Appeasing the Ghosts: Resurrecting Moriah

Technorati Tags: Mount Moriah,ruin,cemetery,abandoned,forgotten,volunteers,revival,statue,tombs,tombstones,crypt,mausoleum

Earlier this month I had my first visit to the massive (approximately 380 acres) Mount Moriah Cemetery located in Philadelphia and Yeadon, PA. I attending a volunteer clean up day to photographically document the efforts of the volunteers, the condition of the cemetery and some of the magnificent, though horribly neglected, monuments and memorials.

A couple weeks later was the second volunteer day that I attended, and I brought my camera with once again. I pretty much knew during my first day there that I was going to be hooked. The second visit completely confirmed it.

After decades of neglect, there are some great people dedicated to resurrecting Mount Moriah and bringing it back to its glory. In particular, the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery are taking the lead. I’ve been made to feel very welcomed by members of this organization (special thanks to Haunted Mt. Moriah and Paulette for that warm welcome).

Mount Moriah’s sordid history of neglect has recently been brought to public attention, with even the city of Philadelphia going to court to determine ownership of the cemetery. It seems to be quite a unique and complex situation that surrounds this huge, historic cemetery. I won’t go into much detail as this information is readily available on the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery’s website and elsewhere on the web.

Here are two galleries with photos of the volunteers : Oct 8, 2011 and Oct. 22, 2011. You can see more images I photographed here - http://gjfoto.smugmug.com/Cemeteries/Mt-Moriah-Cemetery

I also have several special fine art prints available of my favorite Mt. Moriah scenes. Purchases of these prints will benefit the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery. Fine art prints are available on metallic paper or metal prints with float mountings. These fine art prints are available here - http://gjfoto.smugmug.com/PrintsforPurchase/Mt-Moriah-Cemetery

I’m just starting to do a little with the high-def video feature on my Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera, so I also have a few short videos up on my YouTube page. I’m not a videographer (yet!) so don’t judge my first videos too harshly!

The first photos below are of the incredible, though now decrepit, Gate House designed by Stephen Decatur Button.