Myrtle Winter (yes, her first name is misspelled on the headstone) was just 21 years old when she was laid to rest at Valley View Cemetery (also called Rocky Ford Cemetery) in Rocky Ford, Colorado. A tiny obituary printed in the Rocky Ford Enterpris…
A recent online discussion sparked curiosity about the language surrounding death and burial. The term "planted" surprised some, but its origins imply the term was used with affection, especially among certain populations of farmers across the Unite…
Every time I visit any cemetery I begin to immediately wonder about the people buried in it. What are their stories? Finding headstones that include a photographs is always extra special because now I know what they looked like even if I don't know …
Over the centuries, humans have marked graves with many things, the most common being stone. However, another material that became popular, especially in Europe for a time, was iron, both cast and wrought. In the case of wrought iron markers, the me…
Why do many historic graves have both a Headstone and a Footstone? Headstones, also called grave markers or gravestones, typically contain information about the person buried in a grave. They are usually placed at the "head" of the grave, similar t…
Resting beneath a stone vault surrounded by an ornate iron fence in the The Brothers’ Cemetery in St. Peter Port, Guernsey is a woman whose life was celebrated by the entire island for the last decade of her life and whose death was reported i…
Before the arrival of the Anglos in 1887, the region comprising Skagway and its environs was home to the Tlingit people, known as the People of the Tides. The Tlingit were and still are skilled mariners, fishermen, hunters, gatherers, and trader…
If you travel south to Yorba Linda, California you might wish to visit the grave of the Pink Lady in the Yoruba cemetery. There are a few variations of the Pink Lady's story, but it seems the most common one is this: One evening after a dance at th…
Elizabeth Margaret Patton was born to Robert and Rebecca Patton in Swannanoa, North Carolina on May 22, 1788. She was one of the youngest of eight children. Her father was a gentleman farmer with “thousands” of acres of farmland and Eliz…
Nestled in the quiet town of Ashmore, Illinois lies the St. Omer Cemetery, a serene resting place marked by the passage of time and the whispers of folklore. Among its weathered gravestones and fading epitaphs, one particular monument stands out&mda…
Cemeteries hold a plethora of stories, some stories whispered in hushed tones, others etched into weathered gravestones. Yet, among the countless tales that echo through these solemn grounds, few captivate the imagination quite like the legend of Au…
In the heart of Mystic, Connecticut, lies the tiny Whitehall Cemetery, a place steeped in history since its establishment in 1644. Among its solemn grounds rests Dr. Dudley Woodbridge, a man whose life story weaves through the fabric of time. Desce…
(This "Tidbit" is meant to explain some of the significance of Mary in the Catholic belief, but it is by no means a complete understanding of her importance to the Catholic faith.) If you have ever visited a Catholic cemetery or even a Catholic gra…
In honor of Valentine's Day this week, we take a quick look at love and lust that helped to shape many western states in the 18 and early 1900s. In the untamed days of the Wild West, brothels played a significant role in the settlement of frontier t…
"The holly bears a prickle As sharp as any thorn And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas Day in the morn." - The Holly and The Ivy, a traditional Christmas carol Christmas Day is fast approaching and the vibrant hues of holly, ivy, and eve…
"The holly bears a prickle As sharp as any thorn And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas Day in the morn." - The Holly and The Ivy, a traditional Christmas carol Christmas Day is fast approaching and the vibrant hues of holly, ivy, and eve…
Sometimes a very simple gravestone will catch your eye and set you wondering about the person whom it memorializes. In this instance, we have a small rounded marble stone with tassels carved on either side and the three chain links at the top with t…
George Wasinger was born on April 3, 1895, in Kansas, to Jas and Lizzie Wasinger, Catholic Russian immigrants seeking a new life in the American landscape. As a teenager, George and his family relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, where he found employment …
For as long as there have been burial grounds, there have been superstitions about what you should or should not do when visiting them. Some of these include: Avoid Stepping on Graves: Many people believe it is disrespectful and bad luck to s…
Often the best stories, whether they are true or legendary, begin with the phrase "Once upon a time". I was reminded of this story last night when we were recording this week's episode of the podcast and so we will begin with... Once upon a time, t…
Sleepy Hollow, New York's most well-known haunting story is that of the headless horseman, a Hessian soldier who quite literally lost his head during the Revolutionary War. He rides his coal black steed throughout the countryside in search of his mi…
Meet Dr. John Cuming, a man, who, according to his headstone, was a much beloved member of Concord society. He was born on March 1, 1728, in Concord, Massachusetts. His father, Mr. Robert Cuming, had immigrated from Scotland around 1715 and settled …
John Phillip Rohling and Maude Elizabeth Mitchell Rohling were married on March 2, 1899. The two had been sweethearts as teens, but in reality they grew up together in Black Hawk, Colorado, which was one of the towns connected with the first gold mi…
Tuesday Tidbit... There are a plethora of historical careers that were extremely dangerous and could oftentimes be lonely. These jobs inspired poetry and song. Two such jobs included being a sailor and being a cowboy. One of the most famous …