Monday, January 9, 2012

grave post #2



The St Andrew's Society of Toronto was officially formed in 1836 just two years after the City of Toronto was established and is the only one of the Scottish societies from that era to be still active today. 
Their original mandate was to help recently arrived Scots to get on their feet in their new home, though now their support is through grants and support of various charities.












This cairn was built in 1890 after a large burial plot was bought in Mt Pleasant Cemetery.
and a bonus - the resident deer takes a stroll behind the cairn 
If anyone else has a fascination with such grave subjects, head over to Taphophile Tragics

23 comments:

  1. Oh deer!
    You make me want to visit so I can see more of your interesting city and country.
    As a child I used to wander frequently through the local cemetery, and investigate all the marble and granite used by the local monumental masons.
    My mother had a cleaner whose husband was the caretaker of that cemetery. We asked her what it was like living there.
    She said,'Oh, it's all right. It's nice and quiet.'

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  2. Cool. More cemetary pictures please. Does that sound ghoulish?

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  3. The fact that this sweet deer can nonchalantly walk through the cemetery tells me there are no icky vibes here. And that is a fascinating cairn (had to look up the word).

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  4. How beautiful, love the stonework and the deer!

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  5. My first time to see these kind of tombstone. Pretty unique! ^_^

    Kim, USA

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  6. Love the shot with the deer ambling through the park - that's pretty special!

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  7. Very interesting! Glad you caught the deer too. :)

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  8. That's really different. I like the stonework.

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  9. So much time and creative thought appears to gone into the designing and constructing of that fascinating cairn! Love it! And the deer wandering happily there is so beautiful!

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  10. This is such a fascinating meme. I've never seen a type face like the one on that stone!

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  11. I'd like to wander around there for a while. No doubt some interesting headstones can be found.

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  12. @Francisca - happy deer = no icky vibes...!
    It's as good a measure as any!


    I love the font on that stone.
    Reminds me of Edgar Allen Poe, Toulouse-Lautrec and Absinthe.

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  13. Yes, that font is most artistic!
    I wonder if there is a mass grave here for the poor Scots who could not afford a proper burial?

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  14. I love old cemetaries and rather mourn the fact that neither Gom's nor my bones will ever rest in one.

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  15. Some wonderful comments for your post today, VS. And richly deserved.

    The cairn is a fascinating memorial which appears to be a dry-stone wall, as one may find all over Scotland. And that would be a St Andrew's cross if I am right.

    Our fascination with typeface/fonts gains a head of steam. I agree that this one appears much more modern than it obviously is.

    I will match your deer with my kangaroos of last week, VS.

    Thank you for your continued participation in the Taphophile Tragics meme. The variety of contributions is a joy.

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  16. The cairn displays fabulous stonework skills. This looks like a tranquil place to roam.

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  17. Wow! That is some monument!!
    Great pics
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  18. A beautiful piece of history! Thanks for sharing!
    The deer is to remind us that there is life in this place of the dead.

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  19. Very interesting cairn and bit of history!

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  20. Ironic that a society developed to help Scots get on their feet would be commemorated in a cemetery!!

    Or is that just me?!?!

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  21. My children are thinking of emigrating once they've graduated from university. I'll have to remember about the St Andrews Society!

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  22. Wow - that is soooo cool. And the deer - what a fun little extra special capture.

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