Day 16 6/09

I was not happy this morning, when the fire alarm went off 5 minutes before my alarm was set to go off. I got up right away and couldn’t find my shoes or keys, so I said screw it rapped myself in my blanket and headed out the door. After I returned to my room I got ready, and finished packing before I met up with the group in Hart 206. Once we did a few blogs we headed out to our first destination, The Oakland Cemetery and Crematorium.

                We were faced with yet another scheduling issue. We planned to tour the crematory at 9, but had to postpone are time because there was a funeral. So to kill (haha) time we drove around the cemetery and would occasionally get out to look at some gravestones (During this time Krista managed to break Andor’s umbrella. Way to go). Looking at the graves we talked about the Iconography on them, many gravestones had different iconography that each meant something different.  We were told to choose one and research its meaning, I chose the urn with the cloth over it. I found that after the cross, the urn is one of the most commonly used cemetery monuments. Urn was taken from the Latin uro meaning “to burn”.  The design represents a funeral urn, it is thought to symbolize immortality. As I guessed, the cloth draped over the urn symbolically represent guarding of the ashes. Although others say the drape signifies the last partition between life and death.

Fence I painted at orientation

We were previously at the cemetery last summer when we did our community service. Look at those fences they look pretty good. So because of that I already knew a little bit about the cemetery. For example, I knew Uncle Sam and Russell Sage are buried there. However what I didn’t know was people would have picnics around the gravestones. Also I did not know that cremation was cheaper, and that people used to be crystalized into jewelry so family members could wear them.  Toby also talked about how cemeteries effect the environment. Chemicals from our body seep through the coffin and into the soil. This causes issues with the environment and affects the nutrients of the soil. We even stop at Russell Sage's Mausoleum, were Michael began to sing the Russell Sage Alma Mater.  

The

 

Crematory

Once the funeral was over we were able to go inside and walk around. The area where the service takes place (which is set up like a church) was darker, symbolizing death. However in the cremation room it was bright and lighter, this symbolized eternal life. Next we went up to the “waiting room”, this is where the family of the deceased watch family and friends arrive for the service. We then returned to Sage for lunch, before our meeting at 1 with the Historical Society.  

New article from 1/21/12926

Megaphone

At the Historical Society today we got a chance to review our artifact a little more. Everyone was given folders with information about their artifacts, sadly mine was empty. Lucky I had my phone (YAY technology) and was able to do research on there. Let me first explain my artifact before I mentioned what I found. My artifact is a megaphone bought from a boy’s magazine, The American Boy, it was a toy for little kids. On the megaphone was an advertisement for the company’s new homemade ice cream. I found a newspaper article from January 21, 1926. This article was advertising the new ice cream. The article read “Most Important Announcement ever made by an Ice Cream manufacturer”. After doing research I figured that my artifacts purpose was to advertise their ice cream. On the megaphone and the newspaper the company name, Wagars, is the biggest thing and the first thing you notice. What better way to advertise ice cream then on a toy for little boys. Before we left for Newburgh we had some time, so I did my blog. Krista, and I will be going down in Precious car so wish us luck. I am looking forward to being out of manning for a few days.