Sylvan Grove Cemetery in the Travis neighbourhood of Staten Island.
The inscription, as best as I can interpret, reads:
"JULIETTE BLANCHE
daughter of Louis G. &
Henrietta B. Wocherle (?)
born Sept 11, 1889
died July 9, 1890
Here rests my only child,
All that was left to me,
God her father called her
Home I am (?) to be"
Which, as father to a two-year old girl myself, is heartbreaking in itself, but what's truly sad is the state of this place - this is one of the few gravestones that's not been knocked down or smashed (less fortunate gravestones can be seen in the background), and the cemetery is littered with Bud and Coors cans strewn about.
Having said that, it may actually be in slightly better shape than when Forgotten NY visited a while ago.
View 2 more comments
andy in nyc 78 months ago | reply
Well, I'm sure money has a lot to do with it. This particular burial ground was "restored" some time ago by the Friends of Abandoned Cemeteries, but at the moment, the only part of the cemetery that can really be said to be in good shape is the prominent sign that they erected once their work was done (leave the West Shore Expressway at Victory Blvd/Exit 7 going north, and you can't miss it).
Documenting these sites is certainly a good idea, if only to preserve some history while it's still (just about) intact - if awareness can be raised too, so much the better.
James Hanlon 78 months ago | reply
I agree Andy - awareness through photojournalism can be a powerful tool.
You might also consider joining and posting @:
NYC 5
andy in nyc 78 months ago | reply
Thanks James, I've put a few of my photos into NYC5 in the past, but I'm still trying to get a feel for which of my SI pictures "belong" there. I'll add this one now...
James Hanlon 78 months ago | reply
Thanks Andy - great read as well!
Seen in NYC 5