Jessica: Congratulations on writing this very interesting and fascinating article about a piece of history that I am sure countless people including those who live in Brooklyn and Queens amongst these cemeteries don't know. I was amongst this group until I read your story about the 1847 Rural Cemetery Act. As a child, I regularly looked out the window of my parents' car as they drove by many of these cemeteries. To the best of my knowledge, I am the great and great-great grandchild of some of those current underground residents of the grounds where you wish to run. I cannot speak for them, but I know they were generous of spirit and it is quite possible that they might enjoy it if runners full of life like yourself sprinted around them. Given the crowding that ultimately ensued in those boroughs, I wonder if local government, and people, in the 1800s and early 1900s might have made different burial choices if they knew about the future scarcity of land for the living?
How fascinating and wonderful to be connected to the city's history like that!
I would need to do more research before answering confidently, but I think these restrictions are thoroughly modern? My rough understanding is that cemeteries used to be treated more like parks and people would come and visit and even picnic in them. I would need to double check to be sure. (Briefly, Green-Wood Cemetery says on its about page: "By the early 1860s, it had earned an international reputation for its magnificent beauty and became the prestigious place to be buried, attracting 500,000 visitors a year, second only to Niagara Falls as the nation’s greatest tourist attraction. Crowds flocked there to enjoy family outings, carriage rides, and sculpture viewing in the finest of first generation American landscapes. Green-Wood’s popularity helped inspire the creation of public parks, including New York City’s Central and Prospect Parks.")
So, obviously, all of this predated the fad/fashion of running in spandex, versus walking in normal clothes, for exercise, so it's hardly an apples to apples comparison. But I'm not sure the people who founded the cemeteries every would have expected them to get closed off or restricted for exercise like they have been?? But they also couldn't have predicted that jogging would become the fad it is now. It is so fascinating to think about.
I do want to take some time to visit these cemeteries on foot, at a sedate, respectful pace (walking), sometime soon.
Great and enlightening interview about mining and the need for certain metals. I love that he talks about improving Bike/ped infrastructure and public transportation. Living in or near densely populated cities makes it possible to limit automobile use and share resources.
Thank you!! Yes, absolutely, Vince was great to read and to talk to. Having grown up on a dirt road outside of a small town, I understand that cars are not going to go extinct, but I also live in NYC now and get by fine without a car. I wish people weren't so allergic to the idea of making is easier, safer, and more accessible/affordable to do without!
Jessica: Congratulations on writing this very interesting and fascinating article about a piece of history that I am sure countless people including those who live in Brooklyn and Queens amongst these cemeteries don't know. I was amongst this group until I read your story about the 1847 Rural Cemetery Act. As a child, I regularly looked out the window of my parents' car as they drove by many of these cemeteries. To the best of my knowledge, I am the great and great-great grandchild of some of those current underground residents of the grounds where you wish to run. I cannot speak for them, but I know they were generous of spirit and it is quite possible that they might enjoy it if runners full of life like yourself sprinted around them. Given the crowding that ultimately ensued in those boroughs, I wonder if local government, and people, in the 1800s and early 1900s might have made different burial choices if they knew about the future scarcity of land for the living?
How fascinating and wonderful to be connected to the city's history like that!
I would need to do more research before answering confidently, but I think these restrictions are thoroughly modern? My rough understanding is that cemeteries used to be treated more like parks and people would come and visit and even picnic in them. I would need to double check to be sure. (Briefly, Green-Wood Cemetery says on its about page: "By the early 1860s, it had earned an international reputation for its magnificent beauty and became the prestigious place to be buried, attracting 500,000 visitors a year, second only to Niagara Falls as the nation’s greatest tourist attraction. Crowds flocked there to enjoy family outings, carriage rides, and sculpture viewing in the finest of first generation American landscapes. Green-Wood’s popularity helped inspire the creation of public parks, including New York City’s Central and Prospect Parks.")
So, obviously, all of this predated the fad/fashion of running in spandex, versus walking in normal clothes, for exercise, so it's hardly an apples to apples comparison. But I'm not sure the people who founded the cemeteries every would have expected them to get closed off or restricted for exercise like they have been?? But they also couldn't have predicted that jogging would become the fad it is now. It is so fascinating to think about.
I do want to take some time to visit these cemeteries on foot, at a sedate, respectful pace (walking), sometime soon.
Great and enlightening interview about mining and the need for certain metals. I love that he talks about improving Bike/ped infrastructure and public transportation. Living in or near densely populated cities makes it possible to limit automobile use and share resources.
Thank you!! Yes, absolutely, Vince was great to read and to talk to. Having grown up on a dirt road outside of a small town, I understand that cars are not going to go extinct, but I also live in NYC now and get by fine without a car. I wish people weren't so allergic to the idea of making is easier, safer, and more accessible/affordable to do without!