Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Hand Made Memorial

I found this interesting marker at Wilson Cemetery in Lowell, AR.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Preachy But Interesting

(Located at Oak Hill Cemetery in Siloam Springs, AR)

Monday, June 28, 2010

Angel In Stone

I believe this is the first of her kind I have found. I think she is beautiful.

Located at Park Cemetery in Carthage, MO.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sunday Styles: Exedra

Exedra pronounced ek-si-druh is a permanent outdoor bench, semicircular in plan and having a high back. (http://www.dictionary.com/) They can also be found as a straight bench in many cemeteries.


Saturday, June 26, 2010

Saturday Symbol: Baby Shoes

The meaning of empty baby shoes symbolize the loss of a child. Most often one shoe will be laid on to its side. These are a few that I have found.

I like the little shoe string showing on this one.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Just A Photo I Like

My Famous File: George Warren Brown

George Warren Brown turned the city of St. Louis, Missouri into the center of the shoe manufacturing world in 1878.  His company was Buster Brown Shoes. 

The hexagonal mausoleum was designed in 1928 by Mauran, Russell and Crowell, St. Louis architects.
Located at Bellefontaine in St. Louis, MO.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

My Lilac Article

My article "Grieving Lilacs" is now up on the Graveyard Rabbit site.  Go see and let me know what you think.

Interesting Mausoleum For The James Family

I spotted this mausoleum from across the cemetery. At first I was thinking they had went all out and built a bathroom.  As I got closer I realize it was a mausoleum.

(Located at Carterville Cemetery in Carterville, MO.)


Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Crushed Under An Ice Wagon

This is a very nice large Zinc (White Bronze) monument. Located at Webb City Cemetery in Webb City, MO.
Front

Back

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Thacker Family Marker

Found this wonderful marker at Park Cemetery in Carthage, MO. If you look close you can even see the watch chain and buttons.


Monday, June 21, 2010

Return visit: More information on Legend Says...

I have found some more information to a previous post I made and thought I would share it.  I have always found local folklore interesting.  And this one is interesting as well.

Original Post - Legend says...

Follow up information.

Hope you enjoy the information.

Egyptian Influences

The Egyptians influenced monuments can be found in almost every cemetery that was founded from the 1840s and 50s on to present day.  Napoleon's 1798-99 Egyptian campaigns and the discoveries at the tombs of the Pharaohs led to a resurgence of interest in the ancient Egyptian culture. And it can be seen in our cemeteries and many other places.

(Located at Webb City Cemetery in Webb City, MO)

Obelisks are one of the most popular types of Egyptian influenced markers. You can see them in just about any cemetery. They were considered tasteful with their pure uplifting lines and associated with ancient greatness. They were also able to be used in relatively small spaces and  less costly than the larger and more elaborately sculpted monuments.

Here are a few of the larger Egyptian influences mausoleums I have found.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Graveyard Rabbit Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are always fun and this one was no different.  It gave me a reason to go back through my files and revisit some great spots. Here are the items I found.

1. Cross
Located at Mt. Washington Cemetery in Independence, Mo.
I love the Celtic knot work on this stone. 

Sunday Styles: Potter's Field

Potter’s field -- A place for the burial of indigent or unknown persons. The term derives from a Biblical reference, Matthew 27.7, where, with regard to Judas throwing down the silver to betray Jesus, is written, “And they [priests] took counsel, and bought with them [the pieces of silver] the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.”



Friday, June 18, 2010

My Famous File: General William T Sherman

Located at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Nice Glass Marker - Local Architect


(Located at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Fayetteville, AR.)

This is the marker for a well know architect in NW Arkansas.  Here is the article/obit that ran for him in the local paper. (Morning News of Northwest Arkansas Fri Mar 14, 2003  page 1A & 2A)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Just A Photo I Like

Priests' Lot

This is the Priests' Lot at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Who was murdered by ...

(Located at Basham Cemetery in Mountainburg, AR.)

Leonard H.
Son of
B.F. & R.E. Sims
Killed
Dec. 28, 1901
Aged
24 y's 1 MO.21D.

In loving memory of our beloved son. Who was murdered by a traitor and coward, whose name is not worthy to appear here.

(Unable to read the lower part of the stone)

Upon researching the name here is what I was able to find.

Perry Journal, Oklahoma, 26 Dec 1901: Chas McKnight, a gambler of Shawnee, shot and killed Leonard Sims and J.C. Hufstedler last Saturday night at Shawnee. Sims attacked McKnight with a knife when the latter drew a revolver and fired, the first shot killing Hufstedler, who was an innocent bystander. The second shot killed Sims. Self defense will be the plea of McKnight. It is said the quarrel started over a woman.

An interesting little tidbit of information, This epitaph is also on Jesse James' headstone.

I emailed the historical society in the area trying to find any other information but have had no response.

Update

Monday, June 14, 2010

The Morrison - Sarpy Cribs

This information is taken from Soul in the Stone Cemetery Art From America's Heartland by John Gary Brown and was accompanied by a great photograph.
"A memorial to the Morrison brothers recalls their short lives as invalids, one confined to a wheelchair and the other to his crib. The chair's wheels are broken by design, but the meaning is not altogether clear.  They may symbolize broken lives and impermanence of all earthly things.  On the other hand, they could represent the child's freedom from his earthly prison of pain and illness.  This striking but quickly deteriorating monument is at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis.  The impact of this image is unusually morose for an American monument..  The children's eyes seem to be full of uncomprehending terror, bringing to mind the bitter, nihilistic makers that haunt some of Europe's metropolitan cemeteries."
I was so intrigued by the photograph and the description of this specific monument I had to go see it for myself. I definitely wasn't disappointed.  My photos are not the best, it was over cast and rainy when I went.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

I've been trying to catch him at every cemetery.... The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Almost every cemetery I have been to this summer I have seen this same species of bird.  He has flown away everytime I get my camera up and ready.  But I was victorious yesterday!  Here he is in all his splendor.



