The holidays are the perfect time for baking, so this month, I wanted to try out another gravestone recipe. This sugar cookie recipe seemed like a perfect fit.
This recipe can be found on Mitchell Edward Neal’s black granite gravestone in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Charleston, Arkansas. Engraved on the back of the stone is a recipe for Peg’s Sugar Cookies, a sweet tribute from his wife, Peggy Sue Loughridge Neal, who is still living.
Mitchell Edward Neal passed away on March 20, 2019 after a long battle with dementia. An avid outdoorsman, Neal enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening.1 Based on the recipe engraved on his tombstone, it’s clear he also loved his wife’s cookie recipe. Neal met his wife Peg in high school, and they were married for 53 years, raising four children together.1 The addition of the cookie recipe is such a heartfelt way to honor their sweet memories.
Peg’s Sugar Cookie recipe on the gravestone of Mitchell Edward Neal. Photo by Rosie Grant.
Here is the recipe as inscribed on the gravestone:
Peg’s Sugar Cookies
2 Cups Sugar
2/3 Cup Oil
2 Eggs
3 Tbls. Water
1 Teas. Vanilla
3 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Teas. Salt
2 Teas. Baking Powder
Mix all together. May have to add more flour as rolling out. Cut into cookies. Bake on greased pan at 350 for 6-8 minutes.
In the Kitchen
This was a pretty straightforward recipe. The Ingredients are all staples, so I didn’t have to make an extra trip to the store. I love those kinds of recipes.
After gathering all my ingredients, I mixed them in the order they were engraved on the stone. I was a little worried about the amount of flour, as it seemed like it might have been too much. I did my best to mix everything with a fork, but after adding the last cup of flour, I switched to a small hand mixer, just to make things a bit easier.
This did create a really flaky dough, so I did have to spend some time working it into a smooth ball. The instructions are brief but clear, and I didn’t have any issues following along.
This recipe makes a big batch of dough. I had only prepared two baking sheets, but quickly realized I would need a couple more. I ended up baking three and a half cookie sheets full.
Since I was planning to share these cookies at a Christmas family gathering, I tried my best to make them festive. I was hoping I had some star-shaped cookie cutters, but all my cookie cutters are Halloween-themed. I settled on a gravestone and a coffin shape. Luckily, my family knows me well and probably expects this kind of thing from me by now!
I baked the cookies as instructed, for 6 minutes at 350°F, then checked to see if they were done. They needed an extra minute, so I continued baking the rest for 7 minutes.
Once they were done, I moved them to a cutting board to cool a little before frosting. I went with a red frosting to keep with the festive theme. I had hoped that I had white sprinkles for a nice contrast, but I didn’t. So, I used some colorful nonpareils instead.
I think they turned out quite pretty! They also taste pretty good, too. They did turn out a bit chewy, which I wasn’t expecting, but they still have that sweet sugar cookie taste. The frosting adds a bit of sweetness as well, perfect for pairing with a fresh glass of milk.
Christmas time always calls for something sweet, and what better way to bring a little extra sweetness than by baking cookies with a story? As I baked these sugar cookies in Mitchell’s memory, I couldn’t help but think of the love and tradition behind the recipe.
Trying out this recipe seemed like a fitting way to honor the season of giving—and of course, I’m always up for a delicious sugar cookie!
Will you be giving this recipe a try? Let me know in the comments.
As winter settles in, it’s hard to ignore the changing of the seasons. The chilly air, shorter days, and the snow-covered gravestones mark the end of field season for me. I have always seen snow-covered cemeteries as just too risky to explore—both for me and the gravestones.
While the cold usually keeps me indoors for the next couple of months, it brings something special to the cemeteries I love so much. There is a stillness in the air, and cemeteries in winter do offer something unique that cemeteries in the warmer months just don’t have.
Winter is often seen as a time for rest and renewal. Nature takes a break during these colder months, and cemeteries seem to do the same. The chill in the air makes everything feel still.
