Since 1871

Oak Hill Cemetery was Birmingham's first city cemetery.  Most of the city's pioneers are buried here. The record of burials is still intact since that time and is a fascinating read. If you are lucky enough to run into the cemetery's director, Stuart Oates, you might get to thumb through it.

Angel

Oak Hill Cemetery is Birmingham's oldest city resting place, since 1873.  I never tire of having a walk around and photographing it.

Verdigris

These beautiful doors grace this mausoleum in Birmingham's oldest cemetery, historic Oak Hill.

Perched

Oak Hill Cemetery

1120 North 19th Street

Birmingham AL

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Behind Her

Last month I made another tour of Oak Hill Cemetery with my Cincinnati  taphophile friends Mary Gilbert and Phil Nuxhall.  We were led by Oak Hill's director and head taphophile, Stuart Oates.  While they ooohed and aaahed over headstones etc. I wandered off, as I'm known to do, and found some new and interesting photos that I'd not previously shot. As I walked behind this oft photographed lady, I discovered the most marvelous folds of her hair and cape.

Today of course I must join Julie's   Taphophile Tuesday .

Taphophiles Doing What They Do

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking some Cincinnati friends around Birmingham.  Mary Gilbert, a docent at Spring Grove Cemetery  and Phil Nuxhall, Spring Grove's historian couldn't wait to get to Oak Hill Cemetery and meet director Stuart Oates. Well,  I followed them around for a while then I just wandered off and shot photos while they had a grand ole time.  This is what they looked like for most of the morning!

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Face It

Oak Hill Cemetery

Spring makes even a cemetery seem a happier place!

Spring...

dresses up everything, don't you think?  Even historic Oak Hill Cemetery seems happier!

The Interment Ledger - Oak Hill Cemetery

I've posted numerous photos from Birmingham's first public cemetery, Oak Hill.  Located just across from the BJCC to the north, this cemetery is a like reading the who's who of Birmingham's founding fathers.  Director Stuart Oates gives a marvelous tour and always begins it in the tiny chapel that now houses his office.  The Interment Ledger is always of great interest.  The record of each and every person buried here is recorded in beautiful handwriting of days gone by.  He always points out the cause of death column.  Fever, bronchitis, pneumonia and of course the deadly cholera epidemic  ( 1872) that devastated this city are often mentioned.

I often take my photography students here as many of the monuments are still quite beautiful, and we of course,  look forward to Stuart's commentary.

The Rose

Several of my photography students joined me at Birmingham's Oak Hill Cemetery recently.  We found this rose that had been left on the gate of a mausoleum.  You didn't think I could pass that up did you?

An Evening at Oak Hill

Stuart has some great volunteers that don period costumes. I liked this lady vanishing off down the lane.


Thursday evening I carefully packed the camera, the 300 mm lens, the @%$# tripod etc. for a much anticipated evening at Oak Hill Cemetery for  the "Shoot the Moon" event. Historian Stuart Oates planned this great event.  Oak Hill is Birmingham's oldest city cemetery and overlooks downtown Birmingham. I've been several times but not at night.  I had former students and photography friends meeting me there,  and I was very excited.  Daughter Melissa and Eva tagged along and we got there around 5:30 so I could find the best spot.  I got this shot and then............"replace battery pack".  I had just changed it yesterday but ......well......sometimes that happens.  I didn't get any moon shots, but I had a great time scoping out good views and angles for my friends. (it fulfilled my need to be bossy).  I'm hoping some of them will share their work and be my guest photographers.  Lesson learned for the teacher.

Such Old Steps

Birmingham's Oak Hill Cemetery

The Wreath

Oak Hill Cemetery

Springtime at Oak Hill

I recently returned to Birmingham's Oak Hill Cemetery with my granddaughter's Brownie Troop. One of the dads, Stuart Oates, is the curator and gave us a wonderful walking tour of the grounds. Deeded in 1873, it was the first city cemetery and the resting place for many of Birmingham's founding fathers and their families. Today a cherub that I thought quite beautiful. It was a glorious spring day and the wildflowers covered the lawn as seen in the photo below.

New Old Friends

A trip back to Oak Hill Cemetery.  This time I am showing my friend Mary (from Cincinnati, OH) around town. We met on Virtual Tourist last winter.  What brought us together? Our mutual love of Paris.  We met in person Monday night when she flew in to spend a day or so  with me in anticipation of  my upcoming trip to Paris.  We did a whirlwind tour of Birmingham today. We took a long walk on my favorite walking trail, had barbeque at the Golden Rule in Irondale, shopped at the Pepper Place and made a special stop at Oak Hill Cemetery. She  just had  to see it.  I took this photo of these beautiful doors while we were there.  We finished the day off with not one but three stops for drinks, dinner and dessert  at some of my favorite places. What a grand time we have had together!

The Tune du Jour is " La Vie en Rose " by Patrick Cascino

PARIS COUNTDOWN.... 4 DAYS!

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Silent Steps

Two offerings.  For once, not a lot of chat.....just enjoy!

Top photo: Oak Hill Cemetary

Bottom photo: Birmingham Museum of Art

The Tune du Jour is "Consolation" by Michael Dulin

PARIS COUNTDOWN..... at last one digit .....9 DAYS!!!!

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Remembering

My friend Mary insists that when in Paris, we must visit one of the cemeteries.  I have been dragging my feet,  but went ahead and put it on the short list, which is getting longer by the day!  I still was feeling a little uneasy about the idea , so I asked my photography buddy Bill, to go with me to Birmingham's oldest city cemetery, Oak Hill.  From the smaller photo you can see that it sits on a hill overlooking downtown Birmingham.  Established in 1873 it is the city's first and oldest cemetery.  Most of Birmingham's founding fathers and their families are buried here.  While walking around we discovered many gravesites of Civil War soldiers, in fact most of the burials here precede the 1930's.  I enjoyed photographing  some of the very interesting details on many of the markers.  Here is just a sample.  I think I am ready for the cemetery in Montmartre now. Remembering......

The Tune du Jour is  Bach's "Air" played by Klazz Brothers & Cuba Percussion

PARIS COUNTDOWN...25 DAYS

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