Gone But Not Forgotten: Victorian Mourning & Funeral Customs

The topics of death and mourning in the 19th century are featured as the majestic stone mansion on Great Road gets draped in black and the “household" prepares for the wake of their beloved.  During the 200 years that Hearthside was a home, there were five owners who died here.  It was during the 19th century that the deceased were embalmed by the undertaker right in their own home and the wake and funeral held there as well.  This exhibit showcases the passing of former Hearthside homeowner, Simon E. Thornton, who died in his bedroom on May 2, 1873. 

Victorian American mourning and funerary traditions and practices are explored in this extensive exhibit and re-creation of Mr. Thornton’s wake, which includes displays throughout the house and attic.  Volunteer docents dressed in mourning attire guide visitors from room to room as they explain the rituals a family would undertake upon a loved one’s passing.  Superstitions were prevalent during Victorian times, so many steps were taken to prevent misfortune from happening to the grieving family.  The mirrors are covered in black, and the clock was stopped at the time of death.  The undertaker has come to set up in the master bedroom to prepare the body for its final resting place.  A photographer has been hired to capture one last image of the deceased.  Special stationery and memorials have been created to notify friends and relatives and to memorialize the deceased.  Small funeral biscuits are wrapped and sealed with black wax, ready to give in appreciation to those who come to pay their respects.

Visitors will learn about the various superstitions surrounding death, the elaborate mourning practices, and funerals as they journey through the house. Also on display during this unusual exhibit are antique coffins, a collection of various Victorian mourning dresses, bonnets, veils, and other accessories, mourning jewelry made of jet and woven human hair, funeral receipts from local families, and 19th century embalming tools. The undertaker’s journal in which Mr. Thornton’s death was recorded and the actual embalming table that his body was prepared on is on display in the spot in the bedroom where he died in 1873.  Post-mortem photographs and even some which appear to show a few spirits are displayed. Some of the other topics covered are the belief in vampires, fear of being buried alive, and the beginnings of spiritualism during the mid-19th century.

Kathy Hartley, president of the museum, emphasizes “This is a carefully researched exhibit about the mourning and funeral practices during the late 19th century."  It is not a Halloween event, but rather educational and quite impactful because it is a fully-guided tour by volunteers in mourning attire, along with an extensive display of artifacts for viewing throughout each room in the house."
 

This exhibit takes place on four dates:  October 15, 23, 29, and 30, with Saturday openings in the evening and Sunday openings in the afternoon. Group size is limited for each tour, which lasts 90 min.  Registration is for staggered admissions and advance ticket purchase is required through hearthsidehouse.org.  Saturday tours begin every half hour starting at 4:00 with the last at 6:00. Sunday tours begin every half hour between 1:00-3:00 p.m.  Admission is $20 per person.  This exhibit is not advisable for children. 
 

Part of the Great Road Heritage Campus at Chase Farm Park, Hearthside is located at 677 Great Road, Lincoln, RI.   Built in 1810, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Friends of Hearthside, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, serves as stewards and managers of the museum.  Proceeds benefit the continued restoration of this historic landmark.