Writer Nirvana In A Cemetery

 

 

I had a recent opportunity to go on a bus and walking tour of Woodlawn Cemetery (in the Bronx, NY)  There are many great writers buried here, including novelist E.L. Doctorow, journalist Nellie Bly, novelist Herman Melville, poet Dorothy Parker, and writer Joseph Pulitzer.

Over 310,000 dead are accounted for here, whether the remains were cremated and sprinkled, or whether buried six feet under or above ground in one of 1300 mausoleums. Its creation dates back to the time of the Civil War.  Its 26 miles of paths rest in the Bronx but the land used to be a part of Westchester.

It is a fascinating place, though it is missing a gift shop. It is still actively accepting new clients and relatives/family still come to visit loved ones.

Two centuries of history of New York City and of America reside at this historical landmark

“Established in 1863, Woodlawn is an active, 400-acre non-sectarian cemetery — an oasis in an urban setting,” claims its site.

“It attracts over 100,000 visitors from around the world each year. Recognized as one of America’s most historically significant properties, Woodlawn was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011, joining a rarified roster of 2,500 sites nationwide. Described by the National Parks Service as “a popular final resting place for the famous and powerful,” the cemetery is distinguished by memorials that ‘represent the largest and finest collection of funerary art in the country.’”

It struck me how only in death could different demographics of people peacefully reside — and not argue with each other. The dead at Woodlawn Cemetery, a historical landmark, vary by their faith, from atheist and agnostic to Jewish and Christian, with multiple denominations of the latter two. They varied in their gender and sexuality. You also had various races here as well, lying side by side. Nothing was sectioned off by any category. Gay black male Calvinists were next to straight Jewish white women.

The history and architecture behind this place is a marvel worth experiencing — as a visitor.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.