The Cemetery Walk

On the day of the burial of one of Snug Harbor's Seaman, the Seaman's Friends would walk to the mortuary building. Then take the casket of their departed friend on his final voyage to Monkey Hill (Snug Harbor Cemetery). As the caisson passed the Matron's House, where the women that supervised the care of the sailors at the hospital lived, the women would gather at an upstairs window, and with a glass of brandy, they would toast the recently deceased (Nobel Maritime Collection- See Credits). The cemetery is thought to be named Monkey Hill "because of a Sailors' agility in climbing the ship's rigging" (Nobel Maritime Collection). Explore the links to learn about the original structures that were along the cemetery walk. Click on the link below.