Burkittsville in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Mausoleum

Gathland State Park

— Walking Tour Stop 6 —

Mausoleum Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

1. Mausoleum Marker

Inscription. Townsend regarded Gapland as a lasting monument to himself and his craft and wanted to rest here for all time. Townsend designed and erected his Mausoleum in 1895. Its four vaults were intended to house his remains and those of his wife and parents. A large iron likeness of his pet Great Dane, which Townsend sketched while staying at The Waldorf Hotel, was placed atop the tomb to keep vigil in his afterlife. But fate would not have it so. Townsend died at his daughter's home in New York City on April 15, 1914 and was buried alongside {his wife} Bessie in Philadelphia. The Gapland Mausoleum was never occupied, the sculpture of his dog was stolen, and the glory that was Gapland faded into ruin and indifference. But the spirit of this romantic journalist speaks out still in the epitaph above his tomb: Good Night - Gath.

Erected by Gathland State Park. (Marker Number 6.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Communications. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1936.

Location. 39° 24.294′ N, 77° 38.346′ W. Marker is in Burkittsville,

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Maryland, in Frederick County. It can be reached from Gapland Road. The Marker is along the Appalachian trail in Gathland State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Burkittsville MD 21718, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gath's Empty Tomb (here, next to this marker); Troup Light Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Padgett’s Field: Confederate Last Stand (within shouting distance of this marker); Burial: A Most Disagreeable Task (within shouting distance of this marker); The Stage is Set (within shouting distance of this marker); Bartlett Leads the Way (within shouting distance of this marker); Medal of Honor Recipients (within shouting distance

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

2. Mausoleum Marker

of this marker); GATH: The Man and His Mountain (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burkittsville.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

3. Mausoleum Marker

Gath's Sketch for the Mausoleum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

4. Gath's Sketch for the Mausoleum

Close-up of photo on marker

Good Night -- Gath image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

5. Good Night -- Gath

George Alfred Townsend's epitaph.Close-up of image on marker

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

6. Good Night -- Gath

George Alfred Townsend's epitaph on the mausoleum

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

7. Mausoleum

Terra Cotta Urn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

8. Terra Cotta Urn

Door of the Mausoleum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

9. Door of the Mausoleum

The Empty Tomb image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

10. The Empty Tomb

Burial Plot and Mausoleum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 2, 2012

11. Burial Plot and Mausoleum

Built in 1895 by George Alfred Townsent (Gath)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 935 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on June 10, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.