Graveyard Rabbit of the Triangle NC

We're not in Kansas anymore, or are we?

2011-04-28T06:12:00.000-07:00

Spring in many parts of the country brings horrendous tornados, and having grown up in the midwest I am very familiar with monthly tornado drills (the first Tuesday of the month) when the sirens would ring out across the town. As a North Carolinian for 10 of the past 12 years, I've only worried about tornadoes that have spawned from hurricanes in the fall. This past month, however, has brought North Carolina, and the Triangle specifically, horrible tornadoes that have caused loss of life and destruction of property. As I noted in my previous post, Historic Oakwood Cemetery, in downtown Raleigh since 1869, was hard hit on April 16. While the clean up has been amazing, there's still work to do. As the only non-profit cemetery in the city, the work is not only laborious but hugely expensive as well. Check out some photos of the destruction.

Now look at the restoration work already being completed!

The cemetery staff is dedicated to restoring Historic Oakwood Cemetery to it's most beautiful state. Since the devestation, they have already hosted an Easter Egg Hunt activity for neighborhood children and an Easter Sunrise Service. On Saturday, my tour Stories & Stones will occur at the cemetery at 1pm. The staff is working diligently and I have no doubt that Oakwood will return to the peaceful sanctuary in a busy city in no time.

These spring tornadoes here in North Carolina and the deep south have changed all of us. The hurt and devastation cause by the loss of life will linger for years to come. However, it is reinvigorating to see that slowly, and as a team, we can take charge and work to rebuild our communities with the help of caring neighbors and friends.

To watch this transformation unfold at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, visit the cemetery on facebook or follow their happenings on Twitter. @Historicoakwood.

Feel free to come out to the tour on Saturday! We start at the Cemetery office at 1pm.

"Listen to the energy of it"

2011-04-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

The title of today's post refers directly to the power of a tornado. This weekend, communities across the south were affected by the "energy" of a powerful spring storm. Unfortunately, lives were lost and no matter what physical destruction has occurred- the families affected will never be the same.

As another day has dawned, and it was a glorious, Carolina blue sky kind of day, other types of damage are being assessed. Today, both Raleigh City Cemetery and Historic Oakwood Cemetery fans are deeply saddened by the damage to both of these beloved sites. Visit the facebook page of Oakwood Cemetery to stay up to date on the status of the cemetery. To learn more about the damage to Raleigh City Cemetery, visit the following link.

The power and energy of this storm left a path of destruction that won't soon be forgotten.

New Facebook Page- Historic Oakwood Cemetery

2011-04-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

Please check out and "like" Historic Oakwood Cemetery's facebook page!!! :-)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Historic-Oakwood-Cemetery-Raleigh/206503996035628

All in the Interpretation...

2011-01-30T18:24:00.000-08:00

How do we remember our loved ones that have left this life? For some, photos of happier times. For others, such as those in some Amish communities across our country who don't utilize photographs, they simply hold tight to the memories and Funeral Cards with information about the deceased. In many cases, we remember our loved ones and mark their existence with beautiful headstones. Over time, our headstones have changed. In the colonial era, we utilized the skull and cross bones, or winged skulls. At the height of the Victorian Era, we found ourselves building tall obelisks, beautiful urns, and deeply symbolic but community minded markers. The bigger the better. Now, as we walk through memorial parks we see simpler, smaller, flat stones. Occasionally at cemeteries we'll see photos or etchings on granite.

But all of these types of markers cost money. What then, for those who can't afford or choose not to memorialize with large stones? Does it make the life of those passed any less important? Hardly. In fact, as this Graveyard Rabbit wanders through cemeteries it is the simpler stones that often catch my eye.

At Andrew's Chapel Cemetery in Durham, NC, a cemetery I've been longing to stop at for 3 years, what made me stop and pause were not the fancier stones, but in fact the simple crosses made of PVC pipe that marked a handful of graves. Who were these folks that were left behind by a simple symbol that equals hope, love and resurrection for millions of citizens around the world? Not one of the graves marked by the PVC pipe crosses had any indicator of who was interred below. In fact, next to one cross was a small marker left behind by the funeral home, but the name had long worn off.

While of course, many stones through out the ages have merely one symbol on them, a fish, a wedding ring, shaking hands, a hand pointing up etc which tells us something about the individual, the row of PVC pipe crosses struck me as different. While still a description of the person as the examples of above, the cross, with no name, no birth or death dates, no epitaphs, simply tell us one thing about the individual.

If you could be memorialized by one symbol what would it be? I wondered that as I left Andrew's Chapel Cemetery this afternoon? Would it be a cross, like many of the individuals interred there? I think mine may have a book... but 200 years after I'm gone, as a graveyard rabbit explores my final resting place, what will they think of that symbol? How will they interpret me?

