Many of you will remember the infamous cemetery bench. As I can recall the facts from my mother, the bench was purchased by our grandmother, Julia Sullivan Crotty, and was placed at the grave site in Trinity Cemetery of her parents John and Anna Dillon Sullivan.
The first picture shows their grave site. Their stones are in the upper right in front of the big stone. In the foreground is a cement pad. I bet that is where the bench was. The second picture shows the tomb stones.
The best we can do is surmise that this probably occurred in the late 1920's or early 1930's. During the 30's, families were advised that these benches needed to be removed. It was then taken to reside for a number of years at 509 Parade Street. Sometime around 1946 the bench was moved to my parents house - one of the 'cottages' built by Lucy Horrigan Crotty Smith at 411 East 5th Street. My family later moved to Eagle Point Blvd in the early 1950's, and the bench travelled to the new Jackson homestead.
The best we can do is surmise that this probably occurred in the late 1920's or early 1930's. During the 30's, families were advised that these benches needed to be removed. It was then taken to reside for a number of years at 509 Parade Street. Sometime around 1946 the bench was moved to my parents house - one of the 'cottages' built by Lucy Horrigan Crotty Smith at 411 East 5th Street. My family later moved to Eagle Point Blvd in the early 1950's, and the bench travelled to the new Jackson homestead.
The bench stayed at Eagle Point until 1977 when my father moved to Houston to be near me and my family. I recently (May 15, 2010) moved to Jacksonville, Florida to be near my daughter and her family. The bench made the journey with me.
Since I live in an apartment now, the bench is at Robin and Anthony's home. It is being given a place of honor. It will go to their daughter Aubrey. A picture of Aubrey, on the bench will be added later. Aubrey is the great-great-great-granddaughter of John and Anna Dillon Sullivan and the great-great-granddaughter of Richard and Julia Sullivan Crotty. This bench will survive us all. I wish I knew more of the history.
This bench has traveled more than Grandma Crotty ever did, or even thought about it in her lifetime. An old iron bench is the legacy for the generations to come.
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co-posted by
Dede & Rich
