Graveyards of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Allan M. Heller
Author Bio
Allan M. Heller is a published poet, short story writer, and the author of five non-fiction books: Fabjob Guide to Become a Life Coach, Philadelphia Area Cemeteries, Monuments and Memorials of Washington, D.C., Monuments and Memorials of Philadelphia, and most recently Graveyards of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In February of 2014, Heller was appointed poet laureate of Hatboro, Pennsylvania. He resides with his wife, Tatiana and their cat, Rocky.
Description
Cemeteries are more than just the final resting places of our loved ones. They are repositories for the historical knowledge of communities and the families that lived there. Montgomery County has a rich history, being one of the three original counties, along with Bucks and Chester, founded by William Penn. Its nearly 150 National Historical Landmarks include George Washington’s headquarters at Valley Forge. Graveyards of Montgomery County, PA brings this history to life through the county’s places of death. Discover how each cemetery came to be and who some of their locally and nationally famous decedents are.
Book excerpt
Cemeteries are especially vulnerable to neglect and deterioration, as relatives of the deceased die themselves, move away, or simply forget. Often the culprit is a change in the neighborhood, either an economic downturn that brings crime and vandalism, or the kind of prosperity that causes greedy developers to set their sights on large plots of land “better suited” for the living than the dead. West Norriton Township’s Montgomery Cemetery has been plagued by both. But thanks to the efforts of The Historical Society of Montgomery County, as well as concerned citizens, this quaint, 44-acre burial ground is being preserved for posterity. For now.
When the graveyard opened in 1847, the surrounding area was rural, free from any imminent threat of urban encroachment. In the 164 years since the first burial, the property has changed hands three times, and is currently maintained by the historical society. Among their many restoration initiatives was the renovation of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock’s (1824-1886) mausoleum. Hancock’s greatest glory came at Gettysburg in July of 1863, when the men under his command held their ground at Cemetery Ridge during the bloody engagement, and Hancock suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. Even with his injury “Hancock the Superb” refused to leave the battlefield. In 1896, an equestrian statue of him was unveiled in Washington, D.C.
Other Civil War generals are interred at Montgomery Cemetery, including John F. Hartranft, who served as Pennsylvania’s governor from 1873-1879, Adam J. Slemmer, Matthew McClennan -not to be confused with fellow Civil War General George B. McClellan- and Samuel K. Zook. Of the hundreds of veterans buried at Montgomery, about 80 percent served during the Civil War.
As a tribute to Zook, who was mortally wounded at Gettysburg, his fellow soldiers named a local Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) post after him. 34 Civil War veterans, including Zook, are buried in the cemetery’s General Zook Post Number 11 Plot. Established after the Civil War by former Union soldiers, the G.A.R. was at one time a powerful organization that advocated for veterans and their families. In September of 2011, a local girl scout named Skyelur Festa had an official marker designed for the Zook plot. Her efforts, consisting of raising $700, earned her the coveted “Gold Award,” the highest accolade in Girl Scouts.
A tragedy indirectly connected to a monument raised for Hartranft occurred in 1899, when a horrible train crash claimed the lives of many people returning from the unveiling ceremony in Harrisburg. The dead included several locals, among them the fire chief (Marotta).
Adjacent to Riverside Cemetery, Montgomery is closed to future burials, with exceptions being made for deed holders.
Location: 1 Hartranft Avenue, Norristown, PA.
Author Website
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