CAVE HILL CEMETERY
701 Baxter Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40204
502.451.5630
Established: 1848
Acres: 296
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 5 Tombstones
Cave Hill Cemetery has an odd "birth story." The property was initially owned by the Johnson family who used it as a farm. They found value in the clear, cool water derived from the spring which flowed out of a small (246' deep) cave located on the east bank of what is now the cemetery's main lake. It was this cave, in fact, coupled with its location in the side of a hill, which prompted the Johnson's to name their farm, Cave Hill. Not very creative...but then, they were farmers, not writers! The General Assembly of Kentucky took interest in the land when plans for the Louisville & Frankfort Railroad called for track to be laid across the Johnson's Farm. Anticipating income from the railroad, as well as the chain-coral and limestone deposits which could be quarried, they purchased Cave Hill in 1840. Some years later, when their plans fell through, the land was divided into small farm parcels which were leased to individual families. The former Johnson residence was converted into what was commonly known as a "Pest House." Such "asylums" were located at a remove from major cities and used to house and care for individuals with various forms of contagion. Since the original purchase included plans for a small cemetery to be located on the west end of the farm, it didn't take long for the city fathers to determine the dead from the Pest House could be the first "inhabitants:" and thus, the cemetery was officially opened to receive them in 1848.
Thanks to the knowledge and foresight of Edmund Francis Lee, civil engineer on the project, Cave Hill was built in the emerging Garden Tradition, utilizing the natural features of the land without seeking to interfere beyond what was strictly necessary for sanitary and practical concerns. Unwavering observance of this wonderful tradition is what continues to make Cave Hill Cemetery a place of brilliant beauty, profound peace and natural splendour. Indeed, 130,000+ souls have made it the site of their "eternal" slumber and there is easily room for another 22,000 in the decades to come.
Five lakes dot the tranquil, rolling acres--all fed by underground springs which empty into nearby Beargrass Creek. Numerous types of waterfowl call these waters home, and on any given day visitors will see their fellow cemetery loving brethren tossing bread and various types of seed to these feathered residents. From October through April the cemetery distributes 150 lbs. of corn each day to keep the fowl from starving during the harshest months of the year.
Of course, what drove the proprietors of Bella Morte to Cave Hill was neither waterfowl or lakes. It was the oft-extolled comeliness of the place we sought to confirm...and confirm we did! From the moment we drove through the Victorian gate off Baxter Avenue we felt we had entered another realm. Gone was the grimy gas station across the street where we'd purchased bottles of water. Gone, too, the sounds of raucous music blasting from car radios. No blaring horns. No frenetic city beat. Instead, we were instantly enfolded in a tangible blanket of serenity and silence broken only by the twitter and chatter of birds. On either side of our vehicle, the lush emerald lawns stretched back to tall stands of evergreens. No monuments were yet in sight. It gave us the impression of approaching a grand English Estate of yesteryear...moving along an opulent drive which would soon open to a delicious display of man-made wonder married to natural beauty. And that is precisely what we encountered when we reached the terminus of the entry avenue. Having arrived at a three-pronged fork in the road, we were confronted by a breathtaking panoply of monumental art: women in elegant gowns clasped their breasts in gestures of grief. Stately angels spread muscular wings to shelter their ascending charges. Marble children stood, knelt or sat in attitudes of sorrow, wonder or resignation. Indeed, it is not hyperbole to state that everywhere we turned we were met with something truly awesome to behold.
Cave Hill was living up to its reputation...and then some!
A few notable examples follow:
The Tingley Fountain (Section E). This amazing tribute will be one of the first large memorials visitors who choose to follow the main road (designated by a solid white line) will encounter. Set back from the pavement and surrounded by lively plantings, the lifesize iron figure of a woman rises from a fountain supported by the nude figures of a young boy and girl. To be sure, the Tingley memorial is far from ordinary. The water that spills into its triple basins has its origin in the fingertips of the aforementioned woman whose outstretched arms suggest benediction or, for the more macabre among us, the attitude of a Hollywood zombie on the prowl. Beautiful...yes...but there is undoubtedly something eerie about her. As far as we're concerned, that just makes her more attractive! A bronze plaque affixed to the front of the fountain bears this inscription:
In Memory Of
THE BROTHERS TINGLEY
By Whom
This Fountain Was Bequeathed
For This Spot
Erected A.D. 1922
George H. Tingley -- Superintendent of William Tingley -- Himself a master
Louisville Public Schools 1863 - 1894. workman -- An inspiration to honest
A born leader and teacher of child- artificers -- Builder of wagons --
ren -- A fountain of living waters in Successful in business and in useful
the garden of youth. living.
