LEIGHTON BRIDGE & IRONWORKS

/~v li(v Carhar1

Jfyou walk deep into Mt. Hope Cc1rete1y m\CI find yoursclf\viuldcring u1> Glen Avenue, you \Viii reach a crossroad'\ nl \Vhich you arc confronted by a lru·ge, ornately docoratcd gravestone, grandly sitting high above you on \Vhat is called Patriots' Hill. You have reached Section B. Lot 10. The substantial, rounded. gravestone is oonsidcrubly huger and clearly 1norc pro1nincnl than any of the nearby grave.sites. Looking closer, you \viii see that the large stone, 'vith an i1nposing cross on its face. is the gravc1narkcr of 1l10111as nnd Kntc Uighton nnd is surrounded by seven s1nallcr rectangular 1narkcrs designating 1nc1nbers of thi.'i fii1nily.

J877 la11;cc-1r11ss bridge nlt>I' CnnnecHc111 flfl <!t; Sprlngfidd, Ma.<.<ad111.<ctt.<, /)111/1 bytltc

lclg/11011 Bridge & ' "'" m,,'ks. Tiie Vi11cer11 Pla<X! Bridge, built by 1/te lcigluon

Bridge & Iron fJ0r!..-..

I,., • , ''11' ' • .. '1 t, ... ' •

' . - -...

During the 1860.< and I 87o.<, Thomas Leighton \vas an cxtrc111cly prontincnt contruclor und bridge builder, \Vho tbundcd and O\VllCd Leighton Bridge and Iron Works and built over 100 bridge-< ~lroughout ~"' countiy, including 1nany around Rochester, though no 1lC ofth~c survive. He \Va'i active in the con1111unily usu 1ncn1bcr of board" und co1n1niuee.s. Leiglllon's pro1ninencc in the city gives U.'i infonnation about hi'i social and professional life, 'vhile the gravestone gives u.'\ furlher insight into his fainity.

On Febrwuy 2, 1886, Thomt« Leighton, the pro1nincnt intcnlational bridge buikkr dial,

after being '\veakened by the continued inroad'\ of di~se··. especially asth1na and

recur ring bout'i of nlalaria. He \Vas bo1n on

Mnrch 8, 1818 in i\ugusu1. Mnine and rc1nained there to receive hi.'\ educi\lion. A.o:. a )'Oung boy, he \Vas apprenticed to a caq>enter, fro1n ,vho1n he lean1ed the fund:unentalo:. of

bridge building. Not 1nuch is kilO\\l:l about hi'i life unlil he 1noved to Rochesler, Nc\V York in 1854. Ho\vever, \Ve do kt10\v that be spent ti1nc. 1mst likety in the earty 185<8. in Pan:.una \VOrking on the Pmuuna Railroad, building railroad bridges. In 1854,Leighton 1noved to Rochester \ViLh his \Vife Kate. and according to the 1859 CityDin<:t(!l:v, the couple settled at 19 Main Street.

BcL\veen 1854, \Vhcn Lhe LcighlOlli 1noved to Rochester, and 1866, Thonit\'i und Kate had fOur children­Tonuny, Fred, Onvid. nnd William- the first three of 'vho1n died in 1864from dysentery. According to the City Dlt'CCIOIJ',

Thoma> Leighton, and his associate John Fowler wo1·kcd at the co1uer of Main S trcct and St. Paul Stree~ while he still 1naintained his other prope11y on rv1ain Street. In 1868, however, the Leighto1t'i 111oved fartltcr ck>\Vll Main Street to No. 202.

In 1869 Leighton bought propc11y on Nortl1 Clinton Avenue, and he and his famity 1noved in the next ycur und rc1nttincd there until 1876, \vhen he bought prope1ty on F.ast Avenue \Vhere his fa1nily re1nained until Kate's death. In the 1870s, East Avenue wus beco1ning tl1e n1ost prestigiou.'i residential area. and l101nc to 1m re succes..<;ful ai1d ntllucnl residents.

