All Bones Considered #066: Pushing Water

• Frederick Graff took over from Benjamin Latrobe to develop the Philadelphia Water Works

If you have walked or ridden your bike through West Laurel Hill Cemetery from the entrance just off the Cynwyd Trail all the way to the Pencoyd exit on Righter’s Ferry Road, you have probably passed dozens of mausoleums and gravesites that you had questions about.  Now there’s an audio narration to help you quench your curiosity.  It is done by Joe Lex, the same person who researches and narrates Laurel Hill’s twice-monthly podcasts “All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories” and “Biographical Bytes from Bala: West Laurel Hill Stories.”  Find out about William Luden, inventor of the mentholated cough drop; Charles Harrah, who made his fortune in Brazil; Eldridge Reeves Johnson, inventor of the Victrola, and many more.  And at long last, you can discover the mystery of “Cocktails at Six.”  The tour covers only people interred on the right-hand side of the road and takes about 40 minutes.  Look for its companion audio covering the other side from Pencoyd back to Barmouth in a few months. 

Your walk or ride from the Righters Ferry entrance to the Barmouth entrance at the Cynwyd Heritage Trail is less than a mile, but you pass scores of grave markers and dozens of mausoleums, most with stained glass.  This 47-minute narration gives you mini-biographies of more than 50 people who have resting places you pass along the route.  They are captains of industry, philanthropists, teachers, physicians, artists, and others who helped shaped the history of Philadelphia. 

This narrative is a complement to another recording that guides you from the Barmouth Entrance back to the Righters Ferry entrance, also available wherever you find your podcasts. 

Biographical Bytes from Bala #035

William Morris Meredith, Jr., described himself as a "B+ poet who has written a few A+ poems".  Despite his modesty, his poetry was recognized as some of the best in post-WWII America.  He served for two years as US Poet Laureate and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.  He is interred at Laurel Hill West.  

All Bones Considered #065 - Part 4 

Richard Burr was a Civil War surgeon who found there was more money in "treating" the dead and became an embalmer. Photographer Matthew Brady immortalized him with a battlefield photo.

This is section 4 of All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories #065 - Fathers and Mothers of American Medicine, Part 4.  You can find plenty of other stories about American medical pioneers in earlier episodes.  

All Bones Considered #065 - Part 3 

In 1869, Anna Lukens was one of the 30+ medical students from Women's Medical College who inadvertently caused an uproar when they showed up at the weekly clinics.  Despite having permission to be there and purchasing tickets, their mere presence caused a riot among the "gentlemen".  

I am experimenting with short form.  I will continue to post the monthly long-form podcast on the 1st and 15th, but I will also start making available the individual people as separate recordings.  

All Bones Considered #065 - Part 2

Thomas Kirkbride trained as a surgeon but developed an interest in madness during his training.  His blueprint for asylums became the standard for nearly a century.

This is one of four people I talk about in All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories #65 - Fathers and Mothers of American Medicine, Part 4.  You will find many other stories about Philadelphia medical pioneers in Parts 1, 2, and 3.  

All Bones Considered #065 - Part 1

John Rhea Barton was a student of Philip Syng Physick who carried on his reputation as an innovative and bold surgeon in the early 19th century.

An excerpt from the podcast "Fathers (and Mothers) of American Medicine, Part 4. 

• John Rhea Barton was a master surgeon who has both a fracture and a professorship named for him.

If you like what you hear, please leave a review and check out Fathers and Mothers of American Medicine, parts 1, 2, and 3

Biographical Bytes from Bala #034, Part 3

Milton Hershey's beloved wife Kitty died in a Philadelphia hotel room and spent nearly three years in a receiving vault at Laurel Hill West until a new cemetery was built in Hershey as her final resting place.