Born Jan, 28, 1827. Died Dec. 26, 1906. Born March 16, 1828. Died Dec. 26, 1914.
THEY REST NEARBY IN THESE GROUNDS.
Unmarried both. "Lovely and pleasant in their lives,
In death they were not divided."
Thus far, our research has revealed only that the monument was the creation of William Tingley, who was wealthy enough to pay for the extravagance to honour his brother and himself. Beyond that, we are left to speculate about the shared death date (albeit eight years apart) of these brothers who clearly loved each other in a manner that reaches far beyond the scope of words.
The Gothic Chapel of James F. Irvin (Section P, Lot D) beckons visitors to regard it from all angles. Reportedly a replica of a mausoleum in Pere Lachaise, the Irvin "chapel" is also notable for its prominent placement in an elegant cul-de-sac. Mr. Irvin's fortune, by the way, was made as a riverboat captain. In addition to his wealth, he earned a special place at Cave Hill owing to his membership on the Board.
Charles W. Gheens Mausoleum (Section 33, Lot 16). With a fortune made in wholesale grocery and real estate, the Gheens had a gothic mausoleum constructed to house their mortal remains. The building features elegant turrets, a slender, domed cupola and some of the most handsome landscaping the proprietors of Bella Morte have ever had the privilege of seeing in a family plot.
Spotts Mausoleum (Section D. Lots 72 & 73). Commissioned by his wife (remembered only as "Mrs. Harry I. Spotts"), the marble monolith of the Spotts Mausoleum is truly one of the most striking memorials in all of Cave Hill. Spotts was a resident of Louisville and his employment was as a steamboat captain. Upon his death in 1866, his wife ordered the construction of a Moorish-style building to house his remains. With its three rounded front arches, graceful support columns, intricate crown work and commanding view of the nearby Satterwhite plot, the mausoleum (which stands on two lots) is a real attention-grabber. Wide stairs welcome visitors to draw close to the heavy doors and whisper a greeting to the captain and his family. This one is definitely worth a photograph or four!
Satterwhite Memorial a/k/a "The Temple of Love" (Section C). Easily the largest monument in Cave Hill, the scope of this memorial to one man's true love is utterly breathtaking. Preston Pope Satterwhite was a successful surgeon who, in his mid-40's was able to retire owing, in part, to his own wealth but mostly to the enormous fortune of his wife (Florence) whose former husband (a Standard Oil executive) died in an auto accident. The Satterwhites lived an extravagant lifestyle, spending the temperate part of the year in New York and the winter in Palm Beach. Sadly, Florence died in 1927, leaving Preston to face the remainder of his life alone. He purchased 26,343 sq. ft. of property in Section C (for a sum of $50,000--doubtless a fortune at the time) and commissioned architect Horace Trumbauer to design a fitting memorial to his love. In June of 1927 the tribute was unveiled. Modelled after the Temple of Love at Versailles, the domed structure takes its cue from the Roman Temple of Vesta.
While we could easily catalogue dozens more, we'll move from the older grave sites to a few contemporary winners:
Matthew Robert Falk & Kathryn Paige Torp. We're unsure of the section and surely the occupants of these graves were not millionaires or famous individuals, but clearly, they loved each other and, in turn, were loved by their families who erected a truly wonderful tribute in their honour. A bronze sculpture depicts Matthew holding Kathryn in an embrace which has her fully supported in his arms. A bronze plaque affixed to the monument's pedestal features lyrics from "Two Step (Folsom Field)" by the Dave Matthews Band:
Hey, my love
do you believe that
we might last a thousand years or more
if not for this,
Our flesh and blood
Celebrate we will
Because life is short but sweet for certain
We're climbing two by two
To be sure
These days continue
Things we cannot change
Two stones in front bear the following words:
Matthew Robert Falk
Beloved Son,
Brother and Friend
Nov. 16, 1981 ~ May 18, 2001
Kathryn Paige Torp
Boundless Potential That Inspired Us All
January 23, 1982 ~ May 18, 2001
The shared death date suggests an accident or other tragedy. We were truly touched by the memorial.