For me, the winter season is a time to focus on rest and recharging, while also refocusing on photo editing and research. Nothing is more relaxing to me than being curled up on the couch with a good book. But winter is also a time for reflection on life’s cycles. The season reminds us that life, like death, is all part of the same cycle. Nature’s rhythms, whether still still or full of growth are always changing, just like us.
I’ll be honest, winter is not my favorite season, and I don’t have a lot of experience visiting cemeteries in the snow. The bitter cold and early darkness does not appeal to me. But I will admit that cemeteries in winter have an almost haunting beauty that I can’t ignore.
The bare trees against a pale sky, and the contrast between the dark gravestones against white snow, create a mood that’s both peaceful and a bit mysterious. It’s the kind of scene that makes you stop for a moment.
Even though this isn’t the time I usually seek out cemeteries, I made an effort this weekend to stop in to one, to appreciate the unique atmosphere it creates.
One interesting thing I found about cemeteries in the winter is the light. With the sun being lower in the sky, the light creates long and dramatic shadows, adding texture and depth to the landscape. I find the gravestones just look different in the winter light.
The unique angles of the light during winter do make it a great time to play around with shadows and textures. For anyone interested in photography, winter cemeteries offer a chance to capture the landscape in a new way.
As I think about how winter enhances the beauty of cemeteries, I realize that the symbolism of the season offers us an important reminder of the ongoing cycle of life. Winter is a time of rest and reflection, but it’s also a time to prepare for what comes next.
So will you be visiting any cemeteries this winter? Whether you’re stopping by to honor a loved one or just take in the beauty of the season, cemeteries in the winter do have a lot to offer.
For this month’s cemetery book review, I want to share another pick from the Association for Gravestone Studies Book Club. Published in 2023, Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries is a spirited tour through some historic cemeteries in the United States.
Written by Greg Melville, an adventure journalist, and fellow taphophile, Over My Dead Body explores the many facets of how and why we bury our dead. From history, to land use and sustainability, this book covers a little of everything.
“Melville’s Over My Dead Body is a lively (pun intended) and wide-ranging history of cemeteries, places that have mirrored the passing eras in history but have also shaped it. Cemeteries have given birth to landscape architecture and famous parks, as well as influenced architectural styles. They’ve inspired and motivated some of our greatest poets and authors—Emerson, Whitman, and Dickinson. They have been used as political tools to shift the country’s discourse and as important symbols of the United States’ ambition and reach.”
Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville.
Over My Dead Body is a fun and easy-to-read exploration of some of America’s most historic cemeteries. I have the softcover edition, which is perfect for lounging with on a weekend afternoon. Each chapter focuses on a different cemetery, where Melville shares both the history of the place and his personal experience visiting it. I really enjoyed how each chapter felt like a history lesson and a travelogue rolled into one.
What made the book especially enjoyable for me was how much Melville’s passion for cemeteries mirrored my own. Even though I am exploring cemeteries here in Canada while he is in the U.S., his observations and reflections on the stories these places hold felt familiar. I felt like Melville might be a kindred spirit—someone who gets why we’re drawn to cemeteries in the first place.
The book is lighthearted for the most part, but it does touch on some darker aspects of history. It made me think deeply about how cemeteries not only reflect the past but also shape the way we remember those who came before us.
So if you are fascinated by cemeteries and the stories they hold, I highly recommend Over My Dead Body by Greg Melville. Its unique blend of history, personal reflection, and insightful exploration will appeal to both casual readers and avid taphophiles alike.
Have you read Over My Dead Body? I would love to read your thoughts about it in the comments.
Thanks for reading!
I am always on the hunt for cemetery-related book recommendations. If you are an author and have a cemetery-related book you would like me to review, please reach out at hello@chantallarochelle.ca. I would love to hear from you.
The holiday season is officially upon us, so it’s time to start thinking about the perfect gifts for the taphophiles in your life!
Whether you’re shopping for a friend who has a deep love of cemeteries, or a family member who enjoys the fascinating history of gravestones, this year’s 2024 gift guide has something unique for everyone.
