Fraternity archeology in Philadelphia
 

Will be doing some fraternal archeology in Philadelphia on June 1st & June 2nd. Anyone on this list local thereto?

Jack Mason' Grave Site
 

Brother John,
I documented Jack Mason's grave site and marker a couple of years ago. I took photographs and so forth.
There is no mention of his connection to our Fraternity. It appears to be a grave containing multiple urns or containers.
I think efforts should be made to memorialize him at the site.
Good luck!
Yours in ZAX,
Mike Raymond
PS My June, 2006 article on Mason in the C&C discloses his burial site along with a nice aerial shot of the cemetery.

I don't recall - were any photos printed?

Photos
 

Brother John,
I have photos in my collection. Finding them might take some time, but I tried to carefully photograph the site.
Yours in ZAX,
Mike Raymond

To both of my fine Brothers, I am sure all of us would love to see them and hope they along with Warren Coles will be placed in the New History Book that you are writing.

You know I love our history as I am sure all of us do.

What about contacting living members to maybe have a plaque made for each. Shouldnt be too expensive and something simple would be nice. Maybe the CofA at the top and a small description of what they are marked for, i.e Warren Coles would appear something like:


Coat Of Arms

Warren Albert Cole
Swansea Massachusetts

Founder of the Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity...etc

Obviously all centered and prettied up.

I think it would be a nice, simple memorial to some outstanding men. Not to mention, 50 - 100 years from now when we are all dead, it would be nice for the young men who stand there to say 'Ah, this is the spot where our founder lies' without a doubt.

In ZAX

I don't really want to burst anyone's bubble, but the grave site for Mason is occupied by his entire family. I don't believe it appropriate to place a marker there, when his whole family is resting there. Also there is no really place around the grave that can hold a marker without disturbing other grave sites. Our chapter (Phi Lambda) has already talked with the historical preservation people of the cemetery and are working to get him put into their directory of distinguished members. I think that is sufficient. I understand the want to commemorate such a great man, but I don't believe that it is right to do with other people (whose lives had just as much value;possibly not to us as Lambda Chis, but value none the less) resting there. We have also thought about putting one of those historical markers at the gates to the cemetery (if you have ever been to PA and seen a historical landmark you know what I am talking about). That would certainly be more appropriate, however, we do not know how to go about that. The Woodlands Cemetery has a long a storied history filled with many people (hence the directory).


ZAX

Mason's Marker
 

Brothers,

I have visited the site, photographed it, and wrote an article about Mason in the C&C magazine.

I still think he needs to be memorialized by our fraternity.

The grave site itself is not the place.

As rightly pointed out the grave contains multiple remains and the general area around the site is much too small for a monument.

I have advocated an historic marker for both Mason and Cole.

In Ohio, the state historical society has a program that places markers at the site of important places or to honor significant people. The cost, including installation, is less than $2,000.

I don't want a marker at Cole's grave site either.

But there are appropriate places near both cemeteries that would serve this purpose.

I have tried to contact the Pennsylvania Historical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Mass. Highway Department without response!

If someone can get me a contact point I am willing to do the "paperwork' needed to secure the markers.

With our Centennial coming up next year I don't think it would be too hard to come up with the money to purchase and install the markers.

The only bubbles I want to burst are champagne bubbles when we unveil the markers for Mason and Cole!

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond
ZU-Zeta

I wonder if GammaZeta ha any way of getting in touch with the orgs mentioned above, he is afterall a law student and from Mass. What say you GZ?

Let me know what ya need.