Tragic 1913 Death of a Young Woman

 

This post shares research I conducted in 2024 on a young Jewish woman from Charleston who tragically died in a car accident in 1913 at the tender age of 19. 

I am using screenshots from presentations I have given recently to the South Carolina Genealogical Society in Charleston and on “The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast" when I was the guest last June. Check it out on YouTube! 

Gertrude Mordecai, known as Trude ("Our Trude" is inscribed on the base of the statue), is buried in Charleston at Magnolia Cemetery. I wrote about her tall mourning woman sculpture in my 2014 book, "In the Arms of Angels: Magnolia Cemetery- Charleston's Treasure of History, Mystery and Artistry."

Upon learning that is was a car accident that took Trude's young life in 1913 I was struck by the fact that as soon as automobiles became more numerous at that time, car fatalities soon followed. 

I was always curious to learn details about Trude's fatal accident so in spring 2024 while Alesia and I were at the cemetery I stopped at her grave and took new photographs and took notes such as the Lord Tennyson poetry on the bench. 

I decided to look into the circumstances of her death in more detail than I had done for my "In the Arms of Angels" Magnolia Cemetery book. You see the questions I sought to answer. 

“In the Arms of Angels” Magnolia Cemetery Book Delivery!

 

This day after Thanksgiving UPS delivery was a welcome sight (and placed inside my garage at that- glad the garage door happened to open on a rainy day).

 just in time for the holidays- 50 hot off the press copies of my 2014 book, “In the Arms of Angels: Magnolia Cemetery- Charleston’s Treasure of History, Mystery and Artistry.” 

I remain so proud of this book that pays tribute to Charleston’s premier Victorian necropolis that opened in 1850. Today Magnolia Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 30,000 souls. 

“In the Arms of Angels” can be ordered directly from me or through my Amazon author site. Either way, I will happily sign your copy. 

My email is birdseyeviewspublications@gmail.com. 

Many thanks to Charleston-based Palmetto Publishing and the company that printed my book, Integrated Book Tech in Dulles, Va., which is part of Books International. 

My books are always proudly Made in America! 

For more information on this book click here. 

My newest book, "Stories from the Underground: The Churchyards of Charleston," was released in September 2022. Click here for more information on this book that explores Charleston's rich, interesting and diverse history through the prism of its religious burial grounds. 

Portico Feature Article!

Many thanks to the fine staff at Portico, the College of Charleston's employee newsletter, for a really nice article about my Magnolia Cemetery research and books. Check out pages 5-6 of the online version of the Fall 2014 publication!

From the Fall 2014 CofC Portico employee newsletter

Pat and Patrick Side-by-Side!

I was pleased to see my book is keeping such good company on the shelves of Tomlinson's Warehouse in Summerville! This posting is also a chance to thank store manager Rod Ellison for his support of local authors and artisans. The same appreciation goes to the owners and managers of the other shops that carry my and other local authors' books.

"In the Arms" Now In the Arms of the Governor!

What a thrill it was when I saw this photo shared by Magnolia Cemetery Superintendent Beverly Donald! Beverly was in Columbia on June 11 to receive an award as part of the 2014 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards held in the state Capitol.

"In the Arms" Interest Sparks Second Printing

At Magnolia Cemetery on April 12 with
Superintendent Beverly Donald.
It was a beautiful day and a great turnout
for the first book signing!

Sales have been brisk of my new book, "In the Arms of Angels: Magnolia Cemetery- Charleston's Treasure of History, Mystery and Artistry." In April, the first two book signings, at Magnolia Cemetery and the College of Charleston, were very successful.