RICHMOND COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Hollywood Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Hollywood Cemetery: 1937 Mar. 23 Research made by Malcolm T. Earley Cemetery Location: The entrance is at the southwest corner of South Cherry and Albemarle Streets, Richmond, Virginia. Richmond Co., Virginia DATE: 1847. OWNERS: In the spring of 1847 two citizens of Richmond, Messrs. Joshua J. Fry and William H. Haxall, while on a visit to Boston, visited Mount Auburn, a beautiful cemetery near that city. They were impressed by the solemn grandeur of that place and resolved that they would, on their return to Richmond, propose the establishment of a rural cemetery near the city. It was through their original efforts and the subsequent co-operation of local citizens that the cemetery was created. On the third of June 1847, Haxall, Fry, William Mitchell, Jr. and Isaac Davenport Sr. purchased of Lewis E. Harvie who sold under a deed of trust from Jacueline B. Harvie, for the sum of $4,075.00, a certain portion of the lots or parcels of land lying and being in the town of Sydney, in the County of Henrico, together with the privileges and appurtenances to the belonging, which said portion is adjoining to Clarkes Spring and contains by survey forty-two acres, three roods, but of which one rood, known as Harvie’s rood, or graveyard, with free ingress and egress to the said graveyard is reserved. This purchase was made with the design of establishing a rural cemetery. DESCRIPTION: The main entrance to the cemetery is located at the southwest corner of South Cherry and Albemarle Streets. There are many long winding roads leading over and around the many hills and dales which dot the landscape. Some of the shrines and monuments are very beautiful. The pyramid to the Confederate dead is especially handsome. It stands about one hundred feet high and has a forty foot square base containing about sixteen hundred square feet and built of quarried granite rock. It is magnificently placed together and has an inscription on each of its four sides. A large bronze circular tablet near the north central gate was erected to the memory of the Confederate flags. And another near the gate contains an endless list of the different engagements or encounters, major battles and minor ones of the War Between the States, together with the lists of officers inscribed in small lettering on bronze. James Monroe’s tomb is a solid iron grill enclosure in the form of a shrine or small miniature temple located so as to overlook the James River. There is a bronze bust of John Tyler and a tall monument to him. And on one of the higher elevations overlooking the James, is the burial plot of Jefferson Davis with his wife and children. In the middle of this plot is a majestic statue of the Confederate president and two white marble angels guard the spot. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: After the land for the cemetery was purchased in 1847, the purchasers together with subscribers named officers and formed a company. More acreage has been purchased from time to time. Mr. William A. Pratt, Architect and late Superintending Engineer of Green Mount Cemetery near Baltimore and later of this city, furnished a plan without cost, prepared by himself after a topographical survey of the site. Subsequent changes were made and finally the plan of Mr. John Notman was accepted. It was he who, due to the prevalence of beautiful holly trees upon the grounds, suggested the name Hollywood Cemetery. There is nothing else of importance in the arrangements except that finally money matters were straightened out, a corporation was formed and the usual by-laws, rules and regulations made. There are many famous southern people buried here and many soldiers who gave their lives for the Confederacy. The pyramid to the Confederate dead is inscribed as follows: Numini et Patria Asto Erected by the Hollywood Memorial Association 1869. Memoria in Acterna, To the Confederate Dead. There is a bronze tablet to the Confederate women which reads: A memorial to the Confederate Women of Virginia, 1861-1865. The Legislature of Virginia of 1914 has at the solicitation of the ladies of the Hollywood Memorial Association and the United Daughters of the Confederacy placed in perpetual care this section where lie buried eighteen thousand Confederate dead. Memoria in Acterna. The dead lie buried in the dales symbolic of trenches. On the Davis monument is inscribed: Jefferson Davis President of the Confederate States of America 1861-1865. Faithful to all trusts, A martyr to principle. Erected by his wife Varina Howell Davis and his daughter Margaret Howell Davis Hayes Nov. 9, 1899 On the west side of the base of the Monument are the words: Jefferson Davis An American Soldier and Defender of the Constitution Born in Kentucky June 3, 1808 Died in New Orleans, Dec. 6, 1889 West Point Class 1828 Member of Congress 1845-47 Col. Mexican War 1846-47 Brig.-Gen. U. S. A. May 17, 1847 United States Senate 1847-51, 1857-61 United States Sec. War 1853-57 A life size bronze watch dog stands guard over the graves of Charles R. Rees, Jr. and his family. His stone is inscribed: Charles R. Rees, Jr. Born January 25, 1879 Died May 27, 1905 Veteran of Spanish American War Member of Co. K, 4 Virginia Regt. U.S.A. The inscription on the tablet to the Confederate flags reads: Fate denied them victory but gave them glorious immortality. Furled but not forgotten. Another monument near the one above mentioned reads: Erected by the Otey Battery C.S.A. to the memory of their dead comrades June 11, 1887 James Monroe’s casket bears the following inscription: Born in Westmoreland County 28” April, 1758 Died in the City of New York 4” July, 1831 By order of the General Assembly his remains were removed to this cemetery 5” July, 1858 As an evidence of the affection of Virginia for her good and honored son. Other inscriptions are: John Young Mason Born April 18, 1799 in Greenville County, Virginia Died in Paris, France, October 3, 1859 and was buried here The bare recital of a life spent in public service in the legislature and two constitutional conventions of Virginia, in congress, as Judge of State and Federal Courts, as Attorney General, Secretary of the Navy, and Minister to France for the United States is an enduring testimony of the great qualities which won the respect and admiration of his countrymen but --- To those who have placed this stone it is a higher satisfaction to record that no human being ever dwelt in his presence without conceiving for him the deepest affection, and that the love he inspired did but image forth the tenderness and purity of his nature filled with love and sympathy for his fellowman. (His wife and son lie beside him) Sacred to the memory of Elvira A. Bruce Born September 10, 1783 Died October 22, 1858 Elvira A. Bruce, the eldest daughter of Col. Cabell (Wm.) of Union Hill. She was first the wife of Patrick Henry Jr., son of the orator and patriot and after a long widowhood, married the late James Bruce of Hallcay whom she survived more than twenty years. It was her lot to be wife, mother, step-mother and widow and in all these delicate relations she proved herself a true woman --- (The rest of the inscription is obliterated.) John Tyler President of the United States 1841-45 Born in Charles City County, Virginia March 29, 1790 Died in the city of Richmond January 1862 In honor of service in the War of 1812 U.S. U.S.D. 1812 Inscribed on a small tablet is the following: Erected by the Congress of the United States MCMXV (1915) Rev. Wm. H. Starr Aged nearly 74 Was born May 7, 1793 and died February 14, 1867 He was a member of the Virginia Annual Conference M.E. Church South for more than half a century. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informant: Caretaker of the cemetery Tombstone Inscriptions Visit by worker. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________