Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn is one of New York City’s most beautiful and historic burial grounds. Its rolling hills, grand mausoleums, and tree-lined paths create a peaceful setting, but hidden among its monuments is one of the city’s most haunting and moving love stories. This is the extraordinary true tale of Jonathan Reed, a devoted husband whose daily ritual of mourning became legendary.
The Story of Jonathan Reed of Greenwood Cemetery
Who Was Jonathan Reed?
Jonathan Reed was a successful Brooklyn merchant in the late 19th century, known among his peers as a respectable businessman and a devoted family man. Though not wealthy by elite standards, Reed was comfortable enough to provide a stable and genteel life for his beloved wife, Mary.
By all accounts, their marriage was deeply affectionate. Friends and neighbors described their bond as unusually close, even by Victorian standards. Mary was not just Reed’s wife, she was his emotional anchor, his companion, and his greatest joy.
When Mary died in 1893, Reed’s world collapsed.
A Mausoleum Unlike Any Other
Grief-stricken and unable to imagine life without her, Reed purchased a private mausoleum in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. This is where where Mary was laid to rest, along with an empty coffin for him. But rather than sealing the tomb and leaving, Reed transformed it into something extraordinary.
According to The New York Times, Reed furnished the mausoleum “just like a living room in a fine house.” Her resting place included an oil stove to keep the room warm, their wedding china, paintings and photos of Mary throughout her life, a clock, books and her half-finished knitting, and even their pet parrot (first living, later preserved through taxidermy.
This was not merely a tomb, it was a home, a shrine, and a sanctuary.
A Daily Ritual of Devotion
Each morning, Reed arrived as the cemetery opened saying, “Good Morning, Mary, I have come to sit with you.” He remained in the tomb all day, talking to Mary, dining off their wedding china, reading to her and keeping vigil. In the evening, when cemetery rules required him to leave, he reluctantly departed — only to return again the next morning. He repeated this ritual every single day for more than ten years.
Why Did Jonathan Reed Become Famous?
Word of Reed’s vigil began to spread, and soon company was stopping by. By his account, 7,000 people visited in the first year alone. The Reeds began receiving guests from around the globe, including seven Buddhist monks who’d traveled all the way from Burma, believing Reed knew something of life after death.
Women also began calling, some expressing romantic interest. Reed always refused them gently but firmly. He had promised Mary he would never leave her. Besides, he insisted Mary was not dead; the warmth had simply left her body. If he kept the mausoleum warm, she would continue to sleep peacefully. To Reed, death was not final – only temporary. His vigil was not just mourning. It was hope.
A True Love Story? Or Tragic Obsession?
To some, Jonathan Reed’s story is the ultimate testament to eternal love. To others, it is a heartbreaking portrait of grief so profound it consumed a man’s entire existence. Yet for more than a decade, Reed remained steadfast, never missing a single day. His devotion transformed him into a living legend, a symbol of love so intense it defied time, reason, and death itself.
The Final Chapter
In 1905, cemetery workers discovered Jonathan Reed lying on the mausoleum floor, his arms stretched toward Mary’s coffin. He had suffered a fatal stroke. Reed was laid to rest beside his beloved wife, finally filling the empty coffin he had prepared years earlier. The mausoleum was sealed, and the key has since disappeared.
FAQs – The Jonathan Reed Love Story
Why does his story still captivate us today?
Jonathan Reed’s story endures because it speaks to universal human fears and hopes: fear of loss, fear of loneliness, and the longing for love that transcends mortality. In a city defined by ambition, speed, and reinvention, his quiet daily devotion stands in stark contrast, a reminder that some bonds remain unbroken, even by death.
Can you still visit Jonathan and Mary Reed’s mausoleum today?
Yes, the Reed mausoleum still stands in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. While the tomb remains locked and its interior is no longer visible, visitors can still see the exterior and learn about the couple’s remarkable story as part of the cemetery’s rich historical landscape. So if you ever find yourself wandering Greenwood Cemetery, pause for a moment near Reed’s mausoleum and feel the lingering echo of a love story unlike any other
Want to discover more of New York’s hidden stories?
Join a guided tour with Walks and experience the city through the people who shaped it. From haunting love stories like Jonathan Reed’s to dramatic moments that changed history, our expert guides bring the past vividly to life, putting real faces to the places you see. Step beyond the landmarks and uncover the human stories that make New York unforgettable.
