Louis Lewisson Monument Mount Hope Cemetery Rochester, NY

A headstone doesn't have to be grand or fancy to make it to my favorites list. In-fact, most of my favorite markers are small and simple, with no fancy lettering or design. But yes, some of my fav's are more grand, with remarkable craftsmanship, insane detail and near endless photographic appeal. This stunning marble monument of Mr. Louis Lewisson is one of them.

The first time that I saw the Lewisson monument, I was already five hours into an exhausting day of documentation and photography at Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY. Summertime cemetery stalking is usually best done earlier in the morning, before the sun rises to it's high point and takes it's toll on the stalker. On this day, the temperature had risen to 98 degree's with full sun and no relief of a single cloud in the sky. By noon the heat and humidity had become so oppressive, that I stayed mostly to the wooded areas of the massive cemetery; until even then, the heat of the July afternoon sent me retreating to the air conditioning of the car. After a few minutes of recovery time, I pondered the trip home. It's about a five hour round trip. We had spent the night in Rochester the night before to ensure an early start in the cemetery that morning, and I did not want to waste the rest of the afternoon due to the heat, so we deciding to circle around and head down to the shaded area of the mausoleums for a bit. As we drove, a few stones caught my attention. So, despite the heat, out I went, focusing on the lovely, stoic face of a granite guardian. After capturing a few images of her, I scanned the near-by area... newer stones, mixed with old. Defiantly worth battling the high-noon sun. Stepping around my stoic lady, I glanced into the distance behind her, and saw it. Bright white in the afternoon sun, impressive in size and unique amongst it's neighbors... the monument of Louis Lewisson.

It was love at first sight! The size of the monument- at least 8 feet in height, was in itself impressive. But as I wound my way through the crowded field of headstones, it was the fine, artistic detail of the life-sized man, carved, seated into the solid marble, that drew my attention. It was truly stunning. He sits within a doorway, his thoughtful, face lifted skyward, eye's to the heavens. He is donned in a flowing marble robe, and on his feet he is wearing ancient, Romanesque style, sandals. One hand, his right, rests upon his knee, while the other, which was once lifted in some telling gesture... is missing. To his sides, just outside the doorway are two empty urns, meant for floral offerings. The slightly larger than life, marble man, sits just in front of a set of marble doors, carved to the likeness of heavy wood, complete with large carved hinges. One of the doors appears to be ajar... yet Mr. Lewisson still sits outside them.

On the top front of the stone, in the center of a carved arch and flourishes are the words “WEARY PILGRIM I AWAIT THE OPENING OF THE HEAVENLY GATE”.  Obviously the doors behind Mr. Lewisson are in-fact representing the “Heavenly Gates”. Just below the inscription is the Freemason symbol of the 'G' centered in the square and compass. On the monuments front base is simply his name- LOUIS LEWISSON.

The rear of the monument gives more information about the man buried there.

Born in Schwersenz, near Posen, Germany

October 18, 1822

Died at Canandaigua, NY

January 6 1909

Written in Hebrew is another inscription- “May his soul be bound with the souls of the living”

Mr. Lewisson is not alone there, below his name is that of his son- Louis Lewisson JR who died July 2, 1920

What makes this monument so incredibly special and one of my favorite's is the amazing artistic craftsmanship & uniqueness. If the carving is done in the likeness of Mr. Lewisson, there can never be another like it. A life sized, one of a kind.

Once home in research mode, I was able to find information about Louis Lewisson, and a portrait- photograph of him. A perfect likeness to his monument! WOW.

Mr. Lewisson, a Jewish immigrant born in Germany, a businessman and charitable soul, had contracted architectural stone carver Frederick A. Heister of Rochester, NY to memorialize his likeness in marble some years before his death. While the stone is signed, it is not dated. It is believed that it was crafted in 1900 or 1901(8 or 9 years before Mr. Lewisson's death) during the most active and prosperous days of carver F.A. Heister.

*As an interesting side note- Frederick Heister the talented carver, walked through Mount Hope Cemetery on July 2, 1903 just prior to going to his shop on the corner of Mount Hope Ave and Stewart St. where he promptly went upstairs to a storage room and shot himself through the heart. A great talent gone at his own skillful hands. Rochester newspapers state that Frederick, on the morning of his suicide, made claim to his wife that she would be better-off with out him. Mr. Heister is buried in Sec. E plot 60 beside the Pitkin mausoleum. His wife, Josephine, was a member of the well-known Pitkin family. Josephine is entombed within the mausoleum with her family, while poor Fred who shamefully committed suicide is buried just outside of it.

If you visit- Mount Hope Cemetery was founded in 1838 and continues to be an active cemetery with over 350,000 burials. Stop at the office just inside the main entrance on Mt Hope Ave and pick-up a glossy map of the cemetery. The Lewisson Monument is located in range 4 lot 46