lunedì 12 marzo 2018

Jonathan Reed, the man who lived in a tomb - Story of a neverending Love.



Old Print Article - Jonathan Reed Stricken In Tomb Where He Lived, Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1905)




We read on the New York Times Obituary from March 24th, 1905, that a certain Jonathan Reed, about 70 years old, was found agonizing on the floor of the mausoleum in which his wife was buried for almost a decade, located in Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn.

To discover the man at the end of life was the police supervising  the cemetery, who had seen the door of the funeral chapel half-open,  while it seemed that no one was inside, and one might think that the stroke, which was suppressing the poor man's life, had caught him during a visit to the tomb his deceased consort ... in reality there are stories of love that cross every threshold, including that of time and that of life ....

Mary E. Gould Reed had died in 1893 and since the day of her death the poor Jonathan, afflicted by a loss he felt he couldn't bear, dedicated to his dead wife the time he still had to live, almost as if death had reinforced the bond that already linked them.

After having built a mausoleum in which to burrow the remains of his beloved disappeared, Jonathan, a retired businessman, certainly belonging to the well-to-do society, elected this place as his future home: he furnished it like a sort of small living room, heated it with the oil stove that he had made build specifically for that place, hung on the walls the paintings that Mary loved and brought there her portraits, those portrayinh her as a child and as a young girl, the knitting work at which, at the time of her departure,  she was working, a deck of playing cards and the parrot that kept them company (and when the cherished bird died, he was preserved -thanks to taxidermy - and left in the chapel on his perch).

Sitting in his rocking chair, the disconsolate Jonathan found serenity and strength to live talking to his cherished wife who, as he had to declare to the press of time, surely was able not only to hear him, but also to answer him, since he was able to interpret her answers ... she, with her passing away, he had only lost the heat of her body ... for the rest nothing in her had changed, of this the poor man was more than convinced... she was not completely dead ...

The most striking thing is that at the time all this was not interpreted as a sort of delirium dictated by the deepness of his sorrow or as a way to accept a pain stronger than any other, but the news of this unusual way of living of his, which spread quickly, crossed not only the borders of the state, but even came to Asia and Europe: more than seven thousand people from all over the world moved on 'pilgrimage' - even some Tibetan monks wanted to see with their own eyes that man who was still able to communicate with his extinct dear - only during the first year of this singular life: he was in all respects considered a sort of phenomenon!

For this reason the news of his disappearance had such a resonance ... after spending nearly a dozen years of his life in the mausoleum he made build, Jonathan Reed ceased to live at Kings County Hospital where he was transported by an ambulance called by Dr. Meister who promptly rushed from Bradford Street Hospital after the call of the policeman who supervised the cemetery: he found him slumped on the ground, his arms protracted towards the coffin of his beloved, in the throes of a loss of consciousness due to a stroke.

His remains were buried next to those of his beloved, in what had for years become their new home ...

... And since then the door of that chapel has been closed, and nobody knew anything about its key ...





And today too our time has come to an end ...
and as always grateful for your praise,
I leave you with my warmest hug.


See you soon 💕











- immagine 1 - Old Print Article - Jonathan Reed Stricken In Tomb Where He Lived, Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1905)





Il 24 marzo del 1905 si legge sul New York Times Obituary che un certo Jonathan Reed, di anni 70 circa è stato trovato agonizzante sul pavimento della cappella in cui era sepolta la moglie da quasi una decina di anni, situata nell'Evergreen Cemetery di Brooklyn.

A scoprire l'uomo in fin di vita fu un operaio, che aveva visto la porta della cappella semiaperta, ma gli sembrava che nessuno vi fosse dentro, e si potrebbe pensare che il colpo apoplettico che stava stroncando la vita del povero uomo lo avesse colto durante una visita alla tomba della defunta consorte … in realtà esistono storie di amore che varcano ogni soglia, comprese quella del tempo e quella della vita ….



- immagine 2 sulla sinistra - Trafiletto tratto dal New York Times Obituary del 24 marzo 1905.




Mary E.Gould Reed era morta nel 1893 e dal giorno della sua scomparsa il povero Jonathan, afflitto da una perdita che non riusciva a sopportare, dedicò alla sua defunta consorte quanto ancora gli rimaneva da vivere, quasi come se la morte avesse rinforzato il vincolo che già li univa.

Dopo aver fatto costruire una cappella in cui tumulare le spoglie dell'amata scomparsa, Jonathan, uomo d'affari in pensione, per certo benestante, elesse tale luogo quale sua futura dimora: lo arredò come fosse una sorta di piccolo salotto, lo riscaldò con la stufa a petrolio che aveva fatto costruire appositamente per porla in quel luogo, appese alle pareti i quadri che Mary più amava e vi portò i suoi ritratti, quelli che la ritraevano da giovane e da fanciulla, il lavoro a maglia che al momento della sua dipartita stava portando avanti, un mazzo di carte da gioco ed il pappagallo che faceva loro compagnia (quando morì, l'animale venne imbalsamato e lasciato nella cappella sul suo trespolo).

