June 21, 2008

Hollywood Cemetery-Richmond VA


I visited Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond VA today. Among the graves this was my very favorite. It is the statue of the cast iron dog. I had heard this story for a long time and was excited to have found the grave. Hollywood Cemetery has appox. 75 thousand people buried there. Here is the story of the Iron Dog

The cast iron dog used to sit out in front of a general store in Richmond. A little girl used to visit the store with her father weekly and always petted and talked to the cast iron dog while her father did business inside. The young girl later died of scarlet fever. During the civil war, which broke out soon after the young child died, the demand for iron was high. The cast iron dog was placed on the grave of the little girl. This was done to prevent it's being melted down and used to make weapons and to preserve it as a work of art.

This dog is said to guard her grave, and comes to life to chase people from her grave site. It has also been known to move on occasion. Many people have reported seeing it pointed in one direction and passing it later, it was pointed in another direction

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4 Comments:

Blogger Tess said...

You were right by my house! Glad you enjoyed the cemetery. I love it there.

11/25/08, 10:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh my god i just went there today and when i went there the dog was in a differnt position! WOW thats freaky

5/26/09, 4:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was just there today!I took pictures of the grave,trying to figure out who that little girl was.Her initials are F.B.R and she was born June 23.

4/9/10, 5:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have read several places that her name was Florence Rees. She died of Scarlet Fever in 1862, at the age of 2.

4/24/10, 11:44 AM  

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