By 1876, Lcighton 1'1d built hi< b1idgc­building co1npm1y inlo a thriving bu.'iincss, and he and his family had become quite wealthy. Despite the depression in the 1870s, Tho1nas Leighton built m1 additton lo hi.'i nei.vly acquired 1natt.'iion, \Vhich tnade it the largest ni.11t'iion on the avenue in IR76. In addition to his busines..'i interesL'i, Leighton also se1ved a.'i president of City Bank of Rochester around 1876.

When Tl101nas Leighton fi rst arrived in Rochester in 1854, he wa> not yet the protninent and \Vealthy bridge builder \Vho could build the L1rgest 1nansion on East Avenue. Upon hi.Ii arrival, he pai1ncred \Vilh a tnan natned John Fo\vler and created a bridgo-building company that mo<tly made \VOOdcn bridges. The shop \Vas originally located on tlle co1uer of Main Street and South St. Paul Street.

The Exdtange Sired Su1ing Britlge ovtr lite Erie Canal, Rncltes1er, /\1"-"V Yor~ bui/1 ~v 1/te

lcig/tton Bridge Iron Hf)lks.

In 1868, after Fowler 1'1d died, Leighton cstabli.'ihed hi.'i O\Vll independent co1npany that 'vent on to be far 1nore successful than the one he shared \Vilh fo\vlcr. It \Vas at thi'i ti111e that Leighton sta11ed building iron bridges. The 1870s \Va.'i a ti1ne of explosive gro,vth of railroads aero.~" lhe country. 1l1e railroad co1npanics needed contractors to build track.'i and b1idges so they could b1ing trai1l.'i to eve1y pan of the country. It 1vi" the beginning of an An'V:rican itxlu.'itrial revolution, \vhich gave Leighton the oppo1tunity to obtain a large nu1nbcr of conlructs for bridges artd Olher iron \vorks to j u1npst:a11 hi'i cotnpany.

By 1874, Leighton Bridge & Iron v.b1·ks was a large and protninent iron \Vorks cotnpany in NC\v York. The \Vork.'i \Va.'i located on \Vhat

2

bccaine kilO\Vll a.'i Leighton Avenue. near Good1nan Suect, nnd \Vtts one of lhe lnrgcst iron \Vorks in the counby at tl1e titne. In fac t, in Nove1nber 1874, the Rndte.wer Un;onand Atlvi.vor publl>hcd an tuticlc about the accotnpli.<ihn:ent'i of Leighton Bridge &. Iron Works. According 10 the a11tclc. the \VOrks \Vas set up along.'iidc the fre ight yard of the New York Central Rail Road Company, and four track.Ii ran through the \VOl'k.'iho1> it'ielf, in order lo 1nake tran.'iportation of 1natcrial 1nore

convenient.

1llC building \Vas very large, ai1d over 300 employees were employed there. The ground floor held the iron while the dcsigll< \Vere developt'd on the upper levels of the building. Leighton \Va.'i ktlO\Vn for hi'i efficiency and use of quality 1nate1ials. TllC a11icle rcpo11ed that Leighton i.'i ,;lite

leading bridge builder of this country, and by his skill in the introduction of labor­saving 1nachi1lC1y, a1Tange1nent of hi'i sl1011,., he has nude

iron bridges J llCCCS..'iity through tllCir cheapnes .. 'i and durability''.

At tl1e ti1ne the a11icle \Va.'i \Vti tten, tl lC co1npany \Val \Vorking on 15 b1idges. He built 128 bridges for New Yo1·k Central alone, in addition to tr.any otllCr btidges for otl1er railroad<;. So~ of the fa1mu.'i b1idgcs he built include: 11ic bridge across tlic Hud>0n River from tl1e New York Central depot at Alban,

EPITAPH P1J1/i.\lr.l qiu111rrly by Jiu· Frirml.\' u/ ltfmm1 111,w c ... lt(lf'JV, Ro :l1t.\lf'I: Nt>ll' )h•k 146'XJ.

