Truthful Lies
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Uhhh...yeah. In fact most of the people I saw were walking their dogs! These are Victorian Era cemeteries, they were intentionally designed to be like parks, to create an atmosphere that encourages people to visit, relax, walk around and enjoy the mausoleums and artwork and spend an afternoon in a pleasant way. The people that spent big bucks on family mausoleums and statues expected and WANTED others to enjoy and admire the memorials. Dogs are a part of that park like atmosphere, I am sure in the Victorian Era they brought their dogs along too, and yeah the dogs did pee on stuff! Folks had different view of death at that time, it was an obsession in a way, from what I have read picnics at the cemetery were a common thing in Victorian times.
The most beautiful historic cemetery in Atlanta, Oakhill, not only welcomes canines they have a water faucet with a chained dog bowl right outside of the visitors center for the convenience of thirsty dogs. They understand and respect the ideology behind Victorian Cemeteries, come by, relax, spend the afternoon. I was fortunate enough to unexpectidly visit Oakhill during a Mausoleum tour day (yeah with my dog) and we were able to enter a dozen or so crypts at Oakhill with the guides that told the stories of the families that built them. Beautiful white marble floors and walls, pristine stained glass windows, labors of love that look different from the inside.
hmmm okay. I'm a(n) historian, so while I'm very aware of changing views of death, I just didn't think people would do that today (not the dogs in the park, but the urinating on graves permitted) anyhoo, thanks for the info. Guess I'm just old-fashioned ( in an un-Victorian way). =)