City of the Dead

Designed during Queen Victoria’s reign, Picton’s Glenwood Cemetery was consecrated in 1873 by the Rt. Reverend John Travers Lewis, Bishop of Ontario. Victorian symbolism abounds within its gates, and a reservoir on Ridge Avenue is inscribed with the words “City of the Dead.” Reflecting the concept of a city or community, Glenwood has designated streets and distinct neighbourhoods reflective of the social standings of those buried there.

Those who rest in this City of the Dead have their stories, some written in stone for passersby to read and others told only in yellowed newspaper clippings or in the crumbling pages of old scrapbooks. Among Glenwood’s most distinguished citizens is a doctor who once walked the hallways of hospitals in Edinburgh and London, then returned to his boyhood home to devote his lifetime to ministering to the sick.

When Masonic services for Dr. John Wright, the man known as Picton’s pioneer physician, took place outside Glenwood Cemetery’s chapel in the winter of 1912, the fraternal funeral procession was the largest ever witnessed in the town. Representative brethren from throughout the district came by special train, with 250 Masons in the procession, which wound from Dr. Wright’s home to the cemetery.

Born in North Marysburgh Township, Dr. Wright was educated at Cressy Public School and later Albert College in Belleville where he secured an M.A. degree. He continued his studies at McGill University in Montreal and graduated as a medical doctor. He then furthered his education in Edinburgh and London, earning the degrees of C.M. and L.R.C.P. of London, England.

Dr. Wright then returned to Prince Edward County where he established a successful practice in Picton. For a number of years he was the Medical Officer of Health and was commended for his attention to “the poor and unfortunate”. In 1887, he married Miss Rose Gearing with whom he had two children, a son, George, who died at the age of 12, and a daughter, Mary.

As a young man, Dr. Wright developed a keen interest in Masonry. He was a Past Master of Prince Edward Lodge No. 18 A.F. and A.M., Past District Deputy Grand Master of Prince Edward District No. 13, a member of Chapter 41, Royal Arch Masons and Vice-Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Great Priory of Canada. At the time of his death, he was the Presiding Preceptor of St. George Preceptory No. 52, Knights Templar, Picton.

The popular Picton physician died of pneumonia, on February 29, 1912, only a week after making his last professional call. He was 56 years old. For three days following his death, hundreds of Picton and Prince Edward County residents called at his home to pay their respects. His casket was banked with dozens of floral tributes testifying to the high regard in which he was held.

Dr. Wright’s Masonic funeral service was conducted by Worthy Brothers F.E. Leavitt and John Shaw, under the direction of Prince Edward Lodge No. 18 A.F. and A.M. Canon Loucks pf Kingston, parish rector, solemnized the Church of England service. Pall bearers for the beloved physician were Worshipful Brothers Ed Case, D.J. Barker, C. Clapp Spencer, H.U. Tobey, J.L. Graydon and J. Hepburn.

Newspaper accounts of Dr. Wright’s passing reported that owing to the ever-changing nature of “things earthly”, he had become Picton’s pioneer physician by the age of 56. His death at such a relatively young age was deeply mourned and his funeral one of the most impressive ever seen at the turn of the last century.