Jeptha Barnard "Barney" Bright IV (Section 29, Reserve). One of Cave Hill's most sensuous monuments was sculpted by the very man whose memory it honours. Barney Bright was a famous Louisville sculptor whose work is in evidence on graves throughout the newer parts of Cave Hill. For his own grave, Mr. Bright rendered himself in bronze, nude, and lying pelvis-to-buttocks with an exquisite unclothed woman who appears quite youthful next to the aged man in whose arms she rests, eyes lidded and content, paying no heed to whatever it is the sculptor beside her is indicating with his outstretched right hand. The woman is most-likely the "Gayle" referred to on the stone's base, though no dates are given for her. His wife? Probably. This bronze is tastefully erotic and disarmingly lovely!
What else to say about Cave Hill? Well, George Keats, brother to English Romantic poet John Keats, is buried in Section O, Lot 73. A rustic cross marks his grave and it is of some interest to note the designer, Jon Jeffery, went on to marry Keats' widowed mother. "The Kentucky Giant" (Jim Porter) is buried in Section F, Lot. 439. His stone indicates he was 7' 8" though Porter claimed to be 7' 9." His body is actually entombed in the old Harrington vault as his original mausoleum, like many others on the hillside, collapsed and had to be torn down in the late 1800's. The simple stone marker is nondescript and half-obscured by grass and earth. A cemetery map would be most useful if you're looking for this one. Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame is also interred at Cave Hill.
The number of remarkable bronze, marble and granite sculptures is truly too great to detail and, in any case, words are grossly inadequate at doing justice to the beauty of each. Cave Hill demands personal interaction in order to gain the full effect and we cannot stress strongly enough our feeling that travelling any distance to reach this very special place would not disappoint cemetery lovers. If you do visit, keep in mind the fact that Spring Grove (yet another spectacular Victorian burying ground) is hardly more than an hour distant.
{F}
701 Baxter Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40204
502.451.5630
Established: 1848
Acres: 296
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 5 Tombstones
Cave Hill Cemetery has an odd "birth story." The property was initially owned by the Johnson family who used it as a farm. They found value in the clear, cool water derived from the spring which flowed out of a small (246' deep) cave located on the east bank of what is now the cemetery's main lake. It was this cave, in fact, coupled with its location in the side of a hill, which prompted the Johnson's to name their farm, Cave Hill. Not very creative...but then, they were farmers, not writers! The General Assembly of Kentucky took interest in the land when plans for the Louisville & Frankfort Railroad called for track to be laid across the Johnson's Farm. Anticipating income from the railroad, as well as the chain-coral and limestone deposits which could be quarried, they purchased Cave Hill in 1840. Some years later, when their plans fell through, the land was divided into small farm parcels which were leased to individual families. The former Johnson residence was converted into what was commonly known as a "Pest House." Such "asylums" were located at a remove from major cities and used to house and care for individuals with various forms of contagion. Since the original purchase included plans for a small cemetery to be located on the west end of the farm, it didn't take long for the city fathers to determine the dead from the Pest House could be the first "inhabitants:" and thus, the cemetery was officially opened to receive them in 1848.
Thanks to the knowledge and foresight of Edmund Francis Lee, civil engineer on the project, Cave Hill was built in the emerging Garden Tradition, utilizing the natural features of the land without seeking to interfere beyond what was strictly necessary for sanitary and practical concerns. Unwavering observance of this wonderful tradition is what continues to make Cave Hill Cemetery a place of brilliant beauty, profound peace and natural splendour. Indeed, 130,000+ souls have made it the site of their "eternal" slumber and there is easily room for another 22,000 in the decades to come.
Five lakes dot the tranquil, rolling acres--all fed by underground springs which empty into nearby Beargrass Creek. Numerous types of waterfowl call these waters home, and on any given day visitors will see their fellow cemetery loving brethren tossing bread and various types of seed to these feathered residents. From October through April the cemetery distributes 150 lbs. of corn each day to keep the fowl from starving during the harshest months of the year.
