Monday, June 2, 2008

Life Changing Move.....Moundville WV Adena Mound

On May 9th I left Swanton Ohio headed to Wilmington NC to find a new job and a new life. On the way I spent several days sightseeing. I ended up in Moundville, West Virginia at the site of the largest Adena Culture Indian Mound in North America. This was my second side trip of the day:Grave Creek Adena Indian Mound
Access to the mound was closed when I arrived...however I did manage to get several photos of the mound...awe inspiring!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Lake View Cemetery....Wade Chapel

While at the cemetery I visited;
Dedicated in 1901, Wade Memorial Chapel was built in honor of Jeptha Wade, founder of The Western Union Telegraph Company, by his grandson. The exterior was designed by W. Dominick Benes and Benjamin S. Hubbell. The interior was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The awe-inspiring window "The Flight of Souls" is the focal point in the Chapel's interior. The window is done in the Favrile technique developed by Tiffany, giving the glass an opalescence and iridescent quality by exposing it to chemicals and fumes of molten metals during the glass-blowing process. The mosaic on the chapel's west wall symbolizes the prophecy and law of the Old Testament.The mosaic on the east wall symbolizes the fulfillment of the law of the Prophets through the birth of Christianity.The Wade Chapel is a stunning piece of art. Everywhere there is symbolism...magnificent.

Lake View Cementary...John D. Rockefeller Memorial

While at the cemetery I visited;
John Davison Rockefeller began his career as an assistant bookkeeper for a Cleveland commission merchant. In 1863, Rockefeller entered the oil business, and in 1865 he left the commission business to work full-time in oil. He organized the Standard Oil Co. and became its largest stockholder when it was chartered in 1870. The oil business made him the richest man in the world, worth over $1 billion at the time of his death. He gave away $500 million dollars during his lifetime.
His grave is marked with a very simple headstone and I noticed there was coinage laying on top of it. I found out later that it is customary to leave loose change on the headstone...brings good luck. The tall, white-colored obelisk marks the family burial site.

Life Changing Decision....Moving

On May 9th I left Swanton Ohio headed to Wilmington NC to find a new job and a new life. On the way I spent several days sightseeing. My first side trip was to Lake View Cemetery 12316 Euclid Avenue Cleveland Ohio. It was simply stunning... While at the cemetery I visited;

The Garfield Memorial the final resting place of the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield.
James A. Garfield Presidental MemorialIn the crypt directly below the Memorial Hall are the bronze caskets of President Garfield (draped with an American Flag) and his wife Lucretia.

The crypt of President and Mrs.James A. GarfieldPresident Garfield was shot July 2nd, 1881 in the Washington train station by a disappointed office seeker. Garfield died from his wounds on September 19, 1881, two months short of his 50th birthday.