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.

Tombstone Tuesday

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!

Statuary Saturday and Graveyard DOGS?!

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!

Welcome!

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!