l l IWlf)l't)jll 1Jt•'llllh'1' Ul'Jl-l lll:.t1llQll/Uwrlttl l11 JWJJ. @201JThefriends of

Mount Hope Cemet.-y llid 1std O. Rei~ 111, Edi kif

l'.>an Ml31CA\!Y.'!ll.I. An l)lf\..~l(lif Lucl ll1• Malc.A1Y.~I . &lkotial Assl.stsnl

Baika1u1u:tl 11~1nbcri:i ip is $10 Call C'IU)461·)494 fo,r 11!i t1 Pfl'li11et ~li~lirni.

S-._v <Mir <.'(1l0tr\1l l t\.I lnl<wm:ulv\1 \\\Jb.Si'-1 ' W)\W !£!!).!! AC!'

the l'\vo bridges over the Connecticut River at Springfield, Ma.,~achuscus1 the Vincent Place Bridge, the Allen Sb·eet Bridge, ~"' Exchange Street swing bridge, and the Red<tone Bridge aero~ the Minneoot.a River, buih i 1~ 1880. The Red<tone Btidge, w1like the others, i< still standing today and i< one of the oldest bridges i n rv1i nne.so ta.

In IR81, Tho1na.~ Uighton \Vas forced 10 retire tbr heahh reason.'i, and he rented oul, and

eventually sold hi.ti property on Leighton Avenue to John F. Alden, \Vho had previou.'ity worked for Leighton. '!he Leighton Bridge & Iron Works Co1npany eventually developed into the Rochester Bridge& Iron Works Company by 1887, shottly after Thomas Leighton had died. Leighton had bcco1ne a well-known and respected bridge builder by the ti1ne ofhi." dcuth in 1886, ands:> he received a long obituaty in the Roches/er Un;on and Advi~or as \Veil as a relatively sho11 obitwwy in the /\'cu' Yoi* 11111<!!:.

Unlike her hlL'iband \Vho died qu~~tly in bed, Kate B. Leighton died 13 years Inter from ittjuries sustaitled after being accidentally thro\vn fro1n a ca1Tiagc. lnit~1lly it \Vas thought s he was only bmi<cd and shocked but then she fell into w1consciou.1iness and pa'iscd a\vay. It \Vas discovered lhat slle

suffered fro1n \Vhat \Vas called "innmn1nation of the brain cau.'ied by effusion of blood". Today, we would say there \Vas internal bleeding in her brain. According to her obilutU'y, Kate \Vas bo111 Kate Taylor in Owego, New York. She 1narricd Leighton around I RS6 and a1Tivcd in Rochester tU'ound the s.rune thnc.

Tho1nas nnd Kate had hvo chiklrcn that su1vivcd lhe1n, Willia1n T. Leighton and

1880 flctl'1011c Brldgcllet'OSS tltc 1\1inneso1a River, b1d/1 l~y lhe Leigh1on

Bridge & Iron flf>rks.

Helene (or Helena) T. uighton. They continued living in Brighton. Ne'v York, a contiguous suburb ofRcx::hcsler, aHer their parents died. William died in 1918 of pulmonary tuberculosis, and by 1920 Helene had 111oved to Santa Barbara, California. Neitller Hele1le nor Willia1n ever 1narricd. When living in California, Helene lived with Anne W. Booth. She most likely \Vas renting a roo1n in Booth's house. Helene then died in 1934 also of tuberculosis, and her ashes \Vere sent back to Rocllestcr and buried in rvlount Hope.

While they \Vere alive and living in Rochester, Willimn \Vas a civil cngi1lecr and Hclc1le

3

rc1naincd une1nploycd. 'Tlley \Vere 1no.'it likcty left a substantial inherilt\ncc fro1n their parent'i, since their father \Va'i quite \Vealthy \Vllen he died. We can sec evidence ofthi.'i in William and Helene's travel experience. They each applied for pa~port'i 1nultiple titnes, and tlley arc recorded returning 10 the count1y 1nany li1ncs fi'o1n places such ns LiveqX>OI, England and France . . .\s tnentioned. neither sibling n1a1T£d nor had any chiklren to continue the fi11nily line.

