Sunday, May 22, 2011

I See Dead People

Anyone who knows me knows I love cemeteries and taking walks in them, reading head stones and such. Something I inherited from Mom! So this was right up my alley. I took the time to visit the Ashland cemetery today to see a program put on by the historical society. I learned some new things about the people who started this town, the history, the challenges and the triumphs. It's good to know about where you live. Plus it was free..always a draw for me! The costumes were great, but I felt sorry for the actors portraying the historical figures...they looked hot on this muggy day. It was not raining for once, but it was in the 80's. This lovely lady looked really happy to see us, to get the tours started and send us on our way to enjoy a walk through time. I went with Stacy and her family (Crawford Clan blog)..Jack was not interested in standing in the sun on a hot afternoon. Not his thing! I enjoyed it enough for both of us. I did have to wonder if you didn't know this was going on and were to stumble upon a person dressed in period clothing standing near a headstone if maybe a call out to Ghost Hunters would be needed?
Some of the stops were in the shade. If I come back from the dead, it will be in the shade too so Jack will not have any excuse to not visit with me!
Dr. Hill was an ornery cuss! Very political and it was also interesting to hear how a person with only a 4th grade education could continue on and obtain a medical degree and hold various offices in government, run a newspaper, be a civil war surgeon, and a town physician...I guess it proves the saying "The harder you work, the luckier you get".
The dresses worn by the ladies were lovely, but I liked this one the best. It was a hot muggy day and I think I wouldn't like wearing all that garb of her day. But she didn't even break a sweat!
I liked this lovely ladies outfit and her pride in her son who was a leading figure here in Ashland was evident in her enthusiastic address to us. I had heard of many of the people talked about today..the Myers, the Duffs, the Freers,..but I hadn't known about the Anderson family. Learned something new!
We talked to war heroes like General Slocum.
Ummm, General? You forgot your coat.
A little music helped the festivities...I think this band was called the "Grateful Dead"..(Go ahead, you can laugh, I know you want too)
These dearly departed souls had to be moved here from another cemetery. I don't know about you, but I hate moving and frankly if I have to move after I'm dead..well, I won't be too happy about it. Except atleast I won't have to do the packing!
This was in front of a monument toward the end of our tour...hmmmm..an escapee?
I thought this inscription was different..not sure what it means...but I'll be on the lookout..although you won't find me here in the night. As much as I enjoy cemetery walks, I'll keep it to day time excursions!

19 comments:

Kim said...

I love walking through cemeteries also. That was a neat inscription. Makes you wonder what it means. I always visit Mr. X. When I was young he was found on a train that stopped in town - no ID, all tags cut from his clothes, and....no fingertips. True story. He was never identified and the own buried him with a small marker. I always wonder if anybody missed him.

Stacy said...

We often visit the cemetery here in Hayesville. We stroll around it looking at the headstones. We even go there at night...I find it very fascinating! I loved the story in the TG about Mabel Berra, I've wondered about that woman for the 12 years we've lived here. Now I have a face to put with her.

Kristy said...

Sounds neat! I have never heard of such a thing before! Glad you had fun.. and yes.. I did laugh at the ungrateful dead. If you make that bracelet you'll have to let me know... huge IF :) x

Linda Hoye said...

That sounds like a neat event. I enjoy poking around cemetaries and reading the headstones too,

tattina said...

A very interesting tour.
I joined it and didn't regret.
It was something new for me.
Thank you.

acorn hollow said...

There is a cemetery at the end of our dirt road that is old. I love walking through there and thinking about the people and what they would think if they should get back now. sounds like a fun day.
cathy

karen said...

I like to walk through old cemeteries too. Some of the headstones are so lovely and the inscriptions are often peculiar. In Puerto Rico there's a large one overlooking the ocean with enormous markers and monuments. Spooky even in the day time. There's one here in Yorba Linda too for the original Yorba family and it's very creepy at night, even though it's surrounded by condos. But most cemeteries here are very commercial and "maintained" - not very interesting.

Susan Anderson said...

I'm a big fan of cemeteries myself. So peaceful and interesting.

=)

Bonnie said...

I actually think that walking through cemeteries is pretty cool. I love thinking about the history of the people buried there and making up stories for them.
Is that weird?
Whatevs.
I remember walking through a cemetery where a bunch of my relatives are buried, and there was a "B" marker that was really small on the ground. One of my aunts said the tiny "B" marker was a placeholder for me.
That was both sad and hilarious.

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Deb Shucka said...

What a great thing to get to do. A whole new twist on Memorial Day. :-)

MunirGhiasuddin said...

How do you do it? I mean, have a carrier, be a wife, Mom, a Grandma, give baby showers and even visit cemeteries? There should be an award for you and people like you who do almost every thing. I have to come up with some thing.
Isn't it so sad to hear about Joplin MO. they are saying in the news that every person in the town knows about some one who lost some one.God give them hope and help. Amein.

Rick Watson said...

Wow! Great post. I do the website for a small cemetery where my folks a buried.
I spend a lot of time wandering around looking at gravestones.
One thing I've been doing is taking pictures of the markers, and getting as much information as possible about the people buried there. Pictures of them when they were living and relatives.
It's a huge project, but I enjoy the work.
www.daviscemetery.com

Hilary said...

I like cemeteries too.. so much history to be found. This sounds like such a fun excursion and you portrayed it all so well. Fun post. :)

Rosaria Williams said...

Cool! What a creative way to acquaint everyone with the history of the town.

Hope said...

I am so glad that I'm not the only one that likes cemeteries. :) this seems like an interesting event. i've never heard of it before and i'm not sure if it has been done in this country.

I love history and i think this is a wonderful way to appreciate the souls that lived before us. Even when our ancestors are gone from this world...we are still connected. :)

great post, yaya! thank you

Cheryl said...

It's no wonder we get on - I love cemeteries too! We have some great old cemeteries here - with vivid descriptions of what happened to their occupants! Cracked up at your "...won't have to pack..." comment. (Cracked up = laughed in Australian!)

Kent and Leisy said...

very very cool! stuff like that also intrigues me!

Stacy said...

check your email :)

Anonymous said...

I wished they did that here, How cool and yet educational