Most Holy Trinity Cemetery

It's not so ridiculous to think that I'd still be finding new-to-me cemeteries in New York—a lot of people have lived, and died, here for ages and they all had to end up somewhere. It is surprising to me, however, that I'm still finding completely unique cemeteries that have somehow alluded me despite my immersion in all things funereal.

Most Holy Trinity Cemetery was founded in 1851 by the German Catholic Most Holy Trinity Church. It's located in Bushwick, Brooklyn and the L train runs right alongside (and looms over) the grounds. Almost all of the graves (except for a few modern ones) are marked with wood or metal markers to make no posthumous distinction between the rich and the poor. I knew this before I went to explore, but immediately upon entering the gates, I knew that I had found a cemetery unlike any I'd ever seen before.

The hollow tin markers outnumber other materials such as wood, stainless steel or copper, and the effect is visually incredible. There are approximately 25,000 graves in Most Holy Trinity, and while some have been freshly painted and well-maintained, a majority are rusting in the most beautiful ways. Layers of peeling paint and dripping rust have always been my jam, but when combined with my love of tombstones and cemeteries the end result is perfect. I said (to myself) several times as I walked around "I am so,

so

happy."

There used to be more copper monuments, but they've been stolen over the years for their scrap value. I did see a few remaining, all of which are sporting a beautiful Statue-of-Liberty green patina. There were crosses on almost everything, made from weathered wood, shiny steel and even what looked like plain (now rusty) pipe.

A lot of the hollow tin markers have become damaged in some way aside from the natural beating you'd expect from the elements. Some of them were so twisted and dented that it's hard to imagine what could have caused such intense damage. I'm used to crumbling stone or tree roots swallowing headstones over time, but I just couldn't get enough of the undulating folds and crumpled crosses. I've been arbitrarily giving "top five" status to a lot of places I've visited lately and it is a bit of a Sophie's Choice for me as far as cemeteries are concerned, but Most Holy Trinity has definitely earned a spot as one of my top-five favorite New York cemeteries.