Cenotaphs, 'Adding Terror to Death,' Adorn Cemetery

A short distance southwest of the District jail and asylum lies the "Congressional Cemetery," comprising a tract of about 30 acres.

Officially it is known as "The Washington Parish Burial Ground."

This cemetery was chosen in 1807 by Congress as the place of interment for Senators, Representatives and executive officers who died in office. Until about 1885 this practice was followed. Gradually as transportation facilities improved, members of the deceased's family began to favor home burial. By 1855 interment for nonresidents of thee District had practically ceased.

Meanwhile, the custom had grown of erecting a cenotaph there in memory of each member of Congress who died in office, though he was buried elsewhere.

These official monuments, unusual in their ugliness, are of sandstone and consist of a six-foot square base, surmounted by a pyramidal top reaching to a height of about five feet. Stonecutters frequently were careless and misspelled words and missing dates are numerous.

Who selected this form of monument is not known, but in 1877 and act was passed that abolished these tombs, as "it adds new terrors to death."

Interments there include 19 Senators, 74 Representatives and 25 others. Among the latter are General Rawlins, Secretary of War under Grant and Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of State under Tyler.

Among those buried there are George Hadfield and William Ellicot, architects of the Capitol. A few feet south lies William Thornton original designer of the building.

Three ex-mayors of the city are interred there, Joseph Lovell, John W. Maury and John T. Towers. Among those whose remains rested there temporarily were President Taylor, John C. Calhoun and Mrs. Dolly Madison.

Published by: The Washington Herald, February 17, 1929

Publishing date: December 28, 2012