Laurel Hill

12/01/2025

Our community partner, Women's Animal Center, is in urgent need of pet food donations for their pet food pantry. They are seeking donations of unopened and unexpired bags of dry dog and cat food (20 lbs. max, any brand) and cat litter (any brand). Donations of dry food items for small pets such as birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and mice are also appreciated.

Donations can be dropped off at Laurel Hill West’s Funeral Home, Laurel Hill East’s Gatehouse, or in the donation bin in Women’s Animal Center’s lobby during business hours, or shipped to their address (3839 Richlieu Road, Bensalem). Shelter Supply donations for the Center’s basic care of the shelter animals waiting for loving forever homes are appreciated. You can also view their Chewy & Amazon wish lists here: https://womensanimalcenter.org/make-difference/supply-our-shelter

Your donations will help families in financial need to feed their beloved pets and keep them in their homes this holiday season! 🧡🐾

*Remi 🐕 & Sylvester Stallone 🐈 pictured

12/01/2025

Curious what we've been up to to manage our invasive English ivy? Stay tuned to learn more from ...
AmericasGardenCapital

11/27/2025

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones. 🧡

Sarah J. Hale (1788-1879) is referred to as the "Mother of Thanksgiving" because she campaigned for over 30 years to establish it as a national holiday, using her influence as the editor of a popular magazine to write letters to presidents and governors and to promote the holiday to her readers.

Hale is buried in the X section of Laurel Hill East.

11/12/2025

Happy 186th birthday to Frank Furness, one of Philadelphia’s most renowned architects of the Victorian era!

While many of Furness' most important buildings were demolished due to decades of neglect, some can still be seen around the city today, including the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, which helped established Furness as one of the major artists of his generation. Additionally, Furness is credited as the architect of The Girard Trust Bank Building (now the Ritz-Carlton Hotel), the Philadelphia Zoo Gatehouses, Mt. Airy Train Station, The First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, and Undine Barge Club along Boat House Row, along with the club’s social upriver gathering spot, Castle Ringstetten.

Furness was also a military veteran and received the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the Civil War. For someone who designed ornate buildings, his headstone is very modest. Frank Furness is laid to rest in Section S of Laurel Hill East.

📷
1. Frank Furness
2. Frank’s first commission – Germantown Unitarian Church [1866]
3. Rodeph Shalom Synagogue on Broad Street [1866]
4. Philadelphia Zoo Gatehouses [1875]
5. Castle Ringstetten [1875]
6. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts [1876]
7. University of Penn Library, now the Fisher Fine Arts Library [1891]
8. Girard Trust [1907]
9. Frank Furness’ headstone

11/11/2025

We are honored to be the final resting place of many veterans, including naval and marine heroes like Commodore Richard Dale (1756-1826), who served during the Revolutionary War; General Jacob Zeilin (1806-1880), the first general in the history of the Marine Corps; and Commodore Isaac Hull (1773-1843), who commanded the USS Constitution during the War of 1812.

On this Veteran’s Day, we thank all of the brave men and women for their sacrifice and service to our country. "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it."

Wishing all who have served a happy Veteran’s Day! 🇺🇸

11/08/2025

We warmly welcomed friends of Women's Animal Center last weekend on the most purrfect fall morning! Two- and four-leggers gathered to learn more about Philadelphia's pawsitive past involving pets, animals, and activists. 🐾

Founded in 1869 — the same year as Laurel Hill West — Women's Animal Center is America's First Animal Shelter™. For 156 years, Women's Animal Center has served the pets and the people in the Greater Philadelphia region, while advocating for the welfare of animals throughout our country and beyond. Their advocacy towards animals welfare is remarkable! Learn more about all the wonderful things they do: https://womensanimalcenter.org/ 🧡

11/06/2025

It's 🎷🎶
Grammy Award winner Grover Washington, Jr. (1943-1999) was a saxophonist whose music was in the middle ground between jazz, and rhythm and blues. While his first three albums established him as a force in jazz and soul music, it was his fourth album in 1974, Mister Magic, that proved a major commercial success. He is considered by many to be one of the founders and legends of the smooth jazz genre. Grover is laid to rest in the Franconia section of Laurel Hill West.

: There is a large mural of Grover Washington, Jr. at the intersection of Broad and Diamond Streets on Temple University’s campus!

11/01/2025

⚠️New gate hours⚠️ Beginning Sunday, November 2nd, our winter gate hours will go into effect. Our grounds will now be accessible daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please plan your visits accordingly – thank you!

10/24/2025

Earlier this week, we had the privilege of attending Women's Animal Center's first Luminary Remembrance Night in honor of the pets we've loved and lost. Thank you, Women's Animal Center, for being a dedicated partner, an advocate for animal welfare, and to remind us of the lasting impact of our cherished pets. 🐾 🌈

10/21/2025

10/19/2025

We had the pleasure of welcoming our Nature's Sanctuary families today for our annual fall family planting day. It's a day for reflection, togetherness, and love. We're grateful to all who lent a hand on this beautiful autumn morning and we hope it means as much to you as it does to us! 🌿🍂

10/16/2025