Zebra, the Woodlawn (last) stop of the 4 train is about a hundred yards from the main gate. No problem at all.
I would be so up for this. In fact, I happen to live in Woodlawn, the neighborhood, which is wedged between Yonkers, the Major Deegan, and the Bronx River Parkway. It’s a pretty little enclave but believe me, all the interesting people in the neighborhood are in the cemetery.
I have a bunch of digital pictures I took during the Clive Fitch expedition of three weeks ago–anybody want to host them? I have Berlin, Antoinette Perry of the Tonys, Olive Thomas, and she even opened Cohan’s mausoleum to show us the lovely stained-glass windows! All I would ask is that they not be searchable with the words grave or tombstones or like that in case of vandals searching for booty.
And oh yeah, I’m up for a Doper grave crawl. We can exit out the Webster Avenue gate and get some nice grub on Katonah Avenue.
Hey Eve…Wish I could join you for your Woodlawn tour, but it’s kind of hard to get there from here…
Woodlawn is great! Most of my family are buried there and my brother and I used to love to wander around looking for famous folks graves. Guess you’re not the only ghoul on here…LOL
Some of the other famous residents of Woodlawn:
George M. Cohan
Bat Masterson
Vernon & Irene Castle
and about 90% of the old time Mafioso!
I don’t remember if they give tours or not, but here’s a link you might not know of:
It’s got listings of both the famous and not so famous in Woodlawn and a bunch of other cemeteries around the world…with pictures!
Some of the sites give the locations within the cemetery and, in some cases, GPS coordinates (isn’t it wonderful what we can do with modern technology? :D)
Anyway…have fun there, it’s a really interesting place.
Oh, I have findagrave bookmarked, Dogg! Love that site.
I will get in touch with Woodlawn and see if they do indeed give tours, and if they can send me one of their maps—then we’ll arrange another Doper Grave-Crawl, sometime this summer. The weekends of July 19, and Aug. 23 & 30 are out for me, but I can clear my calendar otherwise.
OK, just talked to them . . . There are indeed four tours in June, and they are sending me a tour list and a map. One of them is called “Beautiful Women of Woodlawn,” which sounds promising. I’ll start a new thread when I get details.
Au cointrair, mon petit shue (which I’m certain is spelled incorrectly). But it sure would be interesting. Kind of like Spoon River Anthology, but with a Big City twist! I just sort of figured you were in the planning stages. Either for a book, or something…much darker…much more sinister. Was I close?
Well, I am spinning helplessly between three or four possible subjects for the next book . . . Depends on whom I can get enough research material out of; and whose family will cooperate. I’m all at sixes and sevens.
Okay, this is weird. I don’t normally stop here in MPSIMS, but now that I have I find not only a thread about my neighborhood cemetery but also a neighbor! Where are you, Mehitabel? I’m on 237th between Martha and Vireo.
I’m not sure what my June schedule will be like but I would love to join in. BTW, for the apres-tour, Colleen’s isn’t a bad place to stop in… haven’t tried Rambling House yet, but if it’s the same deal as Rory Dolan’s on McLean Ave (same owner after all) it should be fine too.
Anybody else feel like they just fell into a Don Marquis story? Is there anyplace else on the internet where I can ask that with the expectation that somebdy will get it?
Where are you, Mehitabel? I’m on 237th between Martha and Vireo.