In the Leighton fmnily plot, there nre a tot.al of eight stones~ the large stone prontinently noting the firnily nnn1e1 nnd seven sn1aller stone,!\ one fbr each 1ne1nbcr of the tU1nily. The dates for Tho1na'i and Kate are prominently di<playcd on the large rounded stone. 1llC dates tbr To1n1ny, Fred, David, Willia in and Hele1le are on tlleir individual, rcctungulur s.ones, ll i.~ intcrcsling to note lhtH tile i1t'i.Cription fOr Tho1nas and Kate on tile larger sto1le faces oul'\vard, \Vhile tile in.i;criplions rbr the chiklrcn fncc up,vnrd", to\vard'i ~1e sky.

The~ s1nalkr individual stones arc very si111ple, \vith no itnages or sytnbol~ only tile nainC'i, as \Veil a'i bi11h and death dates for tile

children. \Vhich are the folknving:

Tommy: September 9, 1857-September 3, 1864

Fred: December 20, 1858· Scptcm'>er 3, 18<>4 David: November 26, 18<>2· Sep:ember 8,

18(>4 WilliamT.: September 10, 1865· August 13,

1918 Helene T.: Janumy 12, 1869· Fct ruary 18,

1934

The stones arc elegant und cleanly cut 'vith rough sides.. All seven are equally sized, yet Kate's and Tho1nas' nan1es are large on their stones. in order to fill up the ~>ace left becall.'iC their bii1h and death dates are on the large stone. Perhaps this \Vas 1nerely the style tH the li1nc1 or pel'hnps it \Vas a stnt\'.n1enL thaL as individual'i, \Ve are all the sa1ne in death as \Ve face our 1naker. even though the fainily 1\tune 1nay be i1nportanl in this \VOrld.

In contrast \Vith the si1nplicity of the individual stOllCS, the 1ntt.'\sive Leighton f3 tnily gravestone includes a large :tutnber of syinbol'i that tell ll'i so1ncthing about the spiritUill bclicts of the family.

The i1t~ri1) tion for 1l1on1a.'i Lei gluon is t1irly straiglutbl'\vard. It reads:

THOMAS LEIGHTON MAR. 8. 1818 FEB. 2. 1886

The.se dales 1natch the intOnnalion Lhal is recorded in the intennent record'i fro1n rv11. Hope Ccmctc1y. According to thcst record<, Thrnnas died at the age of 67 and '"a'i buried on Feb1ua1y4. 1886. Unlike 1l101ru.o;. Kate's i!l<eription i< vc1y odd because the dates do not 1nake clear sense. Kate's itl.'ieription read'i:

KATE B. LEIGHTON DEC. 23. 1899 AUG. 9. 1899

Kate's date of death ootTelates \Vith the intennent reoordo; fro1n rYh. Hope. while it i.o; likely that the bitth date i< the result of an etTor tnade by the carver. Kate's yeai· of birth is .so1nc,vha1 a1nbigUOll'i. According 10 the intenncnl record'\, Kate \Vas 59 yea·s okl 'vlien she died in 1899. 1l1i.o; 'voukl place lier year ofbi11h around 1839. If this were the ca'ie, Kale \Va'i 22 yeru'S younger LllJn her husband 1l101nao;, and .so 1nanied al the age of

14 or 16 (there are conflic ting account-; of yc:.u of 1narriuge), \Vith her first child bo1n \Vllen Kate \Vas 17. Tile ce1t'ius record'i fro1n 1860 confinn that she \Vas bon1 around 1839 nnd tlutl she \Vas npproxi1natcly 22 yenrs yow1ger than Thotna'i, \Vl10 \Vas bo111 in 1818. Overall, it secni.o; 1n o.<it likely that the carver of the stone accidentally carved a nine in place of the three, thus i1x:o1Tectly stating her bi11h yc.1r as 1899 instc.1dof l839.

