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History of Mount Hope:
Mount Hope Cemetery is a historic site on Rochester's portion of the Genesee Riverway Trail. Beauty of this site contained magnificent 196 acres of lofty hills and picturesque valley created by glaciers and transformed into a beautiful historic cemetery. Cemetery itself contains over 350,000 gravestones.
Mount Hope Cemetery is founded in October 2,1838 and is the United State first municipal rural cemetery. When people start planning of Mount Hope Cemetery, it came at a time when many northeastern cities were developing rural cemeteries. In 1832 there was cholera epidemic due to unpolluted water and killed over hundred of people when people was planning Mount Hope Cemetery. It alerted people that soil and water may be the problem. They city of Rochester gave it up to experts to examine the site to make sure it was not polluted. It was then approved to the city and assured it was safe place for cemetery.
Dr. Sarah R. Adamson Dolley 1829-1909
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Dr. Sarah Dolley was known as the second woman in United States to receive a medical degree. It is a huge impression for woman in 1850s period. She worked as a physician to improve the life of women. She was also known as being in women organization such as women's right movement. There was a report that she written a letter to women's rights activist stating "May your labors be prospered, that the women of our country may
have a sphere rather than a hemisphere!" (Quote from her letter) She became close friend with Susan Anthony while involving in women's right movements. She died at her home in Rochester, New York on December 27, 1909 at the age of 80.
Full information about Dr. Sarah Dolley
Description of Gravestone
Dr. Sarah Dolley joined her husband in Mount Hope Cemetery in the family plot. On the front of gravestone are her name and on the back there is information about dates of her death and age. Top of Sarah Dolley's gravestone has two branches and left branch is in bloom of small fruits and foliage, the right branch is withered with acorns. The symbolism is in agreement with core beliefs and values. The fruits and foliage symbolized as people blooms, aging, withering, and death. It is a cycle that she respected as a doctor and demonstrated her mortality. As for acorn demonstrated something great from big oak tree come with something small. Sarah Dolley was a small acorn on the ground that helped the progression of women in medicine to take root and grow. She was trained to appreciate the natural healing powers of herbal remedies and is very respectful to nature. Information related to gravestone
Deterioration of Gravestone
Dr. Sarah Dolley's gravestone is made of marble. Most of gravestones in United States in the 19th century were made of marble. Only few years old tends to be very smooth with pearly luster. This gravestone is century old and lost their luster and become quite gritty. Acid rain is the main enemy of deterioration of marble. However, the physical weathering such as acid rain was not present. The foundation and the overall craftsmanship of gravestone seems to be in a good condition. As for biological effect, there seems to be lichen present on gravestone. Lichen is a fungus organism. It shows the regular supply of moisture to a surface of gravestone. The white mark on gravestone indicates when salt crystallizes on the surface.Gravestone weathering
Preservation of Gravestone
Over time Sarah Dolley's gravestone has been worn down and starting to deteriorate. There was an additional preservation to Sarah Dolley by adding granite base under Sarah Dolley. It help her gravestone to stand still and not sway. Assuming it was swaying or not straight up so it was decided to add granite base. Overall Sarah Dolley's gravestone is in a good condition and should be respected by many people that she made impact to women in medicine field.
Source of Information
Full information about Dr. Sarah Dolley
spookymthope2009.jpgInformation related to gravestone
Friends of Mt. Hope :: Home. LogicalSolutions, 2009. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. <http://www.fomh.org/>.