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Taphophilia (dot) Com...
A repository of morbid curiosities:
Thanatology and Taphophile Issues, Cemetery,
Funeral Industry and Death Related News.
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Epitaphs: The Magazine for Cemetery Lovers By Cemetery Lovers
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West Springfield Massachusetts: Stories Carved in Stone by Rusty Clark features information on early New England gravestone carvers with more than two hundred photos and illustrations. Please visit the Dog Pond Press website.
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Something you dont see every day: Casket replica on display |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Saturday, 17 July 2004 |
By BETH WILSON
A solemn moment with family and friends could be livened up with history this week at N.S. Griggs & Sons Funeral Directors.
It's not quite living history, but a replica of President Abraham Lincoln's coffin is on display for a week.
General Manager Chad Rhynehart said he wanted to share the replica with Amarillo.
"Because of the history behind it, since it was Abraham's, I thought it was really interesting," he said.
Rhynehart requested the coffin a year ago from Batesville Casket Company of Indiana.
The replica is one of two touring American funeral homes.
Joe Weigel, director of public relations with Batesville, said the replicas are in such high demand he couldn't even get one in Batesville for the taping of a television show about his own company.
Weigel said Lincoln's funeral in Washington, D.C., and the pilgrimage of the coffin across America was the first time the public was allowed to grieve together for a president.
"Many times funerals are very private concerns with family," he said. "Lincoln's funeral and ceremony was not contained within walls of Washington, D.C.
Then it went on a pilgrimage heading east to ultimately be available for public viewing in the state of Illinois, in the city of Springfield.
It was one of first public demonstrations of the importance of the funeral. Lincoln was one of first on view, and it took the attention and captured the attention of America.
As the coffin went across the United States, it showed people why and how a funeral could be so important."
After Lincoln's assassination April 14, 1865, Lincoln's coffin traveled by train from Washington to Springfield, making nine stops along the way.
The replicas were made in 1993 after research from the state funeral association revealed the dimensions and materials.
"They gave us very, very exacting details about it," Weigel said."We had what we needed to manufacture them."
The replicas have stopped in more than 100 cities. Weigel said they are requested for openings of new funeral homes and for a convention of Lincoln enthusiasts.
"People are viewing the coffin because they come to a funeral home for an open house, and a small group, I don't know how many, are coming because of the historic relevance of Lincoln's coffin," Weigel said.
Rhynehart said the coffin also shows how caskets and coffins have changed over the years.
If You Go
The replica of Lincoln's coffin is on display at N.S. Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors, 2615 Paramount Blvd., through July 23.
Times are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Monday, Wednesday and July 23, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
Rhynehart said caskets now are more rectangular with rounded tops instead of the replica coffin, which has eight sides and a flat top.
A few folks have already checked out the coffin, he said.
"They didn't realize some of the things that had taken place, the huge showcase it was and as much as it traveled around," he said. "It was such a big deal at that time."
Where Lincoln's Funeral Procession Traveled
Timeline of Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession - The days from death to burial.
April 14, 1865 Lincoln is shot by actor John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.
April 15 Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 a.m. in the home of William Petersen.
April 19 Funeral services for the president are in the White House.
April 21 The Lincoln funeral train leaves Washington and makes its first stop at Baltimore, then stops at York, Pennsylvania, and Harrisburg.
April 22 The funeral train arrives in Philadelphia, and the president's body is taken to Independence Hall.
April 24 The train arrives in New York City.
April 25 The train arrives in East Albany.
April 27 The funeral train arrives in Buffalo, N.Y.
April 28 The funeral train arrives in Cleveland, Ohio.
April 29 The train arrives at Columbus, Ohio.
April 30 The funeral train arrives in Indianapolis.
May 1 The funeral train arrives in Chicago.
May 3 The funeral train reaches Springfield, Ill.
May 4 Lincoln is buried in a public receiving vault in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield.
July 2004 Replica of coffin arrives in Amarillo.
Source: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill.; www.alincoln-library.com
http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/071604/new_replica.shtml
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Taphophilia?
taphophilia (taf′ō-fil′ē-ă)
ORIGIN:
From the Greek words taphos, meaning "tomb" or "sepulcher" and philia, meaning "attraction or affinity to something, in particular the love or obsession with something"
DEFINITION: 1. An excessive interest in graves and cemeteries. 2. A love or fondness for funerals, graves, and cemeteries. 3. In psychiatry, a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries
Quote Repository
“Here was still another consequence of the mind's inability, when it ponders death, to picture something other than life.” Marcel ProustFrom Albertine
Shirtless and Sculpted
The Men of Mortuaries 2008 Calendar is now available! All sale proceeds benefit KAMMCARES, a breast cancer foundation.
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