Seduto sulla sua sedia a dondolo, lo sconsolato Jonathan ritrovava serenità e forza di vivere parlando alla sua adorata che, come ebbe modo di dichiarare alla stampa del tempo, sicuramente era in grado di sentirlo così come lui era capace di interpretare le sue risposte  … ella, con il trapasso, aveva solamente perso il calore del corpo … per il resto nulla in lei era cambiato, di questo il povero uomo era più che convinto. … non era del tutto morta ...

La cosa più eclatante è che al tempo tutto ciò non venne interpretato come una sorta di delirio dettato dal dolore, come un modo per accettare un dolore più forte di ogni altro, ma la notizia, che si sparse in fretta, varcò non solo i confini dello stato, ma giunse persino in Asia ed in Europa: più di settemila persone provenienti da ogni parte del mondo si mossero in 'pellegrinaggio' – anche alcuni monaci tibetani vollero vedere con i propri occhi quell'uomo che ancora era in grado di comunicare con la cara estinta – solamente durante il primo anno di questa insolita vita: egli era a tutti gli effetti considerato una sorta di fenomeno! 

Per questo la notizia della sua scomparsa ebbe una tale risonanza … dopo aver trascorso in cotal guisa circa una decina di anni della sua vita, Jonathan Reed cessò di vivere al Kings County Hospital dove venne fatto trasportare da un'ambulanza chiamata dal Dr. Meister che prontamente accorse dal Bradford Street Hospital dopo la chiamata del poliziotto che sovrintendeva al cimitero: egli lo trovò accasciato in terra, con le braccia protratte verso la bara dell'amata, in preda ad una perdita di coscienza dovuta ad un colpo apoplettico.

Le sue spoglie vennero tumulate accanto a quelle dell'amata, in quella che era da anni divenuta la loro nuova dimora ...


... E da allora la porta di quella cappella è rimasta chiusa, e della chiave nessuno più seppe nulla ...



- immagine 3 ed immagine 4 - Il monumento funerario in cui sono tumulati Mary e Jonathan.





Anche oggi il nostro tempo è giunto al termine ... 
e come sempre grata per il vostro plauso, 
vi lascio con il mio più caloroso abbraccio

a presto 💕




47 commenti:

  1. Oh cara Daniela, che storia...terribile! Un amore infinito, senza dubbio ma devo ammettere che mi sono venuti i brividi a leggere tutto ciò. Ti abbraccio e ti auguro un buon inizio di settimana
    Susanna

    RispondiElimina
  2. What a curious love story! ♥♥♥
    Happy new week Daniela!
    oxo Susi

    RispondiElimina
  3. Interesting story! Thank you for sharing!

    RispondiElimina
  4. It's good to be loved this much. What a lovely story. They are now together for eternity.

    Have a fabulous day, Dany. ♥

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Davvero una storia d'altri tempi, cara Daniela.
      Grazie per avercela raccontata!
      Ti auguro una piacevole settimana.

      Elimina
  5. The poor guy, i am so sorry for people who grieve so deeply.

    RispondiElimina
  6. Wow he had quite the love for his wife didn't he, I can't imagine going to such lengths with my husband but I do understand it being very hard to let them go. I guess it is fitting that he die where he spent a lot of his time. I like that he brought along the item she was knitting when she passed.
    I hope your week is off to a good start :)

    RispondiElimina
  7. Such an intriguing love story. To feel such deep love is truly a most wonderful thing. Have a lovely week, dear Dany.

    RispondiElimina
  8. Wow- I do believe that is the saddest, most bittersweet story I have ever read or heard of. I do know that heartbreak can kill the remaining spouse...I have heard of that many times. I am so glad to have found you again. I lost you somehow. Have a blessed day.

    RispondiElimina
  9. Che storia incredibile! Un amore infinito che ha superato i confini della morte.
    Bacioni

    RispondiElimina
  10. A sad post, thanks for sharing :)

    RispondiElimina
  11. Such an enlightening story of love and sorrow ... Truly enjoyed this intriguing historical post.... Thank You for sharing

    RispondiElimina
  12. A very sad, yet beautiful love story, Dany.
    Thank you so much for sharing, sweet friend.
    xo.

    RispondiElimina
  13. Oh my, what a sad, but sweet story. My heart was quite touched by the love this man had for his beloved. Thank you for sharing, dear friend. Love and hugs to you!