Of course, what drove the proprietors of Bella Morte to Cave Hill was neither waterfowl or lakes. It was the oft-extolled comeliness of the place we sought to confirm...and confirm we did! From the moment we drove through the Victorian gate off Baxter Avenue we felt we had entered another realm. Gone was the grimy gas station across the street where we'd purchased bottles of water. Gone, too, the sounds of raucous music blasting from car radios. No blaring horns. No frenetic city beat. Instead, we were instantly enfolded in a tangible blanket of serenity and silence broken only by the twitter and chatter of birds. On either side of our vehicle, the lush emerald lawns stretched back to tall stands of evergreens. No monuments were yet in sight. It gave us the impression of approaching a grand English Estate of yesteryear...moving along an opulent drive which would soon open to a delicious display of man-made wonder married to natural beauty. And that is precisely what we encountered when we reached the terminus of the entry avenue. Having arrived at a three-pronged fork in the road, we were confronted by a breathtaking panoply of monumental art: women in elegant gowns clasped their breasts in gestures of grief. Stately angels spread muscular wings to shelter their ascending charges. Marble children stood, knelt or sat in attitudes of sorrow, wonder or resignation. Indeed, it is not hyperbole to state that everywhere we turned we were met with something truly awesome to behold.
Cave Hill was living up to its reputation...and then some!
A few notable examples follow:
The Tingley Fountain (Section E). This amazing tribute will be one of the first large memorials visitors who choose to follow the main road (designated by a solid white line) will encounter. Set back from the pavement and surrounded by lively plantings, the lifesize iron figure of a woman rises from a fountain supported by the nude figures of a young boy and girl. To be sure, the Tingley memorial is far from ordinary. The water that spills into its triple basins has its origin in the fingertips of the aforementioned woman whose outstretched arms suggest benediction or, for the more macabre among us, the attitude of a Hollywood zombie on the prowl. Beautiful...yes...but there is undoubtedly something eerie about her. As far as we're concerned, that just makes her more attractive! A bronze plaque affixed to the front of the fountain bears this inscription:
In Memory Of
THE BROTHERS TINGLEY
By Whom
This Fountain Was Bequeathed
For This Spot
Erected A.D. 1922
George H. Tingley -- Superintendent of William Tingley -- Himself a master
Louisville Public Schools 1863 - 1894. workman -- An inspiration to honest
A born leader and teacher of child- artificers -- Builder of wagons --
ren -- A fountain of living waters in Successful in business and in useful
the garden of youth. living.
Born Jan, 28, 1827. Died Dec. 26, 1906. Born March 16, 1828. Died Dec. 26, 1914.
THEY REST NEARBY IN THESE GROUNDS.
Unmarried both. "Lovely and pleasant in their lives,
In death they were not divided."
Thus far, our research has revealed only that the monument was the creation of William Tingley, who was wealthy enough to pay for the extravagance to honour his brother and himself. Beyond that, we are left to speculate about the shared death date (albeit eight years apart) of these brothers who clearly loved each other in a manner that reaches far beyond the scope of words.
The Gothic Chapel of James F. Irvin (Section P, Lot D) beckons visitors to regard it from all angles. Reportedly a replica of a mausoleum in Pere Lachaise, the Irvin "chapel" is also notable for its prominent placement in an elegant cul-de-sac. Mr. Irvin's fortune, by the way, was made as a riverboat captain. In addition to his wealth, he earned a special place at Cave Hill owing to his membership on the Board.
Charles W. Gheens Mausoleum (Section 33, Lot 16). With a fortune made in wholesale grocery and real estate, the Gheens had a gothic mausoleum constructed to house their mortal remains. The building features elegant turrets, a slender, domed cupola and some of the most handsome landscaping the proprietors of Bella Morte have ever had the privilege of seeing in a family plot.
Spotts Mausoleum (Section D. Lots 72 & 73). Commissioned by his wife (remembered only as "Mrs. Harry I. Spotts"), the marble monolith of the Spotts Mausoleum is truly one of the most striking memorials in all of Cave Hill. Spotts was a resident of Louisville and his employment was as a steamboat captain. Upon his death in 1866, his wife ordered the construction of a Moorish-style building to house his remains. With its three rounded front arches, graceful support columns, intricate crown work and commanding view of the nearby Satterwhite plot, the mausoleum (which stands on two lots) is a real attention-grabber. Wide stairs welcome visitors to draw close to the heavy doors and whisper a greeting to the captain and his family. This one is definitely worth a photograph or four!