This year, my round-up features 13 unique items from stunning jewelry and a death-positive card game, to cemetery-related books and even a set of crayons for the creatively inclined.
Whether they’re into history, art, or just a bit of cemetery fun, these handpicked items will surely delight all the graveyard enthusiasts in your life!
Perfect for aspiring cemetery explorers and dedicated taphophiles alike, this beautiful guide to the world’s most fascinating and offbeat cemeteries has been freshly updated with 23 new, must-see locations. It is a must-have for any cemetery lover’s bookshelf!
222 Cemeteries to See Before You Die by Loren Rhoads. Photo from Amazon.ca
This 2025 calendar by stonecutter Andrew Carr, also known as Stones Over Bones on Etsy, features 12 stunning photos of intricate gravestones carved by some of the finest New England artisans. It’s a year-round celebration of cemetery symbolism and art. This would make a great gift for anyone who appreciates the beauty of gravestones.
2025 Gravestones Calendar created by stonecutter, Andrew Carr. Photo supplied.
This classic gravestone design by PoisonBlood on Red Bubble, is a simple, yet stylish way to wear your love of cemeteries. Featuring a clean white gravestone print with the iconic R.I.P. message, this shirt is a bold yet subtle statement. Available in a variety of colors, it’s a perfect everyday tee.
Classic Gravestone T-Shirt, design by Poison Blood. Photo from Red Bubble.
This beautifully designed book blends the mindful practice of journaling with the comfort of cooking. Like a gravestone preserves memories, this book helps you honor loved ones by reflecting on shared meals and documenting family recipes. With prompts to guide your memories and blank recipe pages to record treasured dishes, it’s a unique way to keep those connections alive.
Please note that this book currently only ships within the United States.
Cooking with Ghosts: A Grief and Recipe Journal by Mortician in the Kitchen. Photo taken from the Mortician in the Kitchen website.
The Death Deck is the perfect party game to break the taboo around talking about death. With 112 cards full of multiple-choice and open-ended questions, this game will have you, and your family and friends surprising each other with lively conversation about death—and you might even learn something new about yourselves.
The Death Deck. Photo from the Death Deck website.
Everybody loves stickers! These Early New England Cemetery Stone stickers by Gh0stBreathArt are inspired by gravestones from the 1600s-1700s. Each sticker showcases a unique design, along with the name of the original stone carver. Perfect for decorating laptops, water bottles, or notebooks.
Early New England Cemetery Stone stickers by Gh0stBreathArt. Photo from Etsy.
This grave moss pendant, created by Mist Metal and Stone, is a truly unique piece of jewelry, made from real moss carefully collected (with permission) from a late 1800s gravestone. The moss is preserved in eco resin and set in steel, creating a one-of-kind keepsake. Be sure to check out the rest of their Etsy shop, as they offer many other unique and beautiful pieces for sale.
Grave Moss Pendant created by Mist Metal and Stone. Photo from Etsy.
These fun and quirky gravestone-shaped crayons, created by In Wonderment on Etsy, make a unique and playful gift! This set includes 6 multi-colored crayons, each featuring a different gravestone design. Hand-poured from 100% Crayola crayons, they are perfect for art lovers, and creative types.
Gravestone Crayon Set created by In Wonderment. Photo from Etsy.
Guess Where Trips offers a fun and adventurous way to explore new places with a twist of mystery! Each trip includes a Before You Go package and four surprise stops filled with unique destinations, recommendations, and fun facts. You can choose from a variety of day trips based on your interests, but I wanted to highlight two of the trips that feature cemeteries: Historic Hauntsand Beautifully Haunted.
Created by Night Spirit Studio, this beautiful art print titled I Forgot Something is inspired by 1800s mourning watercolor paintings. These mourning paintings were historically created by schoolgirls and featured gravestone symbolism like urns and weeping willows. With its giclée print quality and haunting design, this vintage-inspired piece would make a lovely addition to any art collection.
I Forgot Something 8×10 Art Print created by Night Spirit Studio. Photo from Etsy.
