The Lively Place: Mount Auburn, America's First Garden Cemetery, and Its Revolutionary and Literary Residents

by Stephen Kendrick

The story of one of the Boston area’s most famous attractions, the Mount Auburn Cemetery, and how its founders and “residents” have influenced American culture

When Mount Auburn Cemetery was founded, in 1831, it revolutionized the way Americans mourned the dead by offering a peaceful space for contemplation. This cemetery, located not far from Harvard University, was also a place that reflected and instilled an imperative to preserve and protect nature in a rapidly industrializing culture—lessons that would influence the creation of Central Park, the cemetery at Gettysburg, and the National Parks system. Even today this urban wildlife habitat and nationally recognized hotspot for migratory songbirds continues to connect visitors with nature and serves as a model for sustainable landscape practices. Beyond Mount Auburn’s prescient focus on conservation, it also reflects the impact of Transcendentalism and the progressive spirit in American life seen in advances in science, art, and religion and in social reform movements. In The Lively Place , Stephen Kendrick celebrates this vital piece of our nation’s history, as he tells the story of Mount Auburn’s founding, its legacy, and the many influential Americans interred there, from religious leaders to abolitionists, poets, and reformers.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2016

Reviews

[Donnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. Of particular interest since we live near enough to Boston to visit this cemetery and to really appreciate just how different it is. This book really changed my mind about what a cemetery should be and introduced me to the concept of "green" burials, which I hope turns into the most popular way to be buried in the future. This cemetery celebrates the lives of the people who are buried there and the lives of everyone and every plant and animal that come within its borders. It has changed over time to reflect changing tastes and beliefs and is now a popular park and birding place as well as a place to visit and remember the dead. I live in a town that has a beautiful, although much smaller, cemetery. There are paths throughout but walking through is not particularly encouraged and the cemetery only offers conventional burials. It could be turned into a smaller version of Mount Auburn and would quickly become a popular place to visit. Small changes in horticulture could attract more birds and butterflies and make this beautiful place even more welcoming. I really encourage everyone to read this book and think about what the future could be.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was intriguingly difficult to place tags on this book. Written by a Unitarian Universalist minister, it is nominally a book about the history of the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge MA, but it mostly uses the cemetery and its residents as a base from which to discuss a variety of things. In the course of its text, it touches on botanical issues and their impact on avian visits, our relationship to preserving our body (or not) after death, religion, slavery and emancipation, the civil war, etc.

There are numerous residents of cultural significance, including Margaret Fuller, Buckminster Fuller, Mary Baker Eddy, Longfellow, and obviously many more - these all provide fuel for many of the tangents that the book takes. The cemetery also was a favorite site for authors such as Thoreau and Emerson and associated Transcendentalists.

All in all, this is an interesting book, but is definitely a hard one to describe.

[Maureen Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a fan if Mt Auburn Cemetery, you will like this book. Full of anecdotes about the various (mostly 19th Century) people that are buried in the nation’s first garden cemetery. Also discusses it as an important bird area, container of increasingly rare vernal pool, green burials and Kendrick’s personal stories of his connections to it as a minister and Harvard student.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique history of a unique place. I found this book easy to read and enjoyed “meeting” the people interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery. The author is very skilled at connecting the past to the present, and at helping the reader visualize the beauty of the place.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave the history of Mt. Auburn cemetery cloaked in reveries about religion, birds, horticulture, etc. I would have liked more of the history.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was super interesting and surprisingly moving. Beautifully written and organized.

[Drebbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “The Lively Place”, author Stephen Kendrick not only looks at the founding of Mount Auburn Cemetery but the changes made there throughout the years. He takes a look at some of the people that have worked there in the past as well as those that work there now. He also talks about some of the people buried there, both well-known and unknown to the general public.

Full confession - for many years I have worked close to Mount Auburn Cemetery (within walking distance really) but I have never been inside. I have always been curious about it, however, so decided to read “The Lively Place” to get some more information about the cemetery.

“The Lively Place” is an interesting book. Kendrick divides the book into the four seasons and offers glimpses into what the cemetery is like during different times of the year. He has a nice, descriptive way of writing so that I felt like I was walking alongside him as he described the cemetery. I am not sure which fascinated me the most - the cemetery grounds themselves, the wildlife living there, the birds, the history of the cemetery, the future of the cemetery, or the stories of the people buried there. In the end, I think my favorite part of the book was the stories of some of the people buried there - several times I put down the book so I could do more research online about the people Kendrick mentions in the book.

For me, “The Lively Place” was not the type of book that is to be read in one setting - I read a little at a time and savored my visit there. Also, after reading the book I signed up for a tour of Mount Auburn Cemetery so I can see it myself :-)

[Pasang · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has spent countless hours walking around Mount Auburn Cemetery I really appreciated the in-depth research and personal anecdotes Stephen wrote about. It was fascinating to learn about the history of Mount Auburn, and the initial intention and investment of the founders in bringing this green space into fruition. As I write in 2023 from Cambridge, MA in the 21st century, death is not a common topic that is discussed - there is this accepted ignorance, "out of sight, out of mind" at play. However, Stephen beautifully captures the overwhelmingness of death in people's lives during that period. While thankful for modern science, I agree with Stephen and the Founders that there is much to learn from death, each walk in the cemetery a greater appreciation for life grows.

The book is divided into sections based on the seasons, which I found to be very thoughtful and very relevant; when you walk through the gates of Mount Auburn it is always a new experience, no matter how many times you visit; the seasons is a dominating element of that experience. I appreciated the chapters on Dorothea Dix the activist who spearheaded changes in our healthcare system for the mentally ill, Mary Walker and Harriet Jacobs who were abolitionist activists and writers that wrote about the Black women experience, and the list goes on -- all these people are buried in this one plot of land -- so much hope and dreams laid rest here.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that this is not a quick read. Neither is it a boring one. It is a deposition on the growth of a movement in landscape design for cemeteries, parks, and other public green spaces, while simultaneously delving into the changes through time of tombstones and mausoleums. And the whole of the piece is woven through with anecdotes of a multitude of people who achieved fame either before or after their internment here. The format is based upon the seasons, and an epilogue which provides directions to persons of particular note (or their marker). My only disappointment is that there are no photographs other than the cover, but I truly enjoyed reading this book.
I did receive this copy through a giveaway.

[Marie Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. I learned so much about a place I've seen almost daily for twenty years and never fully investigated. Engaging, informative...written in a 'lively' style....and best best best of all...the books referenced within this book reminded me of books and subjects I've not thought of for 30-40 years! Reconnecting with Margaret Fuller...how did I forget her? And many others..I could go on and on...Thank You Stephen Kendrick!

[Caroline Bock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from GoodReads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. I very much enjoyed reading this book. I used to live down the street from Mount Auburn Cemetery, so this was a treat to read. I learned so much more about the history of this Cemetery. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves gardens or learning about history.

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good novel for anyone who is looking to learn more about the National historic Mount Auburn Cemetery. The author weaves together stories about areas within the cemetery and those "residents" whose fame brought more fame to the cemetery. He captures the essence of Mount Auburn and it's importance to New England and the Nation.

[Marg Corjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of a landmark.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Very well researched. I hope the author continues writing similar books, expounding on the lives of those who've walked here before us.