The broken glass tombstone of Daisy Schoolcraft as it is preserved today at the Old Stone Fort Museum.
This glass tombstone was made in memory of 4-year-old Daisy Schoolcraft who died in 1887. It originally held a place of honor in the Lutheran Cemetery of Schoharie until 1962 when it was desecrated by vandals who broke the glass and left it on the ground in splinters.
Following the desecration the Schoharie County Historical Society collected the pieces and had it mounted in a wooden frame for preservation at the Old Stone Fort Museum.
Today, it is on permanent display in the second floor gallery.
The Schoolcraft family of Central Bridge ran a glass factory and dedicated this beautiful and unique monument in memory of their young daughter. A drawing of it, calling attention to its uniqueness had appeared in a Ripley’s Believe It or Not column just prior to it’s vandalism.
The tombstone reads:
“In Memory Of
Daisy Schoolcraft
Born, March 25th, 1883
Died, Sept. 17th, 1887″
Followed by:
Ere sin could blight or sorrow fade, Death came with friendly care; The opening bud to heaven conveyed, And bade it blossom there.
-Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Daisy Schoolcraft’s glass tombstone in its original location at the Lutheran Cemetery of Schoharie before it was desecrated by vandals in 1962.
