Margaret Caroline Pitkin or "Little Margaret" as she was known locally, was born on November 18, 1892 in Montpelier to her parents Carroll Perley Pitkin and Mary A. Devine. She was an only child and the apple of her father’s eye.
She was a very popular school girl and well-liked by young and old alike. Little Margaret was known by almost everyone in the city and was deeply admired. She was an unusually pretty and attractive child and was the idol of her playmates. She was always bright and cheery, and had dazzling bright eyes and rosy cheeks. Margaret was the central figure in many local entertainments and amateur productions, and her grace and beauty were always a topic of conversation afterwards.
Margaret’s love of life was cut short. She suffered the grip of spinal meningitis—an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord cause by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms. She had only been ill but for a few days. The death was very sudden. During the last day or two of the child’s illness she was sleepy and drowsy. Margaret died on December 4, 1899. She was 7 years and 16 days of age.
The funeral of Margaret Pitkin was held at two o clock Wednesday afternoon from the house of Mr. and Mrs. Pitkin on Main Street. The floral offerings were very beautiful and filled the house with their fragrance. The shops of the Lane Manufacturing Company (where her father was employed) were shut down and many of the employees attended. The pall bearers were chosen from boys of about her own age who had been her playmates. Reverend Father W. J. O’ Sullivan, the officiating clergyman, spoke words of comfort and hope to the afflicted parents that found a response in the hearts of all who heard him. The burial was made in the Pitkin plot in Green Mount Cemetery.
As you can imagine, the parents were devastated. It is said by local folklore, that her father contracted a monument company to create this monument in her honor. He provided them with a photograph her and instructed them to carve an exact replica of the photo.
When the monument was finished, her father refused to pay for it based on the fact that the left boot was missing a button. The monument company was just about ready to void the bill and take a loss when they re-examined the photograph. They showed it to the father upon which he immediately paid for the monument as there was a button missing in the photograph.
The detail on this monument is very precise down to a ring on her right hand, strand of pearls on her neck, and the delicate eyelet on her dress. She wears a medal of some sort at the top of her dress. She leans on a granite rail with granite flowers at her feet. Visitors often place a necklace of pennies around her neck, or in the fold of the leaves and flowers with hope of a granted “wish or prayer”.
Margaret Caroline Pitkin is still adored and loved over 100 years later. Be sure to stop and say hello when you visit Green Mount Cemetery…and make a wish!
She was the subject of the song, "Song for Margaret" on the Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys album "I'll Take the Hills". She seems to be wistfully looking out upon the green hills of Vermont.
When D.J. Goldman (original creator of this site) took the first photo in the Spring there were no pennies around her neckline but in the Fall there was a necklace of pennies and also some had been placed in the folds of the leaves and flowers. Obviously, she has had a few visitors in between her trips.
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After Mrs. Goldman's passing I have been granted management until a family member steps forth. I have added-to and altered some of Mrs. Goldman's text as new information presents itself. If you have any information on Margaret, please contact me. If you would like to learn more, I have more pictures and some links. To see a 13 minute video on UTube about my visit to Margaret's grave, Google "Song4Margaret Mr Toad" with the video filter set. Please share this site and my video freely.
John Painter (Mr. TOAD)
She was a very popular school girl and well-liked by young and old alike. Little Margaret was known by almost everyone in the city and was deeply admired. She was an unusually pretty and attractive child and was the idol of her playmates. She was always bright and cheery, and had dazzling bright eyes and rosy cheeks. Margaret was the central figure in many local entertainments and amateur productions, and her grace and beauty were always a topic of conversation afterwards.
Margaret’s love of life was cut short. She suffered the grip of spinal meningitis—an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord cause by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms. She had only been ill but for a few days. The death was very sudden. During the last day or two of the child’s illness she was sleepy and drowsy. Margaret died on December 4, 1899. She was 7 years and 16 days of age.
