The View from historic Prospect Hill Cemetery
Prospect Hill Cemetery
Located in the heart of Towson at York Road and Washington Avenue
Volume 2, Number 1 Winter/Spring 2012
new logo captures setting, community connection In developing Prospect Hill’s Strategic Plan, the Board of Directors identified a need to raise the historic cemetery’s visibility in the Towson landscape. Thousands of people drive past Prospect Hill each day but have never actually stepped into the six-acre grounds. To help build a stronger presence, the board commissioned a new branding logo (visible on the masthead above). “The new design captures several important characteristics about Prospect Hill Cemetery,” says Board Secretary Ginger Mudd Galvez. “First, we wanted to convey the hilltop setting with its open views of the sky and beautiful trees. Prospect Hill is essentially a Victorian, park-like cemetery, which makes it distinct from more contemporary cemeteries with their flat markers and expanses of grass. As an historic burial ground that is non-sectarian, we have many different styles of monuments, headstones and markers.” She continues, “The road winds down the sloping grounds and offers views of a picturesque landscape. For many families, that is a large part of the appeal of the grounds, despite the encroaching commercial development around it. We chose the color blue to harmonize with the new street signage around Towson, and to link the cemetery to the larger community. Prospect Hill is a well-cared for green space in the heart of Towson that is still open to families who wish to lay loved ones to rest within its borders.”
P.O. Box 322 • Riderwood, MD 21139-0322 • 410-252-8462
Members of Prospect Hill’s board in front of a restored Babyland. Prospect Hill is fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who are working hard to implement the strategic plan and enhance the cemetery’s park-like grounds. All members have a personal tie to the cemetery or to Towson. Carolyn Parker Knott – President Bruce S. Campbell III – Vice President Vincent P. Nesline, CPA – Treasurer G. William Goodwin – Assistant Treasurer Ginger Mudd Galvez – Secretary Patrick J. Monaghan, IV – Chair, Investment Committee and Development Committee Edwin S. Crawford Barbara A. McLean, M.D. Henry B. Peck, Jr., Esquire T. Michael Reier Catherine R. Soares Emeritus Directors Daniel Donnelly Elizabeth Fannon Virginia Mudd Margaret Shipley
Genealogist Catalogues Prospect Hill Tombstones William “Bill” E. Wilson, Jr., a professional genealogist, has volunteered to undertake the systematic photographing and cataloguing of those who are buried at Prospect Hill. ”I’ve photographed every tombstone and grave marker there,” he noted. “I’ve taken 2,356 photos, including the markers at Babyland. I’m comparing my photos and looking up obituaries at the Baltimore County Library online site, then typing each obituary into a Word document.” Wilson, who was introduced to Prospect Hill by Board Treasurer Vince Nesline, anticipates creating a searchable database that will include his photos as well as obituaries where available. “Currently,” he said, “You have to go to three different places to get that information.” The database is expected to remain private, accessible only by those with connections to the cemetery.
A crane removes the 85 ft. spruce that fell during Hurricane Irene last fall.
Wilson, a local resident and graduate of Boys’ Latin, Towson State University and Brigham Young University, became interested in genealogy about 25 years ago, when he began researching his mother’s family tree. He started taking photos of cemeteries when, during a trip to Virginia to research his father’s side of the family, he realized that they could save him a return trip. It took Wilson four days to photograph all of the Prospect Hill markers and tombstones. “The first day was after the storm hit,” Wilson recalled. “We were lucky that the trees that fell did not do much damage – but storms such as that are one reason that the photographs are so important.” Look for more information in future issues. Your donations can help to support this undertaking.
Prospect Hill Cemetery is beautiful in all seasons.
No Pets Allowed Please help us remind the community that no dogs or other pets are permitted at the cemetery, so that we can preserve its beauty and cleanliness. Unaccompanied children and recreational vehicles such as skateboards or mopeds also are prohibited. A complete list of rules and regulations is posted in the cemetery; a copy is also available on request by calling 410-252-8462.
Cremation and Plots Available Perhaps you knew that Prospect Hill still has full burial lots for sale for $1500, but did you know that we also offer an option for those who wish to be cremated? The cremated remains of up to three individuals may be buried in a full-size burial plot, if this arrangement is designated at the time of the lot sale. Individual cremation lots, or half lots, are available for $750 in a cremation-only section. Cremation burials may be arranged at a time convenient for the family. For more information, call 410-252-8462.
Your Gifts Preserve Prospect Hill Every donation, no matter how small or how large, makes a difference in the care and enhancement of Prospect Hill. Your generous, tax-deductible donations make it possible for us as a 501(c)13 charitable organization to continue to maintain and beautify the cemetery. Please send your gift to: Prospect Hill Cemetery, P.O. Box 322, Riderwood, MD 21139-0322
Thank You for your contribution
Who Lies at Prospect Hill? Historic Prospect Hill Cemetery contains many of Towson’s most influential citizens. Many of the individuals and families who rest in this beautiful place figured prominently in the growth and development of our community. We continue our journey into the past by looking at the lives of two great athletes who are buried at the cemetery.
Two Great Lacrosse Contributors Spring will be here soon, and in Maryland, that means lacrosse. Prospect Hill is home to two key contributors to this ever-popular game. The first is Frederick W. Stieber, elected to the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame for his tremendous achievements in a variety of sports, including lacrosse, swimming, diving, football, basketball and more. The second, Gaylord “Peck” Auer, was elected to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame for his important contributions to lacrosse above and beyond his athleticism. A well-rounded athlete, Stieber made the 1948 Olympic field hockey team, but an injury prevented his participation. According to a 1992 Baltimore Sun article, his Hopkins lacrosse coach, Gardner Mallonee, called him “one of the best.” Stieber, who believed that people should play sports “for the fun you get out of it,” also played for the Mt. Washington Lacrosse Club. Stieber and his family were also important to the greater Towson community. A graduate of Towson High and the University of Maryland, he ran Stieber’s Store, a thriving gourmet grocery and import business in Towson founded by his father, George, circa 1889. He and his wife Edith raised two daughters.
Frederick W. Stieber in 1927
Edith Stieber was one of the founders of the Towson Library, as well as an artist and longstanding community volunteer. In 1945, the couple ran the original Meadowbrook pool, adding an ice rink in the 1950s. Stieber passed away in 1992 and his wife in 2001. Peck Auer, a graduate of Baltimore City College, was married to Virginia Adams and had one daughter. He long served as an executive in the Bacharach Rasin Company, a major sporting goods store in Baltimore that sold wooden lacrosse sticks made in Cornwall Island, Canada, by the Mohawk tribe of the Iroquois Indians. As a fair businessman and important contributor to the island’s economy, he was named an honorary Indian Chief in 1935. In 1961, Auer was named Man of the Year by the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA); in 1969, he was elected to the Lacrosse Hall of Fame for promoting the game and improving its equipment. Auer passed away in 1981 at age 79. Do you have a brief family history you’d like to share in our newsletter? Send to:
[email protected] or call 410-252-8462.