Unlike the ambiguity of Kate's ill<eription, the in1agcry and syn1boli.'in1 in the design oft he la1ge sto1le i.'\ cJeru· and collesive. 11te lru·gcst aild 1110st obviou.o; syinbol on the stone is the 1nas..'iivc. \Vell~m1iculutcd. tilted cro..~s \Vhich sit'i in Lile center of Lile slOlle. 11te cross leall'i over the i1l.'ieriptions. ao; if it is pointing to then\ or rcsling on the111. This 11111y IYtvc been dotle out of convenience or a'i a 111cthod to e1nphasize the i1ldividual naines. \Vhich are carved in a s1nall font. In addition, there i.'\ no \vay to 1ni.'is tile bold lettering of the nanie "LEIGHTON'' \Vritten across the cro.o;s. 1l1i.o; is the first thing LO \Vhich the eye i.'i dnnvn, tltll.'i e1nphasizing tlmt tile natne is tile 1nost i1npo11ant elc1ncnt of the stone. Therefore the 1oosl i1nportanl po11ion of the stone is the fainily naineand the deceai;.ed'i' co111iection to Christ or to God. If you look more clo.<cly at Lile nanlC you can see that tile Jeucrs tlie1nselves appeai· to beco1l.'illucted of tl1ick, solid branches, 'vhich cn1phasi1.cs the 1netaphor of"people as plants", \Vhich I \Viii di.'iCllSS later. The tilt of the cross i.o; iti;.elf a fu11her reference 10 Chri.'it. 1l1e Cl'O.li..'i is oflcn vie,vcd a'i a sy1nbol tOr Lile c1ucifixion. 11ti.'i 1nay ve1y 'veil be tliecase in thi.o; s to1ie. Ho,vever. the cl'O..li..'\ is also very oflcn u sy111bol fOr tile "co1tjunction of oppo.'iites", such a'i life aild death, a1ld it therefore often syinboli:zes a con nee lion bet \VCCn henvcn und c:.111h. Mnny of tile sy1nbol'i on Lhi.'i stone lmve a connection \Vilh i1n1no11ality. reswTection. or the lrtttl.'iiLion fro1n thi.'i life to the next. In acklition, in 1mny depictiotl.'i of Cluist canying the cross. the cro.'\..o; it.o;.elfi.o; tilted over hi< back. 111c cro.<.< is also ot\cn depicted as being tilted when Ch1i st is being taken off the cro.o;s before he \Vas resu1Tectcd. Perhap,o; the tilled cross on this stone is rctCre1x:ing Lhi.'\ and indicating tl1at tl>e people buried here will be resu1Tcctcd like Chri<t.

1lie en1phasis on tlieir religion, or on Christianiry, i.'i al'i-0 seen in other syn1bol~ and desigll'i Oil Lile SlOlle. 1lle lleXl 1mst notable pattenl.'i or de.sigtl.'i are tlie clovers that are

5

depicted ove; the entire su1face of the stone. The three pct!l< of a clover arc symbolic of tile Holy Trinity. In nature, clovers gro\V in large quantities and therefore. have alo;o been known to be a symbol of vit1lity. The clovers are very abu1Klant on tl1is stone as if tliey are t1ying 10 e1npha.<iizc their devotion or respect tbr the I loly Trinity. 11tcsc tk)\vers, or ~aves, could a Lem be ivy. Ivy, si1n ilai· to clover, is a sy1nbol of the Trinity bccnll'ie ofit'i three points. In addition, clinging ivy i.'i a .sy1nbol of inunortality because it is gi·een througl10ut eve1y set\Wn It alw syn1bolizcs auachn1en1 and fidelity. 111cretOre1 ivy al'io fits Lile religiou.o; co11ext of tl1is stone. The leaves see1n 1norc like clovers thnn ivy to inc beetn1'ie of Llleir shape. So1ne of Lllesc clovet'S fiicc up to,vards the sky. or to,vards heaven, \Vhile others curl mound toward the ground and those bw·icd beneath. 111i.'i organization a1ld positioning of the clover leaves could be understood m symbolizing the belief in death atld reswTection. Tile clovers look do\vn atld recogni:ze the dead. yet they look to heaven because the dead will be resurrected.

