275 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
SUCCESSFUL CEMETERY NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING 
Probably few cemeteries make use of 
newspaper advertising ; probably many 
superintendents doubt the value of it. 
Evidence,’ however, is accumulating lo 
show that the modern cemetery can be 
judiciously, profitably and inoffensively 
advertised. The most extensive use of 
newspaper publicity that has come to 
our notice is that of Elmwood Ceme- 
tery, Birmingham, Ala., and Mr. John 
R. Gaudin, secretary and treasurer of 
the company, writes that it has been 
very successful. He attributes the 
doubling of the lot sales solely to their 
newspaper and illustrated booklet ad- 
vertising. 
The campaign has been systematically 
planned and an appropriation sufficient 
to allow the use of generous space, com- 
bined with carefully prepared copy and 
frequent illustrations, have produced the 
remarkable results noted. 
The advertisements varied in size 
from six inches, double column, to seven 
inches, triple column, and each one had 
an appropriate illustration. We repro- 
duce one of them herewith, with the ex- 
ception of the cut which was poorly 
printed. The text of four others is re- 
printed here and is well worth the study 
of others who may be planning similar 
work. 
Such advertising has an educative 
value that will benefit both the public 
and the cemetery using it. The people 
are not slow to appreciate the advan- 
tages of the modern lawn cemetery over 
the old fashioned graveyard, but they 
need to be told. The advertisements 
were well displayed, and each one de- 
voted to some special feature of the 
cemetery management that would be 
likely to interest lot holders. 
They were all accompanied by suit- 
able half-tone illustrations, some of 
which will be suggested by the head 
lines. 
They are as follows ; 
AN ANNODNCEMENT. 
Great progress has been made during the 
summer months on the extensive improve- 
ments at Elmwood, Birmingham’s progres- 
sive cemetery. Perfect drainage has been se- 
cured, and all lots and roads are laid out 
according to natural contour, or slopes, of 
the ground. Underground drainage will pre- 
vent the washing of roads, and Elmwood 
has purchased 3,500 feet of piping, which is 
now being laid down under directions of 
engineers. New driveways are being con- 
structed, all being macadamized, and being 
carefully planned by the best landscape ar- 
chitect of the country. New lawn sections 
are now being placed on the market; these 
are slightly sloped and sodded with grass, 
thus giving each lot a perfect surface for 
drainage. Mowing the grass on every lot is 
provided free, by the Elmwood cemetery. 
This makes every lot uniform in appear- 
ance. To guarantee this care and attention 
in future generations, Elmwood is perma- 
nently reserving, or setting aside 10 per cent 
of its sales to provide an endowment fund 
of .?50,p00. Extensive fall planting of trees 
and shrubbery will assist nature in beauti- 
fying Elmwood and providing shady, quiet 
spots, which will make Elmwood indeed a 
peaceful garden of eternal sleep. The loca- 
tion of Elmwood, when you consider the 
expected growth of the city, is ideal, away 
from the noisy manufacturing district, yet 
in the heart of the district, and accessible 
by both electric cars and macadamized 
roads. Easy terms are offered those who 
desire family burial lots, and arrangements 
can be made to remove relatives from other 
cemeteries. Descriptive booklet will be 
mailed free to anyone who will phone Elm- 
wood cemetery. A representative will call 
at any appointed time and give information 
desired, or meet those interested with con- 
veyances and show the beautiful park-like 
burial grounds. 
Perpetual Care. 
Past experience of generations has proven 
that even among the wealthy, after their 
estates had passed into other hands, their 
cemetery lots were neglected, and no mo.ney 
was spent for either graves or lots. It is 
indeed a consolation to realize that when 
you have a lot in Elmwood cemetery (which 
is the only perpetual care cemetery in the 
State), that the lots and graves will be 
cared for, regardless of the whereabouts of 
lot owners. 
Elmwood cemetery is modern, and on the 
Future Ouarautee 
r protect aad guanntce fot owners with perpetual care in 
futare generatumc. the company is reserving lo per 'cent 
tit the tale of ail lots and graves, f50.ooo.oo is lo be re- 
served. the principal will be permanently set aside to endow Elm- 
wood. and the interest only will be expended in giving care. 
Lot Owners’ Association. 
