History in the News

Happy Wednesday, fellow graveyard enthusiasts! As a Durham resident and a lifelong learner, I'm always trying to increase my knowledge of local history. I think it's important to know the history of the community in which one lives.

Today, was a banner day for local history here in Durham, NC! The cover of today's Durham News has two great articles about local history. One, below the fold, was entitled "Author-activist's home cleaned up" and was all about activist Pauli Murray's home next to Maplewood Cemetery. Groups of volunteers (residents of six surrounding neighborhoods) have spend the past few years truly making a difference at her home on Carroll street. In case you are not familiar with Pauli Murray, the article explains that she was "denied admission in the 1930s to graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill because of her race and to Harvard because of her sex. She went on to become a civil rights lawyer, an author and storyteller, a poet, and the first African American woman ordained in the Episcopal Church" (page 6A, The Durham News, November 10, 2010). Murray's book, "Proud Shoes: The story of an American Family" is catching national attention as is her life story these days. The groups of people that are taking the time to not only clean up her house, but further document her story for future generations are making a difference in all of our lives. Kudos to them.

Above the fold, in today's Durham News, was another impressive story about history-- "Who Owns Geer Cemetery?" outlines the background of a local cemetery that has become the permanent home of over 1500 residents, including key church founders in the Durham community as well as the "father" of NC Central University. It sounds like, from the article, that there's a Friend's group, and local groups, elementary school students, boy scouts (and hopefully someday Girl Scouts, too) are helping to keep the cemetery clean. College students are doing the research to locate a chain of custody for the title for the land; but regardless, following NC Statutes, the cemetery has reverted to the City of Durham. They have a solid track record, with Beechwood and Maplewood Cemeteries under their care- and both are in fabulous shape. The article quotes Preservation Durham, key Durham resident/local Historian R.Kelly Bryant, Jr, and demonstrates that the effort to not only clean up but maintain this local history gem is truly evidence that our community can pull together to preserve our past, honor our founders, and teach our children about not only pitching in, but to also respect those that came before us.

It's encouraging, that in this day and age, in this fast paced society, our local paper can honor the efforts of ordinary citizens that are taking the time and effort to pay homage to our early residents. As the paper said, in regards to Geer Cemetery and it's residents, "And so it rests, still."

Hats off to all of those who have taken time to make a difference. This Graveyard Rabbit is looking forward to a visit to Geer Cemetery, and hopes to get involved in the efforts to preserve and document the permanent Durhamites who rest peacefully there.

To learn more about Geer Cemetery, visit Friends of Geer Cemetery. To learn more about the Pauli Murray Project, click here.

Can a Cemetery Change Your Life?

The Graveyard Rabbit of the Triangle is feeling nostalgic this Thursday evening. She's remembering back to 1996, when, as a student at the University of Hawai'i, she read an article in the local Kailua paper about a cemetery researcher, Nanette Napoleon. She was the creator of the Oahu Cemetery Research Project, and was in the process of documenting over 300 graveyards in the state. This graveyard rabbit, having grown up in the only town in America with a cemetery of it's founding fathers located on the main street of it's downtown, was intrigued.

Back in 1996 one still used phone books, and I quickly looked her up. I sent her a letter, introducing myself and asking if I could assist in the research. Soon, we met, and I spent much of my free time (when I wasn't in school or at work at Mission Houses Museum) wandering around Oahu Cemetery behind Nanette. She was a wealth of knowledge- almost everything I know about monument art and symbolism came from her. She had an amazing grasp of Hawaiian history, and understood it from a unique perspective--- from the point of view of the amazing citizens that lay below the ground at Oahu Cemetery. She told their stories-- and they came alive. I spent about a year with her, doing research for her book Oahu Cemetery: Burial Ground & Historic Site. I wrote letters to descendants, took pictures, spent time at the state library, requested images from publishers, and loved every minute.

My life was never the same. Oahu Cemetery, patterned after Rural Cemeteries of the Victorian variety, is the permanent home to many famous people-- the founder of baseball, Alexander Cartwright, American Missionaries that brought Christianity to Hawai`i, Hawaiian music hall of fame inductees, the list goes on and on; but just as important, are the average citizens, who lived good lives and are laid to rest among the curvy roads and amazing monuments.

Who knew, back then as a college student, that a cemetery could be so full of life? That the caretakers and story tellers that wandered through could bring these citizens back to life-if only for a moment- and interpret their story for the living, over 100 years later?

After I graduated, and left paradise, I looked for historic cemeteries in every community in which I resided. I met with other cemetery buffs, wandered through in groups and on my own, took photos, did rubbings (where permitted), and enjoyed their park-like settings. I have yet to again meet a kindred spirit like Nanette. I'm still in touch with her all of these years later- she opened up a new world to me- and I'm forever grateful.

So, as this graveyard bunny gives tours through Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, participants often hear the story of her first introduction to white bronze markers, learn about Oahu Cemetery, and the first real Graveyard Rabbit she ever met... and to whom she owes her passion to today.

One Bunny's Tale from- The Old Burying Ground- Beaufort, NC

Wow... this Graveyard Rabbit was deeply humbled as she entered the Old Burying Ground in Beaufort, NC last week. Typically she likes to think of herself as a history buff-- with a deep understanding of our country's past. However, as she walked into the Old Burying Ground, and saw graves and memorial space that dated as far back as 1711, she was reminded that North Carolina's past is vast and meaningful.

Case in point-- the picture to the left is from the grave that is marked "Little Girl Buried in a Rum Keg". The picture is the side view. Visitors to the Old Burying Ground stop by and leave shells and other trinkets at her grave. Doing some simple internet research, I came across the following explanation for how this came to be

"The little girl buried here is buried in a rum keg. Growing up in an
English family, the little girl desperately wanted to visit her
homeland. Upon convincing her mother, her father agreed to take
her and promised her mother that he would return the girl safely.
On the boat on the journey home, the little girl died. Rather than bury
her at sea (as was customary) and break his promise to his wife, the
little girl's father purchased a barrel of rum from the boat's captain.
He stored the little girl's body in the barrel and returned her safely
home so that she could have a proper burial."
(from site: http://ced.ncsu.edu/2/sch/burying/index.html)

I have no way of knowing if the above quote is true. It reminds me that cemeteries are not only full of amazing historical citizens and cherished memories, but fabulous urban legends as well.

This time of year, as burying grounds and cemeteries face an influx of visitors as many come to visit the "ghosts," these unique graves pique the interest of not only the cemetery buff but also the casual visitors. These types of graves are the "stuff" legends are made of! As a graveyard rabbit, I love to focus on the monument art and symbolism of stones, but I can't help but appreciate these unassuming markers and the legends behind them.

Happy Fall!

Cemetery Tour- 9-18-10

Happy Wednesday-- I can't use the wordless Wednesday Blog Title-- because... i have something to say! :-)

All are welcome for the tour at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh NC on Saturday September 18 at 1pm. This tour is the Monument Art and Symbolism II route-- and i'll take you through the cemetery as we visit several permanent residents and examine the symbols and their meanings on the stones.

Hope to see you there!

Spring has Sprung- graveyard exploring back on the agenda!

Good afternoon, dear graveyard rabbits! It's been 10 months since my last post... A lot has happened--- This graveyard rabbit has multiplied! (it is spring, isn't it?) A new bunny has been born into our family-- and hopefully he'll be as interested in exploring graveyards as I am!

But-- now that he is nearly 10 weeks old... and life has calmed down a bit-- I'm back on the hunt! This weekend I'll be checking out the Nichols family cemetery here in NC...for findagrave.com and I'll post pictures of what I discover....

happy exploring!