Helen Brown’s Unique Wood & Fabric Headstone
Helen Brown’s Unique Wood & Fabric Headstone
Helen Brown’s final resting place wasn’t marked in the usual way—there was no obituary, and her life’s accomplishments were not carved in marble or granite but inscribed by a loving hand onto a sheet of fabric affixed to a unique wood & fabric headstone. Her modest wooden headboard—a testament to a life once lived and cherished. Thanks to a taphophile who visited the Harris Free Cemetery, SOAL recovered the legacy of a woman buried in one of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s paved-over Black Cemeteries almost 150 years ago…
It was during my digital excavation of historical newspapers that I stumbled upon this touching, albeit unconventional, memorial to a Black woman who left this world some 150 years ago. It’s a story not told through family lore or academic study, but by a kindred spirit—the work of an unnamed taphophile who once traversed the grounds of Harris Free Cemetery, with an ardent passion for preserving the stories told by graveyards.
Though the knowledge of the location of both Helen’s grave marker and her remains, have long been forgotten–the memory of her life and passing, were etched into the annals of the Harrisburg Telegraph on November 29, 1910. Today, Helen Brown’s epitaph resonates through time and speaks volumes about the histories beneath our feet.
From the historic pages of the Harrisburg Telegraph we recover Helen Brown’s Unique Wood & Fabric Headstone, and by using her remarkable epitaph to imagine an impoverished, but vibrant growing African American community in post-Civil War Harrisburg we reclaim a bit of our history.
Helen’s Epitaph in a Paved-Over Black Cemetery
Here is an epitaph copied from a written sheet on a wood headboard in the old negro cemetery formerly near the State Arsenal:
The grave of Helen Brown,
Died June 4, 1884.
There was crying and sighing
When Helen went flying
To her home above,
Where all is love.
Harrisburg Telegraph. “Epitaph Copied from Old Negro Cemetery.” November 29, 1910. newspapers.com.
Headstone Offers Glimpse of 19th Century Black Community
A headstone made of wood and a fabric sheet is itself a rarity and a relic of the past. The materials used to construct Helen Brown’s grave marker gives us insight into the beliefs and values of a group of people that left few tangible records. Following the end of the Civil War Harrisburg’s African American community grew exponentially as formerly enslaved families left their former plantations in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, often to reunite with family that they had been separated from before emancipation. This was a community that valued remembrance but faced economic constraints that often made durable stone markers unaffordable. This practice reflects the resilience of a marginalized community making use of the materials at hand to honor their loved ones with dignity.
Furthermore, the choice of words and the structure of the epitaph shed light on the religious beliefs and the hopeful outlook on the afterlife that permeated the African American community at the time. The simplicity of the verse implies an emphasis on the spiritual journey after death, a sentiment deeply rooted in Christian faith, which was a cornerstone for many in this community during the trials of post-Civil War America.
The disappearance of the Harris Free Cemetery beneath the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is a stark reminder of how progress can sometimes come at the expense of heritage. Yet, the remnants that have been discovered, including the few headstones at Lincoln Cemetery, are powerful conduits to the past. They remind us of a society that found ways to express grief, hope, and love despite facing societal and economic adversities.
This headstone’s message, and the history it represents, encourages a reflection on the broader narratives of cultural expression, survival, and community identity. It prompts us to ponder how we memorialize those who have passed and challenges us to ensure that these histories are not forgotten amidst the tides of change.
As we continue to uncover the layers of history, we are reminded of the importance of preserving such memories, not only through physical monuments but also through the stories we share and the legacies we honor. Helen Brown’s epitaph, a humble yet profound artifact, serves as a timeless testament to the enduring spirit of a community that once thrived in the shadows of a society that was only beginning to recognize its worth.
According to most historic accounts, the majority of the burials at Harris Free Cemetery did not have headstones. The cemetery was established for the free burial of African American residents and transients. At the time the cemetery was in use, during the mid to late 1900s, almost all unknown persons of color who died in the area were buried in Harris Free Cemetery.
At Lincoln Cemetery we have only positively identified a handful of headstones that indicate that any of the people buried in Harris Free Cemetery were disinterred from the graveyard that now lies under the Bypass, Arsenal Boulevard, and the PA Department of Transportation located at 18th street.