More on Andrew's Chapel Cemetery in the days to come.... Happy Sunday!

Welcome to the Graveyard Rabbit of the Triangle!

2011-01-28T18:09:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salutations!! Whether you are a first time reader or are coming back for a visit-- thank you for taking the time to browse!! I'm relatively new to blogging, and trying to expand my "blogosphere" with visits to new (to me) cemeteries as frequently as possible. So feel free to look around, follow, leave a comment, ask a question... and I'll keep blogging!!!

Thankfully-- the internet exists....

2011-01-12T06:12:00.000-08:00

Because then I can at least look for cemeteries ONLINE! :-) here are two neat sites that I've recently found:

http://www.riversidecemetery.com A beautiful historic cemetery in GA.

http://paulimurrayproject.org/ The story of an amazing local (Durham) woman and the legacy she left behind.

Happy surfing!

snow falls....

2011-01-12T06:02:00.000-08:00

I live in the South for a reason.... we don't typically have the FOURTH season-- winter! But this year, we do.... BRRR. So all of this snow and ice has side tracked my cemetery visits!!!!!! Hope to be back on trail soon!

History in the News

2010-11-10T16:27:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-10-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

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!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-23T18:27:00.001-07:00

Grave of Wade Edwards
Oakwood Cemetery
Raleigh, NC

Tombstone Tuesday: A blog about a graveyard frog.....

2009-06-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

How many of you examined my previous post carefully enough to catch a glimpse of the frog in the background? As I was marveling over the white bronze markers at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia (see previous blog), off in the distance I thought I saw a frog... but then I told myself that it was not possible. That no way, at this historic rural cemetery was there a frog amongst the monuments. So I scampered up the hill even further until I arrived upon this frog. Really. A frog.

I wish I could identify who the frog memorializes. I wish I could explain what the frog means. But all I can do is tell you the frog stood about 3 feet high, it was holding an American flag (a patriotic frog, apparently), and on it's stand were two photographs. The top one was a picture of the Beatles. On top of the photo was a candle, and 2 coins; one foreign and one a US penny.

Upon examining the back of the monument, there was a beer can jammed into the back open portion of the frog. He was aged, but not markedly so. Around the base of the frog were small stones/pebbles. The frog looked up, towards the sky.

If I were to pull out my trusty cemetery symbolism book, it would tell me that frogs are a symbol of armageddon. But somehow, that doesn't seem right! :-) This frog means a lot more then a cemetery symbolism book can tell us. This frog, in a cemetery with 18,000 Confederate Civil War dead, with US Presidents, and amazing monuments with symbols that tell us what whole communities valued, in a city that has an avenue of monuments to honor its heros, means more to someone then any of those things combined. It's not as simple as what a cemetery symbolism book can tell us. Maybe it's not for us to know.

But on a bright sunny summer day in Richmond, the frog caught my eye, and for a moment, I honored that frog and all it may symbolize.

Hollywood Cemetery: graveyard with a view

2009-06-22T17:00:00.001-07:00

Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond Virginia...Picture this: a hot summer day with cool breezes from the James River... and rolling hills as far as the eye can see... with monument after monument honoring Richmond's dead. Here in Hollywood cemetery, many of the permanent residents enjoy a beautiful view... for eternity. The skyline, the river... the hills... what more can one ask for?

The above picture is just one of a kazillion shots I took while at Hollywood Cemetery on Saturday. The Graveyard Rabbit of the Triangle ventured out of NC into VA... and was in awe over the small glimpse of this vast cemetery that I experienced.

According to Wikipedia (i question the source, but it's a direct link off of www.hollywoodcemetery.org)

"Hollywood Cemetery is a large, sprawling cemetery located at 412 South Cherry Street in Richmond, Virginia. Characterized by rolling hills and winding paths overlooking the James River, it is the resting place of two United States Presidents, James Monroe and John Tyler, as well as the only Confederate States President, Jefferson Davis. It is also the resting place of 25 Confederate generals, the most of any cemetery in the country. Included are George Pickett and J.E.B. Stuart.

Hollywood Cemetery was opened in 1849, constructed on land known as "Harvie's Woods" that was once owned by William Byrd II. It was designed in the rural garden style, with its name, "Hollywood," coming from the holly trees dotting the hills of the property.

In 1869, a 90-foot (27 m)-high granite pyramid was built as a memorial to the more than 18,000 enlisted men of the Confederate Army who are buried in the cemetery.

Hollywood Cemetery is one of Richmond's major tourist attractions."