On the 1011 po11ion of the Cl'O.li..'i there is an upside down tlowcr, which could be a bell tlower, a lily, a rose, or possibly an iri.<. Bell flo,ve1-s sy111boli7..c co1t'itancy and gratitude. Lilies are symbol'\ of purity, innocc1x:e and virginity, and they syinbolize "tlie sutTender to God's \viii and grace". Irises arc ve1y sin1ilar to lilies in 1ncaning, oHcn being cal Jed Lile rival of tl>eliy. Tl>e rose, like the lily and tl>e iri.'i, is a .!lyn1bol of11urily. All the no,vers, hc)\vever, ha\'e religious ~y1nbolis1n

Regardless of tlie differe1x:e in 111eanings beL\VCCn the individunl LY1)CS ofno,vers, an upside do\Vll flo\vcr ahvays ha'i Lile .s.aine sigi1ificance. flo,ve1'S facing do\Vll\Vard are symbol< of <h11h and long life, and this i< a good exan~11! of"people as plants''. Like plant-;. hwna.'l.o; live their lives, then \Ve \Vilt and die. 11te dO\Vll\Vttrd-fucing tlo,vcr is a syinbol that a per.son lms lived to tl1e \vilting stage of their life and i.o; 110\V gone. Tl101na.o; Lcighton liv<'<I to 67 years and Kate lived to arow1d 59, both coll<idered full lives at tl>e end of the 191' centu1y. Thll'i an upsidc-Oo,vn Ho,vcr \VOukl be appropriate on their gi·avestotie.

Ho,vever, on the botto1n of the cross there is 'vhat appears to be a fk)\ver bud. Bud'i are 111 0.~1 oflen u.s.cd on children's graves bccnll'ie Liley sy1nbolize a litC that i.'i cul sho11, or a young life. \\~1ile there '"'ere no young people

on that particular stone. Thon1a.s uld Kiuc los11hrcc children under lhe ogc or 11Cvcn during one \'leek in 1864, These chiklrcn urc buried in 1his plot The bud on 1hc lnrgc sionc mny be referencing 1hcsc 1hrcc children ond lheir early l<>.<S. The bud could also be • symhol of new life. h could be symbc~iting lha1 lhe Lcigh1om hn\'c finuhcd 1h:ir hvcs here on enrlh. os seen in the upsidt-<lown flower. ond now 1hey ore movmg on 10 lhe ncx1 hfr os sho"" by die buci II could be• symhol of re-'llrm:tion. There also may be some small branches of polm lcov.:s. l'llllru ..-c symbols oftnumph over dcalh. anolhcr reference to an aftatifc.

The lasi and po.uibly 1he mos• uuercsungof the design.~ on Lcighton·s stone. is a small

flower. orsw•·likc symbol. 1lu11 11 1>nn way dc>\vn the cross and 1s 111 the center of the stone. It looks si1nilar to a ll~sionflO\vcr,

which is o symbol ofChris1's 1>1«ion. rcOC1nptio11, and c111cifixion. If this syn1bol is in fact a pas.sionno\vcr, it correlates \Vilh 1he large t1111oun1 of religious symbolism on this stone. Thi.ii sy1nbol 1nay also be u sun. Sun is n .sy1nbol of rcnc\vc<l litC, which is al'«> rcligiou." in nature nnd thus h appropiiatc tOr thi..'i .sto11e. All of this suppo11s the n1otif of a full , Christinn life lived. including dillicult trnd stld .imcs ns wel~ to be followed by ·~cdcmp1ion" trnd "resurrection" in the next lilC,