The funeral of Margaret Pitkin was held at two o clock Wednesday afternoon from the house of Mr. and Mrs. Pitkin on Main Street. The floral offerings were very beautiful and filled the house with their fragrance. The shops of the Lane Manufacturing Company (where her father was employed) were shut down and many of the employees attended. The pall bearers were chosen from boys of about her own age who had been her playmates. Reverend Father W. J. O’ Sullivan, the officiating clergyman, spoke words of comfort and hope to the afflicted parents that found a response in the hearts of all who heard him. The burial was made in the Pitkin plot in Green Mount Cemetery.
As you can imagine, the parents were devastated. It is said by local folklore, that her father contracted a monument company to create this monument in her honor. He provided them with a photograph her and instructed them to carve an exact replica of the photo.
When the monument was finished, her father refused to pay for it based on the fact that the left boot was missing a button. The monument company was just about ready to void the bill and take a loss when they re-examined the photograph. They showed it to the father upon which he immediately paid for the monument as there was a button missing in the photograph.
The detail on this monument is very precise down to a ring on her right hand, strand of pearls on her neck, and the delicate eyelet on her dress. She wears a medal of some sort at the top of her dress. She leans on a granite rail with granite flowers at her feet. Visitors often place a necklace of pennies around her neck, or in the fold of the leaves and flowers with hope of a granted “wish or prayer”.
Margaret Caroline Pitkin is still adored and loved over 100 years later. Be sure to stop and say hello when you visit Green Mount Cemetery…and make a wish!
She was the subject of the song, "Song for Margaret" on the Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys album "I'll Take the Hills". She seems to be wistfully looking out upon the green hills of Vermont.
When D.J. Goldman (original creator of this site) took the first photo in the Spring there were no pennies around her neckline but in the Fall there was a necklace of pennies and also some had been placed in the folds of the leaves and flowers. Obviously, she has had a few visitors in between her trips.
------------------------
After Mrs. Goldman's passing I have been granted management until a family member steps forth. I have added-to and altered some of Mrs. Goldman's text as new information presents itself. If you have any information on Margaret, please contact me. If you would like to learn more, I have more pictures and some links. To see a 13 minute video on UTube about my visit to Margaret's grave, Google "Song4Margaret Mr Toad" with the video filter set. Please share this site and my video freely.
John Painter (Mr. TOAD)
Margaret Caroline Pitkin or "Little Margaret" as she was known locally, was born on November 18, 1892 in Montpelier to her parents Carroll Perley Pitkin and Mary A. Devine. She was an only child and the apple of her father’s eye.
She was a very popular school girl and well-liked by young and old alike. Little Margaret was known by almost everyone in the city and was deeply admired. She was an unusually pretty and attractive child and was the idol of her playmates. She was always bright and cheery, and had dazzling bright eyes and rosy cheeks. Margaret was the central figure in many local entertainments and amateur productions, and her grace and beauty were always a topic of conversation afterwards.
Margaret’s love of life was cut short. She suffered the grip of spinal meningitis—an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord cause by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms. She had only been ill but for a few days. The death was very sudden. During the last day or two of the child’s illness she was sleepy and drowsy. Margaret died on December 4, 1899. She was 7 years and 16 days of age.
The funeral of Margaret Pitkin was held at two o clock Wednesday afternoon from the house of Mr. and Mrs. Pitkin on Main Street. The floral offerings were very beautiful and filled the house with their fragrance. The shops of the Lane Manufacturing Company (where her father was employed) were shut down and many of the employees attended. The pall bearers were chosen from boys of about her own age who had been her playmates. Reverend Father W. J. O’ Sullivan, the officiating clergyman, spoke words of comfort and hope to the afflicted parents that found a response in the hearts of all who heard him. The burial was made in the Pitkin plot in Green Mount Cemetery.
As you can imagine, the parents were devastated. It is said by local folklore, that her father contracted a monument company to create this monument in her honor. He provided them with a photograph her and instructed them to carve an exact replica of the photo.
When the monument was finished, her father refused to pay for it based on the fact that the left boot was missing a button. The monument company was just about ready to void the bill and take a loss when they re-examined the photograph. They showed it to the father upon which he immediately paid for the monument as there was a button missing in the photograph.
The detail on this monument is very precise down to a ring on her right hand, strand of pearls on her neck, and the delicate eyelet on her dress. She wears a medal of some sort at the top of her dress. She leans on a granite rail with granite flowers at her feet. Visitors often place a necklace of pennies around her neck, or in the fold of the leaves and flowers with hope of a granted “wish or prayer”.
