The latest: Philadelphia's Laurel Hill Cemetery records now online

(info from their e-newsletter)

Laurel Hill Cemetery's Interment Records Are Now Available Online!

In the spirit of Independence Day, Laurel Hill Cemetery hereby declares our freedom from paper burial records! After years of planning, fundraising and hard work, our record of interments is finally available online!

 

Though our burial records are now digitized, our work is far from complete. We are in fact currently in the process of raising funds for the second phase of records digitization. The successful completion of this forthcoming phase will result in a digital copy of every lot file and interment record contained in Laurel Hill's Archives, from 1836 to the present day.

 

We now seek the support of our patrons, friends, lot holders, and the many genealogists and researchers who have used our Archives over the years. Please help us to realize the completion of our records digitization through a fully tax-deductible, charitable donation.

 

Final Submissions Deadline for 175 Years of Reflections booklet is approaching - July 30th

The Friends are in the process of preparing a commemorative booklet to mark Laurel Hill's 175th anniversary in 2011. Tentatively titled 175 Years of Reflections, Laurel Hill Cemetery, 1836-2011, this pocket-sized text will include personal recollections and artistic representations - both historic and contemporary - on or about our famed National Historic Landmark site. We welcome your submissions! They can include a piece of original, creative text about the Cemetery, such as a poem, the recounting of a personal experience had while here, or a meditation on what Laurel Hill means to you. Reflections can also include original renderings of the site, ranging from charcoal sketches, oil paintings, sculpture, collage, photography and mixed media. Visit the website for details: http://thelaurelhillcemetery.org/index.php?m=6&id=7

 

JULY EVENTS

Sat. July 24, 7pm

The Ghosts Among Our Graves:

A Paranormal Investigation of Laurel Hill

$30/per, $27/members, $25 seniors+students

 

 

Wed. July 28, 6pm

A Twilight Tour and Toast to Our Famous Fishtowners

$20/per, $17/members; $15 seniors+students

 

 

To register for any of our July events, please call (215) 228-8200 or email tours@thelaurelhillcemetery.org.

Riverside Cemetery event in Denver, CO

Walk-A-Bout: "The Other Side of Riverside"
Saturday, July 17th at 9:00am.

Due to popular demand for this tour we are doing it again, this time with even more unusual people and monuments! And, to help celebrate Old Globeville Days there will be special emphasis on Globeville stories and the orthodox section of the cemetery.

Tour guide Jeff Stoffel will highlight some of Riverside's unsung and colorful residents. We'll also discuss the symbolism and materials of the monuments and art as well as some info on the flora and fauna of the park.

The walk starts at the office at 9 am and we'll wrap up by 11 am. Bring sunscreen, sun umbrella's, water and your walking shoes. Please keep in mind there are no facilities at Riverside.

After the tour take a short drive to the Orthodox Food Festival & Old Globeville Days for a cold drink and a plate of the best ethnic festival food in Denver.

Enjoy authentic food, entertainment and live music from Russia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Eritrea, Greece & Mexico. Also enjoy a look at the historical landmark church with it's beautiful iconography. Co-presented by Holy Transfiguration Cathedral and the Globeville Civic Assn. more information, http://orthodoxfoodfestival.wetpaint.com/

The Event is held at Argo Park, right across the street Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral at 47th and Logan St. in Denver.

Both these events are free. We'll keep the tour to 20 people, please drop an email if you plan to attend the 9 am tour to events@friendsofriversidecemetery.org.

Learn More About the Globeville Story

Interested in learning more about Globeville? Check out the Globeville Story blog website written by Mary Lou Egan to find out more about the history of the area.

Contribute to The Riverside Scout: Stories and Ephemera of Denver's Oldest Cemetery

Board member Dave Cass sends word that he is looking for more stories about Riverside to post on our new website, The Riverside Scout. The Riverside Scout is dedicated to presenting stories and ephemera of Denver's Oldest Cemetery. Have a story you want to tell? Let Dave know by emailing him at history@friendsofriversidecemetery.org. Otherwise, check it out at 1876.friendsofriversidecemetery.org.

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Contact Information

If you have an idea or suggestion we encourage you to get in touch with us:

Friends of Historic Riverside Cemetery
PO Box 16712
Denver CO 80216
friends@friendsofriversidecemetery.org

The Friends of Historic Riverside Cemetery is a volunteer-run 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and promoting preservation of Denver's oldest cemetery.

So what's next?

In March 2010, my latest book came out, "Images of America: Chippiannock Cemetery." We had a wonderful book launch party at the Hauberg Civic Center in Rock Island, Illinois. The Center was originally John and Suzanne Hauberg's mansion. The Haubergs were major philanthropists in the area and are featured in the book.

Since then, I did a book signing tour of the Quad Cities. Borders, Barnes & Noble, the Village of East Davenport, Sam's Club ... I was a veritable Stephen King! Of cemetery books. LOL Maybe my books haven't sold millions (yet!), but I'm pretty happy.

