A new gravestone for Kilmun

The first donation to our collection of artefacts and documents relating to Kilmun was presented just before Christmas 2011.

A very observant lady living in Kirn found an old and dirty stone commemorating the dog which had been the pet of Elizabeth Blackwell in the garden of an elderly neighbour, Doris Bryden, who had sadly passed away. Mrs E. Paterson contacted the family and requested that the stone should be passed on to Argyll Mausoleum Ltd., knowing that it would be taken care of and placed where the public can see it. Ian Gordon Jones, who lives in Kent, gladly gave permission for this to happen. Mrs Paterson then arranged, at her own expense, to have the stone cleaned and restored and it will eventually be displayed for visitors to see in the Welcome area.

While the remains of other important people lie in the churchyard, Elizabeth Blackwell is the most prominent, and the addition of this little gravestone is very important to us and to the visitors who come to pay their respects to a truly remarkable lady. Elizabeth Blackwell is buried in the old cemetery, and the ashes of her adopted daughter Kitty (Katherine Barry who died in America in 1936) were brought to Kilmun and placed on Elizabeth’s grave. It is truly fitting that the family group is now complete with this lovely reminder of a beloved pet at the site, thanks to Mrs Paterson and Mr Gordon Jones.

Elizabeth Blackwell died in 1910; her dog died in 1913. Who looked after the dog when Kitty returned to America after Elizabeth died? Who was responsible for having the stone made? We shall try to solve the mystery and will be very pleased if anyone can help!