Margaret Caroline Pitkin is still adored and loved over 100 years later. Be sure to stop and say hello when you visit Green Mount Cemetery…and make a wish!
She was the subject of the song, "Song for Margaret" on the Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys album "I'll Take the Hills". She seems to be wistfully looking out upon the green hills of Vermont.
When D.J. Goldman (original creator of this site) took the first photo in the Spring there were no pennies around her neckline but in the Fall there was a necklace of pennies and also some had been placed in the folds of the leaves and flowers. Obviously, she has had a few visitors in between her trips.
------------------------
After Mrs. Goldman's passing I have been granted management until a family member steps forth. I have added-to and altered some of Mrs. Goldman's text as new information presents itself. If you have any information on Margaret, please contact me. If you would like to learn more, I have more pictures and some links. To see a 13 minute video on UTube about my visit to Margaret's grave, Google "Song4Margaret Mr Toad" with the video filter set. Please share this site and my video freely.
John Painter (Mr. TOAD)
She was a very popular school girl and well-liked by young and old alike. Little Margaret was known by almost everyone in the city and was deeply admired. She was an unusually pretty and attractive child and was the idol of her playmates. She was always bright and cheery, and had dazzling bright eyes and rosy cheeks. Margaret was the central figure in many local entertainments and amateur productions, and her grace and beauty were always a topic of conversation afterwards.
Margaret’s love of life was cut short. She suffered the grip of spinal meningitis—an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord cause by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms. She had only been ill but for a few days. The death was very sudden. During the last day or two of the child’s illness she was sleepy and drowsy. Margaret died on December 4, 1899. She was 7 years and 16 days of age.
The funeral of Margaret Pitkin was held at two o clock Wednesday afternoon from the house of Mr. and Mrs. Pitkin on Main Street. The floral offerings were very beautiful and filled the house with their fragrance. The shops of the Lane Manufacturing Company (where her father was employed) were shut down and many of the employees attended. The pall bearers were chosen from boys of about her own age who had been her playmates. Reverend Father W. J. O’ Sullivan, the officiating clergyman, spoke words of comfort and hope to the afflicted parents that found a response in the hearts of all who heard him. The burial was made in the Pitkin plot in Green Mount Cemetery.
As you can imagine, the parents were devastated. It is said by local folklore, that her father contracted a monument company to create this monument in her honor. He provided them with a photograph her and instructed them to carve an exact replica of the photo.
When the monument was finished, her father refused to pay for it based on the fact that the left boot was missing a button. The monument company was just about ready to void the bill and take a loss when they re-examined the photograph. They showed it to the father upon which he immediately paid for the monument as there was a button missing in the photograph.
The detail on this monument is very precise down to a ring on her right hand, strand of pearls on her neck, and the delicate eyelet on her dress. She wears a medal of some sort at the top of her dress. She leans on a granite rail with granite flowers at her feet. Visitors often place a necklace of pennies around her neck, or in the fold of the leaves and flowers with hope of a granted “wish or prayer”.
Margaret Caroline Pitkin is still adored and loved over 100 years later. Be sure to stop and say hello when you visit Green Mount Cemetery…and make a wish!
She was the subject of the song, "Song for Margaret" on the Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys album "I'll Take the Hills". She seems to be wistfully looking out upon the green hills of Vermont.
When D.J. Goldman (original creator of this site) took the first photo in the Spring there were no pennies around her neckline but in the Fall there was a necklace of pennies and also some had been placed in the folds of the leaves and flowers. Obviously, she has had a few visitors in between her trips.
------------------------
After Mrs. Goldman's passing I have been granted management until a family member steps forth. I have added-to and altered some of Mrs. Goldman's text as new information presents itself. If you have any information on Margaret, please contact me. If you would like to learn more, I have more pictures and some links. To see a 13 minute video on UTube about my visit to Margaret's grave, Google "Song4Margaret Mr Toad" with the video filter set. Please share this site and my video freely.
John Painter (Mr. TOAD)
