I like postcards when people are in the picture. Here is the entrance to West Lawn Cemetery in Canton, Ohio. Walking through the entrance are a man and two boys. There might also be two more people ahead of the man and boys, but I can't be sure. This must have been sometime between 1907 and 1914.
West Lawn is best known as the resting place of President McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901 in Buffalo, New York. My grandfather witnessed the assassination at the train platform while he was waiting for a train. It was an event that he always remembered and often recounted.
McKinley was laid to rest at first in a receiving vault. A monument was built for him and their two daughters, that had already died, adjacent to the cemetery. When his wife died in 1907 she was placed with him and the children in a large, beautiful vault. Ida Saxton McKinley was born in Canton and it is there that she met Major William McKinley. After her husband's death she moved back to Canton and visited his grave almost daily.
West Lawn is best known as the resting place of President McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901 in Buffalo, New York. My grandfather witnessed the assassination at the train platform while he was waiting for a train. It was an event that he always remembered and often recounted.
McKinley was laid to rest at first in a receiving vault. A monument was built for him and their two daughters, that had already died, adjacent to the cemetery. When his wife died in 1907 she was placed with him and the children in a large, beautiful vault. Ida Saxton McKinley was born in Canton and it is there that she met Major William McKinley. After her husband's death she moved back to Canton and visited his grave almost daily.
Ida McKinley's brother is also buried here. He was murdered by a former lover while going up to the door of his current lover who was a widow.
There are several books written about the cemetery including an Arcadia Book, Images of America. It is titled Canton’s West Lawn Cemetery. There are many amazing monuments in this cemetery. Many leading citizens of Canton are buried here as well as several politicians. It was established in 1859 and is still accepting burials.
I always wonder about the people that are accidentally in the postcards. Where they really just passing by while the photographer was taking pictures. Were they posing? Did they hire the photographer to take the pictures? In this one were they going in to see a loved one or were they on a Sunday walk? Maybe they went to see the Presidential monument? Could they be up to no good?
A writer could create a great story using this postcard.
There are several books written about the cemetery including an Arcadia Book, Images of America. It is titled Canton’s West Lawn Cemetery. There are many amazing monuments in this cemetery. Many leading citizens of Canton are buried here as well as several politicians. It was established in 1859 and is still accepting burials.
I always wonder about the people that are accidentally in the postcards. Where they really just passing by while the photographer was taking pictures. Were they posing? Did they hire the photographer to take the pictures? In this one were they going in to see a loved one or were they on a Sunday walk? Maybe they went to see the Presidential monument? Could they be up to no good?
A writer could create a great story using this postcard.
2 comments:
Great story about McKinley. How sad his wife must have been to have visited his tomb daily.
Thanks for the informative post. The Saxtons and McKinleys sure had their share of tragedies.
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