The response I've received from people has been great. So many people who grew up around the cemetery bought the book and told me how much they learned about the monuments they used to play around as kids.

What means the most to me about writing is being able to share what I've learned with other people. It's actually an honor.

So what's next? What cemetery will I write about? What tales will I tell? Who or what will they be about?

In the works is a book about Oakdale Memorial Gardens in Davenport, Iowa. I'm also talking with some fellow taphophile friends about a book of cemetery photography by The Ladies of Cemetery Photography. I'd love to write a book about my favorite cemetery in New Orleans.

And don't forget that I'm working on getting the next issue of Epitaphs Magazine out. Yes, I'm starting to sound like a broken record about that! We've had a number of health issues, etc., in the family, and family comes first. So I am far from shouting about a deadline for it. But I will keep you posted. It's going to have some good stuff in it.

I can say that it felt really good a couple of weekends ago to get out in the cemetery and take photos. It had been a while.

As far as this weekend, I won't be hitting the cemetery. What I will be doing this weekend is performing the wedding ceremony for my cousin and his fiance. That's an honor for me, too.

Peace to all of you,

Minda

 

www.TheCemeteryClub.com

I need to blog more

Since I've not really stayed strong in the habit of blogging, I'm going to resolve to do more of it--for this one and my work one.

So here's the latest in cemetery news ...

At least he had a reason: Man takes sledge hammer to grave marker when woman refuses to date him (yeah, that's gonna help)
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20091110_ap_sledgehammeredgravemarkertobereplaced.html

Daily Telegraph helps launch campaign for Britain's First National War Cemetery
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6514299/Daily-Telegraph-helps-launch-campaign-for-National-War-Cemetery.html

New York Marble Cemetery: The Cemetery Down The Alley
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-carr/the-cemetery-down-the-all_b_350764.html

As October ends ...

It's officially October now at the end of the month. Rainy, moist, cold then warm and humid. The smell of fallen leaves and rain water.

When I think of October at other times of the year, what comes to mind are vibrant colors, cool crisp air, pumpkins and leaves. When I think of Halloween, first I think of all the cool stuff ... then of rainy, yucko nights trick-or-treating. Well, October is here in her yuckiest. Ah, well. It's all good no matter what. It's fall!

But as the ground gets wetter, the winds get stronger and the days get shorter, it means there is less time to spend in the cemeteries. On the bright side, there's more time to curl up with those cemetery books you've been wanting to read. You know the ones, they've been piling up on your shelves while you've been out among the graves snapping pictures.

If you don't have a stack of books ready, though, here's a list for you to check out:

- Cemetery Walk (of course!) by Minda Powers-Douglas
- Stories in Stone by Doug Keister
- Translating Tombstones by Minda (though this is best used out in the field as a reference)
- Cemetery Stories by Katherine Ramsland
- Your Guide to Cemetery Research by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
- Cemeteries and Gravemarkers by Richard Meyer (great essays/papers throughout!)
- Stones and Bones of New England by Lisa Rogak (I'm going to finally read this one myself ... been sitting on my shelf, waiting)
- New Orleans Cemeteries by Robert Florence (love it!)

What about you? What cemetery books do you like best or have on your shelf to read?

Happy Halloween!
Minda

www.TheCemeteryClub.com

One event added, another cancelled

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to Michigan for the Victorian Halloween event.

BUT, I will be giving a gravestone rubbing demonstration/talk during the Apple Festival this weekend in LeClaire, Iowa! Be there at 1 p.m. to learn about this cool artwork that allows you to read unreadable gravestones and "capture" them to take with you.

All the best,
Minda

www.TheCemeteryClub.com

The latest

I'm excited about the approach of Halloween. I'm looking into traveling up to Michigan to take part in "A Victorian Haunting Experience" with my friend Scary Amy Williamson. That takes place Oct. 30-31. I really hope to make it. If I do, I'll be presenting a workshop on gravestone rubbing on Oct. 31. (For more info: http://www.amywilliamson.net/)

I'm planning to be at the Illinois State Genealogical Society annual conference Oct. 24 in Elgin, Illinois. I'll have a booth. Should be fun! http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilsgs/

Other things I'm doing? Making haunted dollhouse furniture! How cool is that? Very. Check some out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7268393

I gave cemetery symbolism tours last Saturday at Oakdale Memorial Gardens' Forget-Me-Not Victorian Day in Davenport, Iowa. It was a great time. Thanks to all who participated!

On top of all that, I just finished by latest book "Chippiannock Cemetery" a few weeks ago. It's all about Chippiannock Cemetery, a garden cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. It was established in 1856, and it's gorgeous. It's still active and will be for hundreds of years to come. It will be published by Arcadia in 2010.

For other things I've been doing or will be doing, check out my website: www.TheCemeteryClub.com

Love and spooky things,

-Minda