The Leighton gravestone, \Vith its in1posing si>e and ornale enrving.<. is clenrly n dl\plny of the family's wcollh . Howcvcr.1hc monlUllent dc>es not give 3ny indi:ation u 10 how 1he family •IXluared wcnh~ h " interestmg that a. prorn1nt.111 figun. s:uch a.s

Thomas Leigh1011, would "'°'" no indica1ion oflus profession or• hu graveslone. Le1gh10n was wdl known for being a bridge builder. and his \\Yahh was a produc1 ofh1s wort . llo"'"er. dicrc" • good p<>.<Sibility th• Kaic was tht person \vho co1n1nissioncd this stone. Froen her obiluary. we know 1ha1 Ka1c \VB< 1111 ae11vc 1ne1nber of Quist Church. a 1wtr1ncnt Episcoi>al church in Rochcs1er. This foci makes i1 seem more pl3us1blc. o r not her 1nore probable, that Kate \VUS 1hc individual \Vhoco1n1nissioncd the .s101lC, There \Vit'i 1lCvc1· 1ncntion ofTho1nas being active In the religiou.'i co1n1nuni1y. If he hail designed the stone, it seen1s likely thnt thc1c \VOuld be .so1nc recognition of his 1,rotCssion in addition to the 1nany religiou.'i rcforcnccs,

Al5-0, ix:cording to hi'\ obituary. Tho1nas \Va.s lt fvl l\."011, lUld there is 110 indication Of this on his stone. Even if he \Vas not a very ne1ivc member. he most likely would have included MJme ind1en1ion of his membership on his stone.

E\Trything ll1a1 is wriucn obout Thomas Leigh1on and Leigluon Bridge & Iron \\t >rks

describes lhc business Mone of lhe mos1 11rport1111 bndgc·bwldmg co"1'anics in the country at the time, yet linle \\'aS \\Tinen on 1hcm foll01Wig lheirde•hs. Perhops b..'Cause mosl oflus bndges no looger survive. infonnation abou1 Leightons is no1 abundam. In addi1ion, die fact thal TI1omao; and Kate hnd ,.., grandcluldren and the fa1rily line ended witl1 his childre1\ may have connibuted 101he rc~lll\cly small wnowll ofbiogra1~1ical dma about die bridge builder. Despile d1is, TI1omas Leighton \Ya~ clearly an i1nr)Qnant figure in rnilroad Bild bridge co1t11ruc1ion during die c1ldofthc 19• century.anda pro1ninent 111c111bcr of lhe Rochester co1n1nunity.

(Editor :f /\1otc: Tltr autltor L;{v CtJJ·lta11 if 11

.\11t1fc11t 111 the U11hc1'.~;1yoj'Rochl'Sll'1' anti

prepa1·ed 1his ~S«V as par/ 0}'1/te course 1«11tlrcme111.< for the ro11r.<c, Spcaking Ston,,,,,

ttt11ght by P1vjC.wor Enrif l-/01t1Lrin, ufro is also a tntstcc oj'the Friend~ oj'

Mo11111 flop<! Cc1w1cry.)

6

ANNUAL MEETING

HIGHLIGHTS

By Richarcl 0. Rclsmi

A fes1iw annual nicc1i11g of1hc Friends of Moun1 Hope Ccinclery wos held Bl 7:00 p.m .• April 4. 2013. al Brighion To"" Holl . Herc •e some highl1gh1<.

Presidenl Marilyn Nolte 1111nounccd 1hal lhe organi>0uor1c,.,..,n1lyhM 548 ml111hen. She said thal l .7l61x:oplc •icndcd Fncnds" public lours in 2012. An addition•l 562 people ponicipoicd 11 s1xicml grou1> IOUl"I. She repo11ed tl"11the crga1umuon l'CCCl\00

