Pearl French's Luminous Rocking Chair
Broadway Street, Taunton, MA
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free; public cemetery
Access
Wheelchair OK
Cemetery paths, headstone accessible from main pathways
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1882 · Child mortality memorial · Victorian grief ritual · Artistic headstone
Pearl E. French was a child who died far too young from spinal meningitis, a common and frequently fatal childhood illness in the late 19th century. She lived only three years, from August 21, 1878, to March 26, 1882. Her death deeply affected her family, who sought to memorialize her in a distinctive and intimate way.
Pearl's parents commissioned a granite headstone in the form of an Empire-style rocking chair, a direct reference to the poem "Her Vacant Chair" published in 1850 by Richard Coe Jr. The poem explored the emotional devastation of childhood loss and the absence left by a child's death. The rocking chair symbolized the empty comfort that would remain in the parents' home — the physical object that would never again be occupied by the child it was meant for.
Pearl's cousin Veva Lucille Johnson, who also fell victim to meningitis, was buried beside her in 1884, presumably sharing the family's grief and the site's memorialization of childhood tragedy.
The headstone became a recognized cemetery landmark, drawing visitors who appreciated its artistic representation of grief and loss. In the mid-1980s, the grave was desecrated by vandals, but the community restored the damaged headstone, allowing the memorial to continue serving its purpose.
Sources
The rocking chair headstone of Pearl French has become the subject of paranormal lore centered on luminous phenomena and apparitional sightings. According to numerous visitor accounts spanning decades, the granite chair exhibits glowing characteristics, particularly during evening and nighttime hours. The glow is described as emanating from the stone itself, creating an ethereal light that stands out in the darkened cemetery.
The most frequently reported phenomenon involves sightings of a young girl sitting in the rocking chair. Witnesses describe seeing a ghostly silhouette of a child figure occupying the stone chair, visible particularly at night. The apparition is described as semi-transparent or misty, consistent with typical paranormal manifestations. Some accounts suggest the figure appears to be gently rocking the chair, a rhythmic motion consistent with the chair's purpose.
Movement of the physical headstone has been reported, with visitors claiming to observe the heavy granite chair rocking back and forth without external force. While this could potentially be attributed to wind or vibration from nearby traffic, the consistency of reports and the specific timing of observations suggest intentional movement.
Floating orbs and lights have been observed in the vicinity of the grave, consistent with many cemetery hauntings. These luminous phenomena are interpreted by some as manifestations of Pearl's spirit presence.
The interpretation of these phenomena varies among visitors and paranormal researchers. Some attribute the reports to genuine paranormal activity, suggesting Pearl's spirit returns to the grave or manifests through the headstone. Others suggest the glowing effect may be caused by reflective properties of the granite under certain lighting conditions, atmospheric effects, or even intentional illumination by visitors leaving lights as tributes.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding the phenomena, the grave has become a pilgrimage site for paranormal enthusiasts and those interested in Victorian memorialization practices. Visitors frequently leave toys, flowers, and other remembrances at the headstone, creating a living memorial tradition that honors both Pearl and her grieving parents.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Walk to Pearl French's distinctive rocking chair headstone in Broadway Street Cemetery. Visitors may observe the granite Empire-style chair carved as a memorial to the three-year-old girl who died of meningitis in 1882. According to legend, the chair glows when Pearl's spirit is present.
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