    RispondiElimina
  14. Wow, what an incredible love he must of had for her. This story melts my heart...
    Sending you Love and Hugs,
    Andrea

    RispondiElimina
  15. How very bittersweet. Love knows no earthly bounds......Sending love xx Karen

    RispondiElimina
  16. una storia certamente insolita che parla di amore e morte!!!!!! un abbraccio grande grande a te fonte inesauribile di storie affascinanti!!!! ti auguro un sereno fine settimana Lory

    RispondiElimina
  17. Che storia triste , ma nello stesso tempo dolcissima: come se il filo invisibile dell'amore lo avesse tenuto legato alla sua amata lì,in quel luogo , tetro per chiunque altro , ma non per lui.
    Un abbraccio,
    Franca

    RispondiElimina
  18. What a strange, sad, sweet story this is.
    Amalia
    xo

    RispondiElimina
  19. Where do you find these wonderful (if sad) stories, Dany? This is so poignant and beautiful in its way. (A little strange and mental, too, but when you have such a love, certainly one can understand. So bittersweet.

    RispondiElimina
  20. Sad and indeed a true love story. It moist my eyes. Thank you. Hugs Sujatha:)

    RispondiElimina
  21. Ciao Daniela, ti mando tanti auguri di Felice e Serena Pasqua. Trascorri delle belle giornate soleggiate!

    RispondiElimina
  22. Hope all is well in your world, Dany. Miss seeing you out and about. ♥

    RispondiElimina
  23. What a story! How much love he must have had for her.
    So sad. I am glad they are together again.

    RispondiElimina
  24. this is an incredible story, one i had never heard before. strange, yet very touching. thanks for always sharing the most interesting and wonderful things. hope you are having a happy spring! xo

    RispondiElimina
  25. Dani my love, this is an incredible touching story. Thanks so much for sharing. Mimi xxx

    RispondiElimina
  26. WOW! So sweet! Never heard this story before! Thanks for sharing!

    RispondiElimina
  27. Dany, just stopping by to say that I miss your posts, but most of all to say that I hope everything is okay, and that I am thinking of you.
    xo.

    RispondiElimina
  28. Just a hello, Daniela. I missed you, my friend.

    RispondiElimina
  29. What a strange story... yet romantic.

    RispondiElimina
  30. Such a sad story. There was a resurgence of mediums/ and beliefs in ghosts, and unpasted souls at that time. Houdini was convinced he could communicate with his dead mother...that I can understand, why it wasn't considered odd. Certainly dragging a live parrot to a tomb was odd, but then? Great little piece of history, though. Thanks for the post!

    RispondiElimina
  31. Dany, just popping in to say "Hi" and that you are missed in the blogosphere! Hope all is well with you. Have a wonderful summer. Hugs.

    RispondiElimina
  32. just popped by to say hello and found you had not posted for awhile. hoping you are well and sending love! xo

    RispondiElimina
  33. Hello Dany,

    I hope all is well by you dear friend. I hope all is well by you.. It's been a while!! Things have been extremely busy for me but I did want to take a few minutes to say hello and to check on you.

    Miss you,

    Janet

    RispondiElimina
  34. Hi
    I haven't got to visit you for some time, I have gone back to working full time and its just awful LOL
    There is lots sad stories like this I'm sure, I just met a man who is a tree trimmer going to cut a huge tree down for me, anyway his wife died 9 years ago and left him with a little girl who he is raising by himself, homeschooling her and he takes her on all his jobs, he can't bear to leave his daughter

    RispondiElimina
  35. What a beautiful story you found. I hope you given up your story's are so well loved

    RispondiElimina
  36. As you wrote "our time has come to an end...." I wonder if you meant your time has come to an end, dear Daniela, since it's already four months later now....
    Love and blesings,

    Jeanneke.

    RispondiElimina
  37. I have not seen you in a while. Hope you are well.

    RispondiElimina
  38. Sweet friend, I was just thinking of you and thought I would pop in to say "Hello!" I trust you are well ad I hope you've had a beautiful summer. Sending love and many hugs your way!

    RispondiElimina
  39. dear Dany, popping by to wish you a happy new year and as always i am wishing you well. xo Michele

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Dearest One,
      I'm so sorry for your concern, but I'm finally back, after publishing my book I'm here again, with my posts and together with you!
      Sending hugs of love ❀≼♥♥≽❀

      Elimina
  40. Dear Dany! Just thinking of you today, after all this time, and wondering if you are doing okay? Sending much love to you across the miles. You are missed!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Cheryl Dear,
      I'm finally back again!!!
      Thank you for your so sweet words and for your love,
      I'm coming and visit you at once
      take care ♥♡♥

      Elimina

I THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS, SO PRECIOUS TO ME.