Memorial Day

The view from the House of Memory in Oakwood's Confederate Cemetery.

This cemetery was started in 1869 to inter North Carolina's Confederate dead. 

 (see here).

Tiny park

Is this the smallest park in Raleigh?  Valle Henderson Park looks like a side yard for the house next door. It honors founder of the Oakwood Garden Club.

St Agnes

A vulture flies off the top of St Agnes hospital.  Founded in 1896 and abandoned in 1961, it was one of only two well equipped hospitals for African Americans between New Orleans and Washington DC. (See here) Boxer Jack Johnson was taken there after the car crash that took his life.

Out of Place?

Historic Oakwood is a neighborhood surrounding the Oakwood cemetery.  The homes are well preserved examples of early Raleigh.  And then there's this one.  How did it make it through the historical review process?

Dawn Redwood

The trunk of a dawn redwood.  A deciduous tree related to the coastal redwood and sequoia.  It was thought to be extinct until one was found in China in the 1940's.  (see here) And here's one in Raleigh!

Fierce protectors

In the Long family plot, two fierce relatives seem to be protecting Hester.

Stair steps

Times were hard for families in the old days.  This family plot had stair stepped headstones.  The first two only said "Infant."  The last, tallest one was for Emmie age 10 in 1866.

One last angel

This little angel bowl was sitting on a bench in front of a much bigger statue.  She was collecting treasures.

Angels

I found a lot of headstones, crosses and obelisks, but only a few angels in the Oakwood cemetery. I found this one twice.  It must have been a common choice at the time.

This one seemed a bit creepy.  She was stroking a disembodied face.

And this one was unbearably sorrowful.  Someone had left a string of shells around her neck.

Oakwood Cemetary

Oakwood cemetery began in 1869 on the outskirts of Raleigh, now a few blocks from the center of downtown.  It's a quiet peaceful place for a stroll.