The best examples of charming “Lacy Iron” in the cemetery are the elaborate gates and fences surrounding family lots. The makers are readily identifiable when they leave a stamped trademark affixed to the gate or gate post. An alternative, when trying to identify the maker, is to look through old catalogs, though it was fairly common for a local blacksmith to steal designs from the bigger manufacturers. Another way to attempt to identify the maker is to look through old newspaper ads for the time-frame and then look for their catalogs.
Following are some fences and gates, mostly from southern cemeteries, with their maker and motif identified where possible. Cast-iron requires quite a bit of maintenance due to rust, so harsh northern weather has forced many northern cemeteries to outlaw and remove old fences. Though most of the fences are painted black, the recommended paint color was white, to expose rust for maintenance purposes.
Symbolism on the gates is typical of the Victorian era–which is when most of the cast-iron found in cemeteries was placed. Hour glasses, lyres, cherubs, willows, lambs, flaming urns, and inverted torches were common mourning symbols found on gates.
Purnell Lot, Old Live Oak Cemetery,
Selma, Alabama
Maker: Haas and Heins, Philadelphia
Old Live Oak Cemetery, Selma, Alabama
Byrd Lot, Mesopotamia Cemetery,
Greene County, Alabama
Maker: Rogers Fence Co.
Miller Lot, Greensboro Cemetery,
Hale County, Alabama
Maker: Stewart Iron Works
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mt. Zion Cemetery, Hale County, Alabama
Maker: Champion Iron Fence
Cameron Lot, Old Mount Hebron Cemetery, Greene County, Alabama
Maker: Cincinnati Iron Fence Co.
This cast iron mausoleum in the Magnolia Cemetery of Mobile, Alabama was commissioned for Hope Hull Slatter (1790-1853) and his wife Emma (1817-1863.)
Maker: Wood & Perot
The mausoleum was manufactured by Wood, Miltenberger & Co. of New Orleans.
John Soto and Camille Soto Renaud
Church Street Graveyard, Mobile, Alabama
Maker: Unidentified
Yeldell Lot, Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Pine Apple, Alabama
Maker: Unidentified
Symbolism: Oak Leaves, Acorns and Hourglass
Greensboro Cemetery, Hale County, Alabama
Mrs. Isaac Croom Gate
Maker unidentified
Parker Lot, Greensboro Cemetery,
Hale County, Alabama
Maker: Unidentified
Symbolism: Cherubs, Flaming Urn
Spanish Moss and Wrought Iron Gate at Old Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama
Maker unidentified
Symbolism: Lyre
St. Andrews Church Cemetery,
Prarieville, Alabama
Maker unidentified — possibly from Sears Catalog
Symbolism: Arrows, Rose, Inverted Torch, Urn
Verdigris Fence with Lizard
Church Street Graveyard, Mobile, Alabama
Maker: Unidentified
Symbolism: Sunflower
Church Street Graveyard, Mobile, Alabama
Maker: Unidentified
One thought on “Cemetery Fences and Gates and Their Makers”