P.M.Also Open Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m
Newspaper Details
Titusville Herald
Titusville, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, May 23, 1981
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Carnegie L.
Pennsylvania, USA 13 May 2021
Other Publications Near Titusville, Pennsylvania
Titusville Petroleum World
Titusville Herald
Titusville Weekly Herald
Titusville Morning Herald