We are organizing the Elmwood Lot Owners’ AssocTirtroo 
composed of lot owners, nnd they will annually elect ■ trustees, 
whose duty is to co-operate and assist the directors of llie Elmwood 
Cemetery Company in investing the reserve endowment fund to 
ibe best adv.-rntage. 
Best Time to Purchase 
It is strange that so many people wait until death, the time of 
sorrow and excitement, to piircliase a cemetery lot. At thi^'time, 
fninilies ere unsettled, und do not give the selection proper thought 
while others shift tliis responsibility on their friends, and all 
through life tliev regret because of their not having a larger lot. 
cr a tetter location. Purchasing a cemetery lot is a duty tliat is 
to be pertorincd but once in life, and why nut buy now, while tiie 
prices are low. .and you can secure the best location, lliat in time 
money couUl not purchase? 
Information 
Parties dcriring information regarding Elmvrodd. whether with 
the intention of buyltig or not, will receive polite kind and comr- 
teous attention. Those having relatives interred in other ceme- 
teries. may arrange to have them disinterred into Elmwood. 
Take SontU Bessemer or Powderly cars. Both Telephones. 
NEWSPAPER AD. OF ELMWOOD CEME- 
TERY, BIRMINGHAM, ALA. 
lawn plan. The keeping of the grass mowed, 
and ordinary care of the iots is free to aii 
iot owners. This is quite a saving of money 
and great satisfaction to aii who have reia- 
tives interred in Eimwood. Many peopie 
owning lots in other cemeteries pay monthly 
assessments of $1.00, which amounts to $12 
annually, and in ten years’ time they have 
paid $120 lor care, besides the cost of the 
lot. Elmwood cemetery is the best and 
cheapest; they are reserving 10 per cent of 
the sales of lots to endow Elmwood and 
provide lor future care. 
The South Bessemer, Powderly cars, stop 
at Elmwood Cemetery Station, and the 
beautiful burial grounds are but a lew 
blocks' walk. 
Landscape Improvements. 
Mr. Sid J. Hare, the celebrated landscape 
artist and engineer, after personal visits, 
and spending much time in study of the 
natural advantages of Elmwood cemetery, 
has drawn plans for extensive improvements 
which will beautify the grounds by having 
many lakes, graceful curved roads, oval- 
shaped green lawns and artistic grouping of 
trees and shrubbery. 
In recent years all modern cemeteries have 
.been placed on a business basis and instead 
of having a lew lots cared for and others 
neglected, Elmwood cemetery, which is the 
most progressive here, cares for all lots 
under its perpetual care plan, and are pro- 
viding lor future generations by endowing 
Elmwood cemetery with $50,000, which will 
be permanently set aside and invested, giv- 
ing Elmwood an annual income or revenue. 
Mr. John Meininger, a German florist, is 
in charge of the planting of the trees, shrub- 
bery and flowers. New macadamized roads 
have been built. The office and phones are 
located at Elmwood cemetery. Visitors at 
Elmwood are always welcome to visit the 
grounds and see the improvements. The 
Powderly and South Bessemer cars stop at 
Elmwood station, which is only a lew blocks 
walk to the modern lawn cemetery. 
Interior View of Chapel. 
Among the many improvements at beauti- 
ful Elmwood cemetery is a substantially 
built stucco chapel, with ladies’ waiting 
rooms and office adjoining, connected with 
both city ’phones. The use of the chapel for 
funeral services is free, and to those not 
members of any church, or those not having 
the room or convenience at home, especially 
in rainy weather has the chapel been a ne- 
cessity. Elmwood is making extensive im- 
provements, and we invite the public to 
visit the modern lawn cemetery and see the 
already naturally pretty grounds being rap- 
idly transformed into the most beautiful 
cemetery in the South. During the week 
Elmwood presents an active scene, and is 
keeping in line with Birmingham’s progress. 
Many teams, plows, scrapers and laborers 
are employed. This is noticeable especially 
in cemeteries, as most of them are neglected 
in the district. Notwithstanding the thou- 
sands of dollars to be spent in improve- 
ments, Elmwood, has graves to sell as low 
as $5, and has not made any recent increase 
in prices of lots, and still sells them on easy 
terms. Both telephones are at the cemetery 
offices, and information will he cheerfully 
given. 