Created by Mockingbird Lane Artistries, this darkly beautiful piece blends together art, history, and nature. Featuring a hand-painted mini gravestone, lichen harvested from a cemetery, and graveyard dirt from the filming location of Night of the Living Dead. This lovely piece would make a perfect addition to any jewelry or film memorabilia collection.
Oval Burial Plot Necklace created by Mockingbird Lane Artistries. Photo from Mockingbird Lane Artistries website.
Pleasure Grounds of Death explores the fascinating history of how rural cemeteries became popular spots for strolls and picnics, and grew to influence American culture, community identity, and social issues of the time. A perfect read for history lovers, cemetery enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the cultural significance of these beautiful resting places.
Pleasure Grounds of Death: The Rural Cemetery in Nineteenth-Century America by Joy M. Giguere. Photo from Amazon.ca
The Support Your Local Cemetery sweatshirt from Everything After Co. on Etsy is a perfect blend of humor and dark aesthetic, making it an ideal gift for any taphophile. Featuring a retro design, it comes in four different colors and is made from a comfortable cotton-polyester blend—perfect for lounging or cemetery exploring.
Support Your Local Cemetery sweatshirt from Everything After Co. Photo from Etsy.
As you navigate the holiday season in search of the perfect gift, remember that it’s the thought behind the gifts that make it truly special. Whether your gifting something spooky, historical or simply unique, these items are sure to spark conversation and bring joy.
Happy gifting, and thanks for reading!
Cemetery Photography by Chantal Larochelle is not affiliated with any of the brands or artists featured in this guide, and I do not receive any compensation or proceeds from sales. I am simply sharing products I love!
With my birthday coming up at the end of the month, I thought it would be fun to try out a cake recipe for this month’s gravestone recipe. I found the perfect fit with this Texas Sheet Cake.
This recipe can be found on the gravestone of Helen Rose (Keathley) Sweers, who is laid to rest in Blain Cemetery in Cutlerville, Michigan.
Gravestone of Helen Sweers. Photo by Find a Grave contributor, Photograver Lori.
Sweers passed away on December 30, 2017, at the age of 77. Her brief obituary describes her as a wife, mother, and grandmother, who deeply loved God, her family, and everyone in her life.1
While her obituary doesn’t mention a passion for baking, the recipe engraved on the back of her gravestone tells a different story.
“Made with Love by Helen Sweers”
Texas Sheet Cake Recipe. Photo by Find a Grave contributor, G.
Texas Sheet Cake
(As inscribed on the gravestone of Helen Sweers)
Made with Love by Helen Sweers
2 Sticks Butter
1 Cup Water
3 Tbs Cocoa
2 Cups Flour, Sifted
2 Cups White Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Sour Milk
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Baking Powder
Bring butter, water, cocoa to a boil. In a bowl mix flour, sugar, eggs, sour milk, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Mix well. Add boiled mixture to flour mixture. Pour on a greased jelly roll pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.
Frosting
1 stick butter – melted Then add: ⦁ 1/3 cup milk ⦁ 1 Tbs cocoa ⦁ 1 Tsp vanilla
Cook on stove top. When mixed add one box powdered sugar or about 4 cups. Pour onto hot cake. Spread. Top with walnuts.
In the Kitchen
I had never heard of Texas Sheet Cake before, so I did learn something new with this recipe. A Texas Sheet Cake is a chocolate cake, baked in a jelly roll pan (which is a pan similar to a cookie sheet, but deeper). This gives the cake its signature large, thin shape.
I ended up purchasing a jelly roll pan specifically to make this recipe. It could double as a cookie sheet if needed, but I think I’ll use it again for future baking, so I will get some use out of it either way.
The ingredients for this recipe are mostly staples, so I didn’t need to make an extra grocery trip. However, I did have questions about the sour milk.
