Monday, February 21, 2011

Above Ground Cemeteries

For most of the country above ground cemeteries are not typical. Of course in New Orleans where everything is done differently the people are buried differently as well. The story goes that when the regular cemetery in New Orleans was full and a new one needed to be built the governor of New Orleans suggested an above ground cemetery. These above ground cemeteries were very popular in Spain which is where the governor was from. Above ground cemeteries were also a solution to the problem the city was having with epidemics of diseases. The city people believed the cause of the diseases was the horrific odor that came from the tombs. A city ordinance was passed that all bodies were from now on to be buried on the Bayou Saint John. The exception was that bodies could be buried in existing cemeteries if the vault or tomb was already present.

The cemeteries built are called Saint Louis and there are three of them. The most famous is of course the first one which is Saint Louis #1 it is the oldest of them all, located on the north side of Basin Street. It is the first above ground cemetery in the United States. Some historic people buried there were Homer Plessy from the famous Supreme Court case Plessy vs. Ferguson. Also, the first African-American mayor of New Orleans, Ernest N. "Dutch" Morial is buried there.
Below is the plaque on Homer Plessy's tomb in the Saint Louis #1 Cemetery.
http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/PlessyBronze.jpg/300px-PlessyBronze.jpg
Saint Louis #2 opened in 1823 just a few blocks from Saint Louis #1. There is a very famous pirate buried here by the name of Dominique You. He was a notorious pirate that helped defend New Orleans from the British in the battle of New Orleans. Ernie K. Doe and Danny Barker are also buried here, they were famous jazz musicians that were buried in the cemetery within the last fifteen years. This cemetery received a bit of flooding during Hurricane Katrina but is now restored.


Saint Louis #3 opened in 1854. This cemetery is known for its beautiful marble structures. Unfortunately this cemetery was flooded the most during Katrina but has since been luckily the tombs were not too badly disturbed.

Here is a neat video that is a little cheesy but has some great shots of the cemeteries with accurate historical insight. Enjoy!


13 comments:

  1. I don’t know if it’s because I am from here, but I never found above ground cemeteries different. I actually find them better because I find it hard for me to walk where I know someone is buried. I feel as though I am walking on them and it creeps me out(I know that’s weird). I am also fearful of cemeteries so I never really paid attention to how they are built here. I only see what glimpse I can when I pass them in the car. Now a lot of above ground cemeteries are not built like the Saint Louis’ cemeteries. They are very plain and look like marble walls if you ask me. Only time I was in an above ground cemetery that was built like Saint Louis’ cemeteries was when I was forced and I didn’t pay much attention to how the tombs were built or who might have been buried there. However, it would be cool to visit some of the famous people you mentioned.

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  2. I like our cemeteries. The ornamentation on the above-ground tombs is really pretty and aesthetically pleasing (although some would argue you wouldn't want that for a cemetery)

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  3. I didn't realize that above ground cemeteries were as unusual as they are. I didn't realize that it was a prodominantly New Orleans things as I have seen others in upstate New York (but then again I could be comfusing them with tombs, crypts and the like, if there is a difference between those and the above ground cemetaries). I remember visiting a cemetary in sleepy hollow that was all crypts built into the side of the small hills, giving the town an even creepier feel. I didn't realize this was a mostly New Orleans thing.

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  4. I've been to other places that have above ground cemeteries so I'm guessing it's a New Orleans thing because there's a lot more above ground cemeteries than underground. I also agree with Jimmy, the above ground cemeteries are prettier than a slab in the ground.

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  5. I've never seen an above ground cemetery until I visited New Orleans in April. We saw one and looked around (I don't remember where specifically) I think it gives the city yet another way to be unique and different from much of the rest of the country. It wasn't mentioned in the blog, but did water play a part in the decision to make above ground cemeteries? I've heard both that it did and didn't make a difference in the decision.

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  6. I know of a lot of above ground cemeteries. I think they are so much better than the in-ground cemeteries. Mainly because they look neater and plus it is so much easier to find your love ones.

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  8. I have seen above ground cemeteries before, as well. I didn't really realize that they were that unique, but I think for the city of New Orleans it makes a lot of sense to have them. And as Chelsea S said, I may be confusing what I thought were above ground cemeteries for tombs or crypts or something. I think burying people above ground is a lot less creepy then burying them below ground. Also, the above ground tombs are pretty. But personally, I think I want to be cremated.

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  9. When I first got to Loyola me and a friend went to go see one of these above ground cemeteries. At first I thought it was extremely creepy because it seemed as if they were like little postmortem cities, but now that I've been here longer I am beginning to appreciate the melancholy beauty they add to New Orleans.

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  10. I actually have relatives buried in above ground cemeteries in New Orleans so I was very interested to see how they got started. I, too, appreciate the unique factor they bring to New Orleans. Also, I wonder about the water too, because that is what I was told when I questioned about it.

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  11. My family on my mother's side have above ground graves. They are from Edgard, Louisiana. Every All Saint's day, my family goes back there to visit the graves and replace flowers and of course to eat as we always do. I rarely get to go however because it is always a school day.

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  12. As interesting as above ground burials are, I find the idea kind of eerie. It is literally putting dead people in boxes to rot. I think that it the idea makes sense seeing as if underground burials were practiced it would be disgusting to see dead bodies floating after a hurricane. I just don't know how I feel about it at all.

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  13. I never knew that such historically prominent figures were buried in the above ground tombs of the city. I also never knew exactly why these above-ground mausoleums were built, so it was interesting to read about the reason for that. I have always thought these above-ground, marble structures were beautiful and unique to New Orleans. They definitely add to the character of the city, in a gloomy kind of way.

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