The above photo is of 2 white bronze markers....which caught my eye so I ran up the hillside to see them. The hands shaking, while husband and wife, in this case could simply mean hello or good bye- as the cuffs are both gender neutral. Remember white bronze markers are not white nor bronze, but really have a blueish tint and are made of zinc. They could be ordered from catalogs during their hey day, primarily around the turn of the century and into the early 1900s. I've been a fan of the white bronze marker since my days in Hawai`i.

Normally I would crop the photo better, but I want you to look closely at the the monument up the hill from the white bronze markers.... that will be the subject of my next post... til then, fellow graveyard fans.... have a great day!

Hollywood Cemetery Here I Come!

2009-06-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Hello, loyal readers... While I will make my way to Woodlawn and Maplewood Cemeteries in Durham this afternoon for findagrave.com requests.... tomorrow the Graveyard Rabbit of the Triangle will be headed to Richmond, VA...for a day of sightseeing! Top on my list of places to see is Hollywood Cemetery... so be sure to visit Sunday for new pictures...

have a great weekend...be sure to visit your local cemeteries!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-06-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

Headless Angel, Maplewood Cemetery, Durham, North Carolina

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-06-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

The Rubicon

What is the Rubicon? And what does it have to do with funerary art? Two questions you very well may be asking yourselves right now!

The monument to the right is entitled the Rubicon, carved by local Raleigh artist Paris Alexander. What is the Rubicon? It is a river in Northern Italy- but it is synonymous for "the point of no return." When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC he broke the law which banned the crossing of the river with an Army, and there by made war inevitable. See how the Rubicon is a perfect symbol for death? Once you cross the "river of death" there's no turning back!

This monument, found at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh is striking, to say the least. Commissioned by Sam Tarlton, it was created and placed before his death. It is eye catching and if you've ever been on my tour you know that I try walking right on by it...to see if anyone stops me to ask what it is!

Who was this unique man that commissioned such a beautiful piece of art? Sam Tarlton was a well known antiques dealer who was beloved in his community. For 14 years he headed up the North Carolina Historic Sites Division and was an antique dealer for over 40 years. According to his obituary published in the News and Observer after his March 12, 2009 death, "He had such a presence -- a twinkle, a good story, a great deal of charm -- as well as extraordinary knowledge," said David Lindquist, a Chapel Hill antiques dealer and long-time associate of Tarlton. "He was always willing to share it."

So on this Tombstone Tuesday, let's raise a glass to Sam Tarlton and other creative Americans who show their personality in life and in death! Cheers!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

Child's Grave, Maplewood Cemetery, Durham NC

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-05-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

While we stroll through historic cemeteries, looking for lost treasures of symbols and stones, we often forget to spend a lot of time in the more modern sections of these amazing places.

At Maplewood Cemetery in Durham, NC I had the pleasure of spotting a beautiful memorial. Do you see the marker in the photo? It's hardly noticeable. But look at everything else! Besides the inviting chair, if you could zoom in you'd see a stone that says, "mama's garden;" you can see bird feeders, flowers, and a little bird bath with 2 rubber duckies. It's an amazing celebration of life and a beautiful place to sit, reflect, and most importantly, remember. What is a cemetery if not a place for these types of activities?

If we look to the beginnings of Rural/Garden Cemeteries, we see a shift in how we as citizens of the world began to view death. Gone were the days of fearing our demise, in the 1860s and beyond we began to romanticize death! As that shifted, we began to celebrate life! Now, in the modern era, many cemetery observers admire the funeral goods left behind. Often, at a child's grave you'll see their favorite toy car or GI Joe man. At Mama's Garden, we probably see the things that Mama, in this case, Lena Dee Armstrong Howerton, cherished. These funeral goods give us a sneak peak into not the death and sadness of the family, but of the life of Ms Howerton. It gives the family peace of mind that the Ms Howerton's favorites of life surround her... and when they come to remember and reflect, they are surrounded by the beauty that surrounded their loved one.

So remember to visit the newer sections of cemeteries. Life is around every corner!

Symbolism Sunday

2009-05-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

Just to mark your calendars, if you're in the Raleigh area this Saturday, May 23 and would like to go on a Monument Art and Symbolism tour at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, be sure to call the cemetery office and reserve your spot this week. The tour is from 3-5pm. Be sure to bring water! The Oakwood Cemetery office phone number is 919 832 6077.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery was founded in 1869 and is the permanent home to many of Raleigh's famous citizens, but it's much more then that. It's also the final beautiful resting place to average joe's and jane's, too! There's still over 200 years of burial space left. So come along on my tour, learn a lot about cemetery symbols AND pick your final resting place! :-)

To start our week off right, I've included a favorite cemetery symbol from a marker at Oakwood Cemetery. It's a simple one, but can mean 2 different things.