donmions, urludu1gSSOO from FlowcrCi1y Challci1gc R>cc. S72 I from United Way"s Roe die Day, SI.COO fromCanwidwgua Nmional Bank. a1id S~.O from Proud Ma1'kc1 11lnn1 "11c. Six: ..,id th31 SSJ .000 from the former Cen-ctery Hciitagc Fou1lClatio11 \Vas tra1t.'\fe1Tcd to the Friencl'i. 1l1e City of Roclx:stcr l>1s a1iprovcd the Friends organization to ad1nini.stcr grave.site pc11lCtual care funds. 1he Florentine thunu1in \VllS rcpointcd. pui11tcd. nnd n bt1!dn liner ilt'it11lkd. Reprc.scntati·1e.s fro1n the Friends vi..~i tcd Nundt' tuld (JCnesro cc1nctcry org11ni1111io11'i to pl'ovidc advice on advocacy progranu. The Friend'\ rt'Ccived grants fro1·n the Fnnt.sh Found:nion Ii> restore Jcwi.t1 loL< nrld NYS Dcparuncnt of Environn'X!nt:.ll Conscrvntion to de,·elop a Tree Mana1.•:111c111 Pinn for Mount Nope.

Truslre Zakery Steele.• lnnd3Copc orchilcc~ descnbed dit 1rcc ln.'Vllll!"lncnl plan. which indudcs idclllilicauon oflusionc in:cs and appropriale repbccmenls. as wdl os smucgjcs 10 rnoru1or old 1!llmt11n 11100111 I lope 1rccs. minimizing tt impocl of mccu mid disease.

Trus1cc and treasurer Dc1•11s C.rr prc<e111ed lhe financial repo11. st•ing 1ha1 calh on h111d March 31. 2013 wa< SI 211.437 of wluch S92.714 arc wll'e11nc1ed funds.

TI1e guest • t>:al<cr wa< Rabbi Slu1y11 Kilimnick. spiritual leader ofCongrcg111ion Bedi Shalom, who gave a spirited wid witty 1>rcscntntio11 011 lhe ••Dcvelop111c111 of .k\ViN1 Life in Rocl>:"1cr."

Treasurer Denn;s Carr

Trustee 7Akery S!ede Rabbi Sltaya Kilimnick

7

THE FRIENDS OF MT. HOPE CEMETERY PO BOX 18713 ROCHESTER NY 14618·0713

Non-Profil Og. U.S. Postage

PAID Rochester. NY Permit No.1037

TAKE A CEMETERY TOUR OR TWO THIS SUMMER You should treat yourself to a Mowll Hope Ce1netery tow·. or 1naybe nvo or tlu·ee. thic; sununer. We have the broadest selection of tow-s that 've have ever offered. You are sure to find several that you shouldn 't 1n ic;s. Go to the Friends of Mount Hope Cen1ete1y Web site, fo1nh.org for the co1nplete listing 'vith ti1nes, dates, and slatting points.

• Public tours of the South Section occur eveiy Saturday at 11 :00 a.m.

• Public tow-s of the North Section occur eve1y Swxlay at 2:00 p.m.

• 1\vilight tow-s are eve1y Thw"Sday at 7:()0 p.m.

• Special tours thi' year include Rochester Baseball Pioneers; Bird Witcher Tour; Rochester & tl>e L.ege1xla1y Erie Canal; Mi<Chief, Murder, & Mayhem; Jewi>h Rootc;~ Rochester 's Prosperou.c; & Penniless; Rochester 's A.bolitionic;tc;,

Patriots, & Philantlu·opi>ts; Revolutionmy War; The Jee Crea in Tour; Lost Secrets; Civil War; Geology at Mowll Hope; The Cemetery in a Trmn; Fall Foliage Tour.

• Grand Torch Light Tours, October 19 and 22.

. .\II the tours, except the tratn and Torch Light tow·s are free to 1nenlbers. Rese1varion.<i are required for these t\vo

tow-s. but for all the others.ju.lit appear at the designated titne.

·~ . ~·""' · , ·: .. ......... , '·"- -- ' '' '. ~ •tll61

• '., I\ .,, "1/11 & )II \ ' " •1W" ' ~;;J.i• t. I • .. ' •