WHITE BRONZE
Did you know that some of the tombstones within CSC are made
of metal…yes metal! There are headstones
that are over 100 years old and they show no wear or tear. They are clearly legible to this day. Known as White Bronze headstones/monuments,
they are really not bronze at all but are sand cast zinc. For marketing purposes they called them White
Bronze. Most, if not all, were made by
Monument Bronze Company of CT between 1874 and 1912 – many sold through Sears
and Montgomery Wards Catalogs at 1/3 the cost of local stone headstones. The
zinc carbonate gave the headstones a bluish gray color. Ionization of the metal would build in the
welds to make for a sturdier hold in all joints. There were a wide range of inscription or you
could come up with your own. The shapes
and styles were copied from the marble and granite monuments but were more
durable with only a couple of problems.
Problem examples are that some were quite brittle and could break if hit
by falling branches or after years of unsupported weight would creep or sag
causing bowing or cracking. Especially
if hit by lawn mowers or weed wackers.
For some reasons these were not really acceptable by the public. Many felt they were too inexpensive to honor
their loved one. Some cemeteries even prohibited their
use. In 1914 the government took over
the plant for the manufacture of munitions during WW I. The facts remains – as you drive around our
beautiful park – they are still in great shape, easy to read and show little if
no weathering. Look around. You will be surprised at the beauty you see
at Cold Springs Cemetery.
