Booth at Green Mount

[Rick Miller]

I recently had the privilege of visiting Green Mount Cemetery and of coarse the Booth Family Plot. According to the Green Mount Cemetery book " only the cemetery authorities know the exact spot where lie the remains of the man who killed Lincoln”. I have heard two theories over the years about the location.

(A) He is located behind the obelisk in an empty unmarked spot
(B) He is located by unmarked stone in the front left corner
(some say this is Asia's foot stone).

The attached NY Times article shows location A of (6) on the map
  NY Times Feb 1911.pdf (Size: 1.19 MB / Downloads: 33)

Anyone have any opinions or proof of the exact location?

Merry Christmas

Rick

[Rsmyth]

Hi Rick,
No one knows for sure.

[L Verge]

Personally, I like to think that JWB is buried in the plot with his mother and father. I just can't imagine that Mary Ann would have allowed him to be buried elsewhere. Certainly, during the 1990s exhumation trial, the head of the cemetery made it clear that they were carrying out Mrs. Booth's wishes to maintain the dignity of the grave. However, at the very end of that trial, there was someone who contacted the judge and said that a former grounds superintendent there had said that Booth was buried elsewhere. One more question to add to the growing list surrounding America's most famous assassin.

[Jim Garrett]

Bill Trimble, the retired chairman at Greenmount and whose law firm represented Greenmount in the trial has steadfastly denied knowing the exact location.................and also said he knows the exact spot. I think Bill throws out some red herrings.

[LincolnMan]

Rick: did you take any pics you can post of the Booth plot?

[Rick Miller]

Rick: did you take any pics you can post of the Booth plot?

Yes I did take some pictures . I will attach a few

   
   
   

Rick

[LincolnMan]

Thanks Rick. I've not been to the cemetery. Obviouly, it is very old. I assume it is fenced? There is a lot of crime in the surrounding area?

[Rsmyth]

The last pic show's what is presumed to be Asia's footstone. Some believe this unmarked stone, decorated with the stars and bars and Lincoln pennies is the final resting place of JWB. I believe it is Asia's as Edwin requested the spot not be marked in any way.

[LincolnMan]

So there is no gravestone officially for Asia?

[Rsmyth]

Asia has her own marker with her name on it. A footstone is normally at the other end of that persons burial plot and may not have any markers or just initials.

[Rick Miller]

So there is no gravestone officially for Asia?

The second picture I have listed is actually Asia's headstone. It is hard to read because of the moss. It says "In Memory Of Asia Wife of John S. Clarke" . I have also attached a picture that shows the unmarked foot stone . Sorry if its dark--it was raining when I went.

   

Rick

---

Thanks Rick. I've not been to the cemetery. Obviouly, it is very old. I assume it is fenced? There is a lot of crime in the surrounding area?

Bill,

The cemetery opened in 1839. It takes up a large city block and is surrounded by a 8 ft rock wall with fencing on top in some areas. Here is a picture of the entrance gate.

   

I will go back some time next year when the weather is better. I also visited the grave sites of Michael O'Laughlen and Joseph E Johnson . Lot's of history in the old place.



Rick

[L Verge]

I have not been to Green Mount in years, but it is in a decaying part of Baltimore. Their policy used to be to close the cemetery at 5 pm each night and turn dogs loose to patrol. This is happening in so many of the grand old cemeteries today.

[Jim Garrett]

The Cemetery is along North Ave and Greenmount and it is an extremely rough part of town. Several other individuals prominent to the assassination story are also buried at Greenmount and will be featured in the upcoming volume 2 of....................

[LincolnMan]

I have not been to Green Mount in years, but it is in a decaying part of Baltimore. Their policy used to be to close the cemetery at 5 pm each night and turn dogs loose to patrol. This is happening in so many of the grand old cemeteries today.

Turn dogs loose to patrol? Really? Lol. I can't imagine that nowadays- liability issues.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I went to Greenmount this weekend and took a few photographs:

Richard Booth:



Junius Sr. and Mary Ann Booth:



Rosalie:



Joseph & Cora:



Asia:



Obelisk (note the mention of JWB):





Samuel Arnold:



Michael O'Laughlen (sorry, very dark):



It's a very well kept cemetery, and while the neighborhood around it has its sketchy areas, it is gentrifying. We drove into the cemetery and didn't feel unsafe walking around there--only freezing! (It was a cold day, and the elevation of the cemetery made it even colder).