Sunday Styles: Rock Cairn

Rock Cairn -- A mound of stones erected as a memorial or a marker.

(Located at Jane Cemetery in Jane, MO.)

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Another Reason To Watch Your Step.

Here's what they turn into.
(Picture taken from Wikipedia. Link at bottom of the blog.)

Many birds nest on the ground and graveyards are a great place for them to nest.  This is a Kildeer nest that was located in between the markers.  The mother bird was doing the I'm hurt dance so I started immediately watching for the nest.  If you are not familiar with Killdeers they have an interesting response when you get close to the nest. They will stick out one wing and act like it's broke and if you approach them the will run a little ways and do it again. This is how they draw predators away. 

Saturday Symbol: Cohen or Kohen Hands

Cohen Hands - On Jewish tombstones you will sometimes see a symbol showing two hands arranged for the Priestly Blessing. This is a symbol of the Kohen or Cohen (Hebrew for priest). The plural form is Kohanim or Cohanim. Kohanim are assumed to be direct male descendants of Aaron, who was the first Kohen and the brother of Moses. Some Jewish surnames frequently associated with this symbol are Conn or Cohn (Kohn), Cahn (Kahn), and Cohen (Kohen), but you will find the symbol on the grave markers of people with other surnames. Today families can sometimes verify a priestly lineage from the tombstones of ancestors that have this symbol.



Friday, June 11, 2010

My Famous Files: Captain Isaiah Sellers

(Located at Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, MO)

Captain Isaiah Sellers (1802-1864)- Captain Sellers was the most famous of the steamboat men plying the Mississippi between St. Louis and New Orleans for more than 40 years. He was the first man to use the pseudonym, “Mark Twain”, and after his death, Samuel L. Clemens adopted the same nom de plume because it always stood for truthful writing, as Clemons explains in his “ Life on the Mississippi”, Captain Sellers tombstone depicts the captain standing at the wheel of his riverboat.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Something You Don't Expect To See In A Cemetery

A Resting Place Listed In The Book Weird Pennsylvania

(Located at Laurel Hill Cemetery In Philadelphia, PA.)

Resting in this plot is Alexander Evan Conway Milgrim. He was a 22 year old much loved young father whose family was perplexed with what kind of monument should be made to commemorate his life. So perplexed that it took them six years to finally have this marker placed on his grave site.  But this was not his original resting place.  He was buried in another area of Laurel Hill Cemetery for six years.  They had him moved to accommodate the size of this marker.

This marker is made of beautifully inlaid tiles to create a map showing  Europe and Africa on one side and America on the other. A red line traces the family's migration from northern Africa to the United States. 

My photograph does not do the monument justice. Its much prettier in person.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Just A Photo I Like

Paranormal Experience And A Sad Story Of Murder All In One Cemetery.

My First Paranormal Experience In A Cemetery

My friend Theresa and I set out one blustery and cold morning in December for a day of explorations in the local cemeteries. Little did I know this would turn into an experience of the paranormal kind. 

We pulled up to the gate at Stone Cemetery in Noel, MO.  We sat in the van for a few minutes trying to decide weather or not we wanted to brave the cold for this small of a cemetery or come back when it was warmer.  We decide what the heck we were here might as well. 

Armed with a warm hoodie, a pair of fingerless gloves and my camera I climbed out of the van. As I approached the gate I got an odd feeling, like I was being watched.  I turned around to see if Theresa was watching me.  Nope, she was busying herself by getting her belongings from the back seat.   I swung open the gate and head towards the back of the cemetery. Glancing about half way through the cemetery, trying to determine my route, I noticed these stones.

(Located at Stone Cemetery in Noel, MO.)

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I can't decide if I like this photo or not

A Nearly Lost Cemetery - Old Holcomb Cemetery

Old Holcomb Cemetery in Springdale, AR.


This cemetery sits in a lot surrounded by houses on all sides and if you look between the houses you can see the High School. So it is not in a remote out of the way place.  It is mowed but as far as being maintained, its not.  According to the website Historic Washington County Arkansas an effort is underway by the Pendleton Chapter of Daughters of the American Colonists to have the City of Springdale "claim ownership of this cemetery so that it may be honorably preserved.."  But as of 2010 it continues to be forgotten.

Monday, June 7, 2010

The Many Pointing Hands I Have Found

Pointing Up - Ascending to heaven.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

An Odd And Creepy Angel

Sunday Styles: Columbariums

Columbariums are structures used to store cremated remains above the ground for memorialization purposes. Community and church cemeteries, as well as, families and individuals use Columbariums. Many community and church cemeteries have Columbariums installed to save space.

Friday, June 4, 2010

My Famous File: David Rowland Francis

(Located in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, MO)
Sculpted by George J. Zolnay.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Very impressive way to repair and preserve old stones.

Both stones are located at Old Union Cemetery in Cincinate, AR.
The original marker has been clean then inlaid into granite and the inscription transcribed into a space below the orginal stone. 

I have seen many inlaid into concrete but this is much nicer looking.