Relics of the Past

So, I'm in Queens, NY, for the premiere of Relic, Or I Was Bubbie's Favorite by Joel Feinman at Queens Theatre in the Park. It was a quiet day today, simply working on lights and sound cues.

More interesting is the fact that the theatre is adjacent to the Unisphere, which was erected for the 1964 World's Fair.

The theatre is also located in a building from the World's Fair era.

Since I couldn't sleep, before rehearsal, I spent the morning at Mt. Zion Cemetery, visiting with relics of my family history. It feels like I'm here on a pilgrimage of sorts, revisiting familiar people and places and presenting a play about family, tradition and inheritance. 

The Simon section at Mt. Zion is part of the Empire City Benevolent Society, which funded the plots. My great grandfather Jacob Joseph Simon was on the Benevolent Society committee, so his name is listed on the above gate.

Jacob Simon also was an Indian War veteran.

Jacob Simon's brother George changed his last name to Simonds, perhaps because it sounded less Jewish. His son Leonard died in childhood and is buried nearby.

 

Annie Simon was my great grandmother.  She married Jacob and had four sons, including my grandfather Barney, also known as Benjamin.

After Annie died a the age of 42, Jacob married Ray Simon to help him care for his four young sons. A relative from England, Ray was Jacob's "spinster" cousin.

Barney and Rose Simon, my grandparents. 

Uncle Leroy Simon is the third generation of Simons buried here.