The photo is of a grave with 2 hands shaking. It can symbolize a hello or good bye, which makes sense, right, at a grave? The deceased is saying farewell to us, the living, as they depart on their next journey; or is saying hello to those they are greeting on the other side. But if you look closer at the cuffs on each of the hands, the meaning changes. In this example, the cuffs of one of the hands (on the left) is a frilly female cuff. The cuff on the right hand is more of a traditional suit or male cuff. This symbolizes that the deceased was married! Just like how in more modern sections of the cemetery we will see interlocking wedding rings to symbolize marriage, in the older part of Oakwood, earlier Americans also felt it was important to share the same information; they just used a different symbol!

So...enough with my cemetery symbols...don't forget to sign up for my tour! Have a great Sunday!

Statuary Saturday and Graveyard DOGS?!

2009-05-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

While visiting Maplewood Cemetery in Durham NC working on a findagrave.com request with my folks, I stumbled across a GEM of a cemetery. After fulfilling the requests, we kept driving through this cemetery, which never seemed to end!

I'm a big fan off surrogate mourners, what I call statues of grieving women that stand as beautiful monuments to the dead. They are there to mourn for the loved one when the family isn't. Maplewood had FINE examples of surrogate mourners, as you can see in the post. At the plot for Julian Carr (a shout out to all you fine residents of Carrboro, NC) there were 3 beautiful statues. One was an angel kneeling, and on the back of her wings were 2 beautiful poems. I'll go back and transcribe them for all of you soon.

Julian Carr, October 12, 1845-April 29, 1924, was an industrialist and philanthropist from North Carolina. He also served as a Private in the Confederate States of America. Instrumental in the founding of Duke University, the town of Carrboro was named in his honor after agreeing to extend electricity to what was then known as West End. He and his family lay in eternal rest at Maplewood Cemetery. (source: Wikipedia)

While driving through this cemetery, I thought I caught a glimpse of a statue of a dog (which I have seen before at Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, AL). I looked closer and realized that there were 4 DOGS (not graveyard rabbits) laying in the shade... they took off..and began to explore on their own!

At Maplewood Cemetery, it's somehow soothing to know that these surrogate mourners are forever present at this grave. Be on the look out for new posts for tombstone Tuesday... I have some good shots of the grave of Washington Duke and others! Enjoy your weekend! Thanks to my mom and dad for exploring with me!

Tombstone Tuesday

2009-03-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

So, here's my first Tombstone Tuesday.... and instead of posting tombstone trivia or highlighting a particular grave this week, I thought I'd take the time to list a few of the cemeteries I plan on visiting in the next few weeks. Oakwood is definitely on the list, as I prepare for my next tour. I counted on my way home today, and I passed 3 graveyards in the 11.9 mile route. Those are on my list to swing by. For work, we have at least 2-3 cemeteries on our properties that I've been inquiring about....so stay tuned for some pics of those as well. :-) Happy Tuesday!

The Joy of Rural/Garden Graveyards.....

2009-03-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

Doesn't that sound odd? The Joy of Graveyards? To some yes, it might. But to us graveyard enthusiasts.... maybe not. Remember, after the creation of Pere Le Chaise and Mt Auburn, cemeteries were seen as public parks... where couples courted, families strolled...and admission booths and concession stands were found. The Victorian age brought about cemeteries with streams, rolling hills, and a commonality of permanent residents. Benches were placed about the cemetery for reflection, monuments reached toward the sky....and beauty prevailed. Death was no longer feared. Amen!

While many cemeteries have had to do away with these elements due to space constraints, pieces of this trend still remain. Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh is a prime example. Winding roads, hills, benches and amazing monuments from the 1870s abound! Strolling through the cemetery in 2009 provides insight into life from that era. We see obvious symbols of the resident's faith highlighted, symbols of the organizations they belonged to, epitaphs that reflect the way they mourned, and also more subtle reminders of their beliefs in the shapes of their markers. Be it a throw back to Egyptian or Greek or statuary for example that reflects the faith of the decedent, by walking through a cemetery we can learn a lot about the people who roamed this earth before us....

Welcome!

2009-03-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first post of the Graveyard Rabbit of the Triangle, NC! For those of you unfamiliar with Tobacco Road, the Triangle is made up of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill... with many other communities in between!

This blog will focus on the numerous graveyards that are scattered throughout this region. I give tours at Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh...which are primarily based on Monument Art and Symbolism. On occasion I have co-led a Victorian Death and Dying tour as well as a Valentine's Day Romance tour. Historic Oakwood was established in 1869 and is a fine example of a rural/garden cemetery.

Soon I'll be posting photos of interesting monuments from not only this cemetery but others in this area. I look forward to sharing them with you!

Have a great day!