The Chapel of the Sisters / Illinois Jacquet Performance Space

Descendants' Reception October 19, 2011

For the first time since the restoration of the Chapel, descendants gathered to meet one another and view the recently installed portraits of Nicholas and Sarah Ann Birdsall Ludlum, who had the Chapel of the Sisters built in memory of three of their daughters.  Direct descendants of that family attended, as well as members of three other branches, some of whom had never met.  Prospect Cemetery Association Board members and guests enjoyed a program of American songs from the era during which the Ludlums lived, sung by Lesley Zlabinger, soprano, who was accompanied on piano by Katya Stanislavskaya.

Lesley Zlabinger charms the audience with her performance.

Dick Frankenheimer and Cate Ludlam enjoy the concert.

Direct Ludlum descendant Deborah Rogers Butler with husband Jon brave the rainy weather to visit the Ludlum family gravesite.

Cate Ludlam discusses details of the Chapel restoration.

The information table contained brochures on the cemetery, historic Jamaica walking tour maps, photos taken before the restoration, local educator and historian Carl Ballenas' book, Images of Jamaica, and descendant Cornelia Read's novel, Invisible Boy, a murder mystery set in Prospect Cemetery.

Past events:

September 2008 Ribbon-Cutting & Dedication
Historic Chapel of the Sisters restored and reopened for use. On Tuesday, September 23, 2008 it was dedicated as the Illinois Jacquet Performance Space, to honor the memory of local jazz saxophonist Illinois Jacquet, http://www.illinoisjacquet.com

  Councilman Leroy Comrie; Cate Ludlam, President, Prospect Cemetery Association; Carol Scherick; Dr. Pamela Jacquet Davis; Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President; Dr. Marcia V. Keizs, President, York College