Homewood Cemetery

On Saturday, August 13th, while Janie went on a Target run, Tim biked to the nearby Homewood Cemetery to explore some of Pittsburgh’s history. Spread across many acres on Pittsburgh’s east end, it lies on the former Homewood estate of Judge William Wilkins, a very successful lawyer and politician of the early- to mid-1800s.

After stopping in the cemetery office and picking up a map and pamphlet describing the lives and locations of 20 of the many famous people buried here, Tim biked around the cemetery.

Near the start was an eye-catching tree trunk with family logos on the sides, next to raised tombs. Not sure who this Gilchrist family was, but they picked striking markers.

Nearby is Section 14, home to many millionaires from the late 1800s to early 1900s. The most eye-catching of all the mausoleums belongs to the family of William Brown, who’s money came from coal and shipping. The 35-foot tall pyramid was erected in 1898-1899.

Next to the pyramid, visible at right above, is the Heinz family crypt, starting with the original HJ Heinz and including 4 generations with many below ground in the largest capacity privately-owned crypt in the cemetery. Also buried here is Senator Henry John Heinz III.

While walking behind the Heinz mausoleum, Tim noticed a couple of deer fawns talking a leisurely stroll through the grounds. They were curious, and walked a little closer, checking Tim out while he took some pictures and a video.

Nearby, visible behind Heinz in the video above, was a collection of more famous names. Henry Clay Frick, who made a fortune in the coke making business and joined with Andrew Carnegie in a company that eventually became US Steel, has a park-like spread surrounded by a hedge.

Next door is Civil War hero Colonel James Schoonmaker, with a striking guardian angel.

Continuing along, there was a double-row of stately mausoleums. On the immediate right, with the sculpture in front, is James Ross Mellon and family, owner of a bank and father of a co-founder of Gulf Oil. The second mausoleum on the left has Edward Bigelow who headed the Department of Public Works in the late 1800s and created many of the city’s parks (including Schenley and Highland) and stately boulevards.

On the back of Section 14 is oil wild-catter Michael Benedum and his family. Quite the spread!

In the older part of the cemetery were many hillsides with small markers, family mausoleums, and tall obelisks.

Near Dallas Avenue, long-time Pittsburgh Pirate and baseball Hall of Famer Pie Traynor is buried.

Tim’s final stop was the Wilkins family mausoleum, near the cemetery chapel. Judge William Wilkins, who served as President Tyler’s Secretary of War, and his father Captain John Wilkins, an officer in Washington’s Army and a Constitutional convention delegate are buried here with other family members. The nearby Wilkins Avenue and suburb Wilkinsburg are named for the family.

The original markers, which were in the Allegheny Cemetery until 1881, are on the ground in the gaps in the foliage (Tim thinks) and are now unreadable due to the effects of time.

It is quite a beautiful cemetery, with rolling hills and miles of roadway. It is a popular place to go for undisturbed runs, as Tim saw several people out for a jog. He is glad that he finally took the opportunity to check it out.