West Laurel Hill Cemetery and Funeral Home

Our latest issue of The Connection demonstrates just how strongly our 3 pillars of eternal rest, recreation and civic value align. You’ll read about the beauty of our winter landscape to the magic of spotting a Great Horned Owl. You can learn about our historic built environment and imagine how these architectural structures can be utilized for new uses in the future, including events and weddings. We're also celebrating Laurel Hill's 185th anniversary this year and want you to get involved! There's so much to unpack in this issue and we hope you enjoy it! If you're interested in receiving a hard copy in the mail, please email [email protected]. https://bit.ly/3puwbIj

West Laurel Hill Cemetery is in the running for Most Loved Place to Go in Hulafrog Main Line's 2021 Most Loved Awards...and we are more than a cemetery & funeral home! We're also a 187-acre certified arboretum, outdoor sculpture garden, and a historical and cultural resource for over 150 years. Voting ends Feb. 5, so cast your vote today and spread the word: https://bit.ly/3qTxmkX

Interested in learning more about the horticulture of Laurel Hill & West Laurel Hill Cemeteries? Our Arboretum Manager, Aaron Greenberg, recently chatted with certified arborists Eva Monheim and Hal Rosner on 'The plant a trillion trees podcast.' He discusses our cemeteries as an open space, tree tours, the process of keeping inventory on our collection of over 4,000 trees and so much more. Take a listen: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pdtLgxZOovmjE0I8vuYtw

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we’re highlighting the patriarch of Philadelphia's African American leaders, a toughened veteran of the civil-rights struggle, and a longtime power broker in city politics, Samuel L. Evans. His civic activism began in the 1930s when he protested against Nazi meetings in his neighborhood and picketed shops that wouldn't hire blacks. Throughout his life, he founded anti-violence and youth mentoring programs, brought world-class musicians ...to the Academy of Music, and organized Philadelphia's 43,000-member contingent to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic march on Washington in 1963, where Dr. King delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech, in which he called for an end to racism. Evans left his mark on Philadelphia in numerous ways and upon his death became the first ever to lie in state at City Hall. To learn more about other civil rights leaders, activists, musicians and trailblazers laid to rest at West Laurel Hill, take our Black History mini tour: https://www.remembermyjourney.com/Search/27 See more

For #NationalHatDay, we're featuring the man whose name would become synonymous with hats, John B. Stetson. Stetson was born in Orange, New Jersey in 1830. He was one of twelve children, and left school early to learn hat-making from his father, a hatter. Shortly after beginning his apprenticeship, he fell ill. He was sent west to recuperate. It was there that he was inspired to create a hat he would call "The Boss of the Plains," later known as the cowboy hat. Upon returning... east in 1865, he opened a one-room hat repair business. He soon expanded into the manufacture of hats. Known for the quality of his hats, Stetson’s business would grow rapidly, forcing him to move to new and larger accommodations. Stetson produced everything in-house, from building machinery, making felt, making hat bands, and printing labels and advertisements. At its height, the plant employed 5,400 workers, and manufactured 11,000 hats per day. As Stetson’s business grew, so did his philanthropy. For his employees, he provided a generous apprenticeship program, complete with above-scale wages and bonuses, a Sunday school (which he later expanded to include the community), activity rooms, a parlor for evening socials, a library, citizenship classes for his immigrant workers, a gymnasium, and a hospital. The hospital contained a skilled staff and modern equipment, and was so popular, it expanded and was opened to the community, as well. For as little as $1.00, a person could receive three months of medical care. For those who couldn’t afford that, service was provided at no cost. He also donated to a university in DeLand, Florida (now Stetson University), where he had a winter home. John B. Stetson died in 1906 and is laid to rest in West Laurel Hill’s Ashland section.

In honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we're highlighting veteran Paul A. James. Born in Bala Cynwyd, Paul James graduated from Ambler High School and then attended Temple University, graduating with a business degree in 1939. James joined the Navy in 1940 and was stationed in Pearl Harbor. While on duty on the USS St. Louis on December 6, 1941, James and several shipmates reported spotting several periscopes about six miles from Pearl Harbor. The next morning, when the at...tack on Pearl Harbor began, the St. Louis was the first ship to escape the harbor, despite being hit by four torpedoes. James became a communications officer on the St. Louis and would remain in the Naval Reserves until 1963. James worked in real estate and was a lover and rescuer of dogs. He is buried beside long-time friend and fellow veteran Charles A. Gilmore, Jr. Their headstone defines them as World War II Veterans/Animal Lovers/Philanthropists. See more

Our friends and community partners at the Philly Goat Project put together a fun calendar for 2021 featuring their goats at the most iconic spots in Philly (you may even see Oliver at our sister cemetery, Laurel Hill ). Their calendar is a perfect gift for the holiday season with proceeds supporting the Philly Goat Project and their vision of having Goats for the Greater Good! Get yours today: https://www.phillygoatproject.org/product-page/2021-calendar

On this #GivingTuesday, people all around the world are coming together to tap into the power of human connection, strengthen communities and change our world. Will you be one of them? Join the Friends of Laurel Hill & West Laurel Hill Cemeteries for this global day of giving. Here are the ways you can participate: 1. Donate to our Annual Fund 2. Join or renew your Membership 3. Shop our online Gift Shop 4. Help us spread the word. Tell your friends and family why you believ...e in our work and encourage them to support us too! Because of the heightened importance of the Annual Fund this year, your gift will be matched by a group of anonymous donors who have pledged $20,000 if we can match their gift by the end of the year! Help us meet this challenge by contributing to the Friends of Laurel Hill & West Laurel Hill Cemeteries. Without you, none of our work is possible. Thank you for being part of our community! https://thelaurelhillcemetery.org/support #laurelhillcemetery #westlaurelhillcemetery

Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday and your support goes a long way! By contributing to the Friends of Laurel Hill & West Laurel Hill Cemeteries, you allow us to preserve and promote our historic grounds 365 days a year. We hope you consider supporting two of your favorite cemeteries in the tri-state area during this worldwide day of giving. Donate early: https://thelaurelhillcemetery.org/support/annual-fund

Through the ups and downs of this year, we all have a lot to be grateful for. While this Thanksgiving may look a lot different than what you're used to, we'd like to know what you're thankful for this year! Share in the comments below. From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!