Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals, The Early Years

Classified ad for Aspin Hill Cemetery and Kennels, Evening Star newspaper, July 1, 1923
Classified ad for Aspin Hill Cemetery and Kennels, Evening Star newspaper, July 1, 1923

This is an old article on the history of the pet cemetery. For the latest, go to this page: https://petcemeterystories.net/aspin-hill-history/

On July 14, 1920, Richard C. Birney and his wife Bertha took possession of what was referred to on the deed as “10 acres more or less on the Seventh Street Pike.” (Seventh Street Pike is now known as Georgia Avenue.) 1 On this tract of farmland, seven miles north of the Washington, D.C. border, the Birneys planned to breed dogs, to board other peoples’ dogs, and to run a pet cemetery.

Both the kennels and the cemetery were christened with the name “Aspin Hill.” The Birneys’ breeding and boarding enterprise became known as “Aspin Hill Kennels.” The cemetery was called “Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals.” Legend has it that the Birneys got the name from a famous dog kennel in England, not from the surrounding community, which is called “Aspen Hill.” 2 Their decision to name their business in this manner has led to confusion about the proper spelling of the cemetery’s name which persists to this day.

According to an article in a 1922 issue of The Evening Star, “The Aspin Hill Kennel … owned and operated by Mrs. R. C. Birney, is a revelation in the profession of boarding and breeding dogs. The specialty of the kennel is breeding Boston terriers, but in addition there is boarding space for about one hundred dogs, and a cemetery. Each dog in the kennel has a separate house and run, and these open into large exercising paddocks.” 3

In addition to breeding Boston Terriers, Mr. and Mrs. Birney also raised miniature Schnauzers, Scotties, and other breeds over the years that they ran the kennels. During the 1930s, their dogs were often champions in dog shows.

Vincent, a horse. Died October 6 in Richmond, Virginia. Buried at Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals. Photo by Julianne Mangin, March 2018
Vincent, a horse. Died October 6 in Richmond, Virginia. Buried at Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals. Photo by Julianne Mangin, March 2018

One of the earliest burials in Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals occurred just a few months after the Birneys bought their property.  It was a horse named Vincent whose remains were brought all the way from Richmond by the daughter of his late owners and a man who was an employee of the family.  Uncle John, as he was called, fell to his knees and wept while Vincent’s body was lowered into the ground.  The daughter planted violets on his grave from the field where the beloved horse had spent his days. 4

The following year, Mrs. Selma Snook of Washington, D. C. began burying her poodles at Aspin Hill. In May of 1921, 15-year-old Boots passed away of a kidney ailment. A wake was held in Snook’s home, during which Boots lay in state in a white casket adorned with flowers and wreaths.  Later, a procession of two automobiles transported Boots’ remains from Snook’s home to the cemetery where Boots was laid to rest. 5

Buster, Mrs. Selma Snook's poodle, lies in state. October 1922. National Photo Company Collection. Library of Congress call number: LC-F82- 6749
Buster, Mrs. Selma Snook’s poodle, lies in state. October 1922. National Photo Company Collection. Library of Congress call number: LC-F82- 6749

Pet cemeteries were not common in the 1920s.  Burying a dog with this kind of pomp and ceremony was even more unusual. Boots’ funeral was reported on the front page the local newspaper. When another of Mrs. Snook’s poodles, Buster, died just five months later, the story of her elaborate dog funeral made the papers yet again. Buster, it was reported, had been laid to rest in a lambskin-lined coffin.  This time, a photographer was sent to capture images of the entire affair. 6

Burial of Buster in Snook plot in Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals, October, 1921. National Photo Company Collection, October 7, 1921. Library of Congress call number: LC-F8- 16116
Burial of Buster in Snook plot in Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals, October, 1921. National Photo Company Collection, October 7, 1921. Library of Congress call number: LC-F8- 16116

The following year was no better for the Snook household.  The poodle known as Snowball died in July 1922. Four boys acted as his pallbearers, carrying the white casket out to the Snook plot in Aspin Hill. Snowball’s sister Trixie was so broken-hearted over his death that she succumbed just four days later. 7

Funeral for Snowball Snook, a dog. National Photo Company Collection, 1922. Library of Congress call number: LC-F8- 20083
Funeral for Snowball Snook, a dog. National Photo Company Collection, 1922. Library of Congress call number: LC-F8- 20083

All four of Selma Snook’s poodles were buried side by side, each with their own gray polished granite markers. I found the inscription on Trixie’s gravestone particularly poignant:

Finest Friends I Ever Had
Sleeping Side by Side
I Love and Miss You All

[See photos of the Snook plot as it looked then, and now.]

Mr. Birney did not view this outpouring of emotion over a pet animal as excessive.  He gladly offered his services at what he felt were reasonable prices. In a 1925 interview with The Evening Star, he said, “To me, in this work-a-day, selfish world those stones there tell a beautiful story. Maybe we all aren’t as jazz-crazed and pleasure-mad as some people would have us believe.” 8

In 1930, while being interviewed by The Washington Post, Mr. Birney said, “We always realized that when a pet dies, its owner is in a quandary where to bury it, especially if he is a city dweller. But we were utterly surprised at the number of animals brought to us during the first year, a number that steadily increases.” 9 By that time, there were more than 1,400 animals buried at the cemetery.

This is part 1 of the history of Aspin Hill.  See all 4 parts at:

https://petcemeterystories.net/aspin-hill-history/

Part 2:
Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals, 1930-1960

Sources Consulted:

  1. Maryland Land Records, Liber 294 folio 492(1920) https://mdlandrec.net/
  2. Section 8, p. 2. “Significance.” Maryland Historical Trust Addendum Sheet. Survey No. M:27-17, Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery.   https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/Montgomery/M; 27-17.pdf
  3. Kernodle, George H. “Kennel and Field,” The Evening Star, September 17, 1922. Sports Section, p. 4.
  4. “Touching Epitaphs in Pets’ Cemetery; Funeral for Dogs, Cats, and Other Domestic Animals Often Elaborate,” The Evening Star, March 23, 1925. pg. 4.
  5. “‘Boots’ is Laid to Rest In Aristocratic Home of Wealthy Bow-Wows,” The Washington Times, May 2, 1922. p. 1.
  6. “Buster’s Bones in Lambskin Coffin,” The Washington Times, October 9, 1921. p. 16.
  7. “White Poodle Dies of Grief Over Demise of Her Brother.” The Washington Times, July 13, 1922, p. 1.
  8. “Touching Epitaphs in Pets’ Cemetery; Funeral for Dogs, Cats, and Other Domestic Animals Often Elaborate,” The Evening Star, March 23, 1925. p. 4.
  9. Wootten, Katherine Hinton, “Where Your Pets Lie Sleeping,” Washington Post, Oct 26, 1930. pg SM6

6 thoughts on “Aspin Hill Cemetery for Pet Animals, The Early Years”

  1. The sweetness, loyalty and friendship of our loving pets are treasures in our lives..RIP fur babies.

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