Satterwhite Memorial a/k/a "The Temple of Love" (Section C). Easily the largest monument in Cave Hill, the scope of this memorial to one man's true love is utterly breathtaking. Preston Pope Satterwhite was a successful surgeon who, in his mid-40's was able to retire owing, in part, to his own wealth but mostly to the enormous fortune of his wife (Florence) whose former husband (a Standard Oil executive) died in an auto accident. The Satterwhites lived an extravagant lifestyle, spending the temperate part of the year in New York and the winter in Palm Beach. Sadly, Florence died in 1927, leaving Preston to face the remainder of his life alone. He purchased 26,343 sq. ft. of property in Section C (for a sum of $50,000--doubtless a fortune at the time) and commissioned architect Horace Trumbauer to design a fitting memorial to his love. In June of 1927 the tribute was unveiled. Modelled after the Temple of Love at Versailles, the domed structure takes its cue from the Roman Temple of Vesta.
While we could easily catalogue dozens more, we'll move from the older grave sites to a few contemporary winners:
Matthew Robert Falk & Kathryn Paige Torp. We're unsure of the section and surely the occupants of these graves were not millionaires or famous individuals, but clearly, they loved each other and, in turn, were loved by their families who erected a truly wonderful tribute in their honour. A bronze sculpture depicts Matthew holding Kathryn in an embrace which has her fully supported in his arms. A bronze plaque affixed to the monument's pedestal features lyrics from "Two Step (Folsom Field)" by the Dave Matthews Band:
Hey, my love
do you believe that
we might last a thousand years or more
if not for this,
Our flesh and blood
Celebrate we will
Because life is short but sweet for certain
We're climbing two by two
To be sure
These days continue
Things we cannot change
Two stones in front bear the following words:
Matthew Robert Falk
Beloved Son,
Brother and Friend
Nov. 16, 1981 ~ May 18, 2001
Kathryn Paige Torp
Boundless Potential That Inspired Us All
January 23, 1982 ~ May 18, 2001
The shared death date suggests an accident or other tragedy. We were truly touched by the memorial.
Jeptha Barnard "Barney" Bright IV (Section 29, Reserve). One of Cave Hill's most sensuous monuments was sculpted by the very man whose memory it honours. Barney Bright was a famous Louisville sculptor whose work is in evidence on graves throughout the newer parts of Cave Hill. For his own grave, Mr. Bright rendered himself in bronze, nude, and lying pelvis-to-buttocks with an exquisite unclothed woman who appears quite youthful next to the aged man in whose arms she rests, eyes lidded and content, paying no heed to whatever it is the sculptor beside her is indicating with his outstretched right hand. The woman is most-likely the "Gayle" referred to on the stone's base, though no dates are given for her. His wife? Probably. This bronze is tastefully erotic and disarmingly lovely!
What else to say about Cave Hill? Well, George Keats, brother to English Romantic poet John Keats, is buried in Section O, Lot 73. A rustic cross marks his grave and it is of some interest to note the designer, Jon Jeffery, went on to marry Keats' widowed mother. "The Kentucky Giant" (Jim Porter) is buried in Section F, Lot. 439. His stone indicates he was 7' 8" though Porter claimed to be 7' 9." His body is actually entombed in the old Harrington vault as his original mausoleum, like many others on the hillside, collapsed and had to be torn down in the late 1800's. The simple stone marker is nondescript and half-obscured by grass and earth. A cemetery map would be most useful if you're looking for this one. Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame is also interred at Cave Hill.
The number of remarkable bronze, marble and granite sculptures is truly too great to detail and, in any case, words are grossly inadequate at doing justice to the beauty of each. Cave Hill demands personal interaction in order to gain the full effect and we cannot stress strongly enough our feeling that travelling any distance to reach this very special place would not disappoint cemetery lovers. If you do visit, keep in mind the fact that Spring Grove (yet another spectacular Victorian burying ground) is hardly more than an hour distant.
{F}