“From the Archives” Unusual Cemetery Notes

An 18th century Halloween story?  “McNalley, John.  Secretly buried by his family at night, and later exhumed.” (The Alexandria Gazette, October 30, 1847) ….. “The small pox hospital located in the old railroad cut back of Saint Mary’s Cemetery has been taken over by a group of tramps, who occupy it nightly as a lodging house.” (The Alexandria Gazette, June 30, 1884) ….. “The carcasses of several hogs, which died of cholera, were thrown into the ditch back of Saint Mary’s Cemetery.” (The Alexandria Gazette, November 19, 1884)

“About half a hundred youngsters assembled at the east fence of the Catholic cemetery yesterday afternoon for the purpose of shooting craps, tossing cents, playing marbles and cussing. Persons who visited the cemetery were shocked at the language and reported the matter at the [police] station house. Officers Davis, Howson and Lyles started after them but the policemen were sighted from afar and the youngsters stampeded. Several of the smaller boys were caught and they gave the names of some of the older ones who will be arrested and tried tonight.” (The Alexandria Gazette, March 2, 1896)

For many years, Scandinavian ships regularly docked at Robinson’s Wharf in Alexandria to unload huge rolls of paper for The Washington Post. On one trip in the 1970s, a young British sailor fell off a ship’s gangplank and hit his head on the rocks, killing him.  He was Catholic and it was the sad duty of Saint Mary’s pastor, Father Joseph Wingler, to inform his widowed mother in England.  The lady could not afford to have her son’s body flown home for burial. Instead, she asked if he could be buried in Alexandria’s Catholic cemetery and have pictures of the funeral sent to her.  Father Wingler donated a plot in Saint Mary’s Cemetery and arranged the funeral.  He asked parishioners to come to the Requiem Mass so it would look well attended.  Many heeded Jesus’ admonition to bury the dead – a Corporal Work of Mercy – and came. Father then had the photos to send to the sailor’s mother.

The Wilson Bridge abuts the south end of the cemetery. Several years after completion of the bridge, a lady noticed the noise from the traffic crossing the bridge and had her late husband disinterred. He was moved to a plot on the other side of the cemetery so he could rest in peace!

— Kitty Guy, Parish Historian

Throughout 2020, the Basilica of Saint Mary will present “From the Archives.” It is a weekly feature online and in our bulletin spotlighting the history of the parish. All of our “From the Archives” features are located here.