Cemeteries
abound with flowers, trees and plantings – all manner of living things with
which to remember those who have passed.
It is not unusual to come across a grave or two that is covered in ivy. In older cemeteries, especially Victorian
and Rural Garden cemeteries, ivy was a perpetual favorite, blanketing many
graves, both carved in stone and living plants. It has been said, "Ivy still mourns when others have
forgotten the dead."
Ivy
symbolizes many attributes. Among
them are friendship, affection, faithfulness, strength, and immortality. The Celts viewed ivy as an omen of
death and spiritual rebirth. The Druids associated ivy with strength and
determination. Ivy grows in twists and turns, providing a strong, durable bond
to all that it touches. In the Christian religion, ivy is a symbol of Christmas
and rebirth.
The
ivy plant is native to Europe and grows naturally in cemeteries throughout
England. Although a pretty vine,
ivy has a reputation of causing harm to gravestones, brick walls, and
trees.
Recent
studies conducted in Europe indicated that the climbing roots of the ivy did
not damage solidly mortared walls.
Research also showed that ivy actually protected walls and cemetery
stones from further damage caused by the effects of weathering, drastic
temperature changes and pollution.
In
the U.S., problems have proven to be more significant since ivy does not have
any natural enemies to control its growth.
American trees are overwhelmed by ivy and die due to disease
or aggressive ivy growth.
We
Americans transplanted ivy to our cemeteries during the Victorian age as
symbols of immortality.
In many
cases the ivy has proven to be very durable by taking over tombstones and
graveyards.
Cemetery
restoration groups will leave an ivy vine as part of the original planting, as
they work to maintain the status of the burial grounds and the tomb
stones. But cemeteries throughout
the country have implemented management control procedures to deal with ivy and
it’s potential damaging effects on monuments and stones. Many will no longer allow ivy to be
planted.
As intended by those who originally planted it, ivy lends a shot of color onto the otherwise dark and drab winter
cemetery grounds, and gives us hope for renewal and immorality.
In
1836, Charles Dickens wrote a poem that appeared in his novel Pickwick
Papers about the ivy:
Ivy
Green
Oh,
a dainty plant is the Ivy green,
That
creepeth o'er ruins old!
Of
right choice food are his meals, I ween,
In
his cell so lone and cold.
The
wall must be crumbled, the stone decayed,
To
pleasure his dainty whim:
And
the mouldering dust that years have made
Is
a merry meal for him.
Creeping
where no life is seen,
A
rare old plant is the Ivy green.
Fast
he stealeth on, though he wears no wings,
And
a staunch old heart has he.
How
closely he twineth, how tight he clings
To
his friend the huge Oak Tree!
And
slyly he traileth along the ground,
And
his leaves he gently waves,
As
he joyously hugs and crawleth round
The
rich mould of dead men's graves.
Creeping
where grim death hath been,
A
rare old plant is the Ivy green.
Whole
ages have fled and their works decayed,
And
nations have scattered been;
But
the stout old Ivy shall never fade,
From
its hale and hearty green.
The
brave old plant, in its lonely days,
Shall
fatten upon the past:
For
the stateliest building man can raise
Is
the Ivy's food at last.
Creeping
on where time has been,
A
rare old plant is the Ivy green.
~
Charles Dickens
~ Joy
The
eastern section of the cemetery contains newer graves; the western section is
where you will find the older monuments and statues. This is the section that still maintains the look of the
Lawn Park cemetery from the 19th century.
The
Danville Cemetery had a name change in 1897 and became Bellevue Cemetery The
City of Danville took over management of the cemetery in 1931.
Bellevue
is also the site of a National Cemetery.
At the start of the Civil War, the federal government set aside 18
cemetery lots in the Danville City Cemetery. Made up of less than half an acre, the section was laid out
in a rectangle with all four corners marked with U.S. corner posts. 
A
total of 394 Union soldiers were buried here, most of them had died at Civil
War hospitals scattered throughout Danville. A Confederate lot set up just east of the National Cemetery
has 66 interments. In 1868,
the Danville National Cemetery was established. Burials continued in the National Cemetery until 1952. In
1998 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Although
finding information on Bellevue Cemetery is somewhat difficult, the cemetery
itself is a treasure. Plan on
spending an afternoon wandering among the older stones and mature trees of this
gorgeous old Civil War era cemetery. The statues and stones are outstanding!