Sour milk has a tart taste, either because it’s just starting to spoil or because it was soured on purpose.2 This made me think that this might be a Depression-era recipe, as many recipes of that time were designed to avoid food waste and used sour milk.2 Buttermilk could be a good substitute for sour milk, but I opted to make my own. I found sour milk recipes online that called for 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice, for 1 cup of milk. This recipe only calls for a 1/2 cup of sour milk, so I used a 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar.
I let the sour milk sit for a few minutes to curdle while I gathered the rest of my ingredients and preheated the oven.
The recipe instructions are clear so I didn’t have any trouble mixing everything together. I was a bit concerned when it came time to pour the batter into the jelly roll pan. I voiced those concerns to Helen, while I poured in the batter. Talking to the person whose recipe I’m following makes me feel like they’re with me in the kitchen. It can sometimes be a comforting reminder to trust the process.
The pan was quite full, but I had faith that it would work out. And it did—well, sort of. I put the pan in the oven and let it bake for the full 15 minutes. I used the classic toothpick test to see if it was ready, but ended up needing to bake it for 5 more minutes, and then another 5 minutes after that. The center was quite thick and needed a bit more time to bake all the way through.
While the cake baked, I worked on the frosting. Since I had to bake the cake a little longer, I kept the frosting on low heat so it would be ready when the cake was done.
The recipe says to pour the frosting onto the hot cake. The cake didn’t rise, but it didn’t have a lot of room for icing either and I was afraid it would spill over the sides and make a big mess. To avoid that, I used a spatula to carefully spread small amounts at a time. In the end, I was able to cover the whole cake without any issues. I then topped it with a handful of walnuts.
After it cooled, the frosting firmed up a bit, creating a nice crackle when you sliced through the cake.
Texas Sheet Cake, recipe from the gravestone of Helen Sweers.
I love the way this Texas Sheet Cake turned out!
It’s chocolatey and moist, but the real highlight is the frosting. It adds just the right sweetness, although I’ll warn you—it’s really sweet, so a little slice goes a long way.
This cake is big, making it perfect for sharing at a family gathering or other special occasion. I made it to celebrate my birthday, and it was perfect for sharing with loved ones.
Recreating these gravestone recipes has become a meaningful way for me to connect with those whose stories live on in such a personal way. It’s a comforting reminder that food has a power that can bring us together, even across time. I always say that recreating these gravestone recipes really is the sweetest way to remember someone.
Will you be giving this recipe a try? I’d love to hear your thoughts, and experiences in the comments.
In honor of Remembrance Day this year, Monday, November 11th, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this solemn occasion and the powerful symbol of sacrifice that is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
This day, which marks the end of hostilities during the First World War and honors all who have served in times of conflict, holds deep meaning for Canadians. While Remembrance Day has been observed since 1919, its evolution over the years—from its origins as Armistice Day to the shift in date and name in 1931—demonstrates its lasting importance in our collective memory.1 In this week’s post, I want to delve into the history behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a tribute that today stands as a symbol of the many soldiers who gave their lives without recognition.
The tomb of the unknown soldier lies in front of the National War Memorial at Parliament Hill. The large monument, a cenotaph, was unveiled in 1939 to commemorate the Canadian response to the First World War. It has grown to symbolize the sacrifice of all Canadians who have served in times of war.2
The Royal Canadian Legion, with help from Veteran’s Affairs Canada, began work to bring the Unknown Soldier home in the spring of 1998.3 As a Millenium project, this undertaking was not an easy task and many veterans were anxious to see this tomb built, as a reminder for new generations of the cause and consequences of war.3,4
Exhaustive work was completed to choose the remains that would be repatriated. The remains were selected from among 6,846 unknown soldiers of the First World War.5 The set of remains that now lie at rest in the sarcophagus at the base of the war memorial comes from Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, in Souchez, France.4
The Unknown Soldier’s remains were exhumed on May 25, 2000, by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The remains were then repatriated to Canada in a Canadian Forces aircraft, where they would lay in state for three days in the Hall of Honor in the Centre Block of Parliament.5 On May 28, 2000, the remains were laid to rest in a sarcophagus made of granite, during an interment ceremony. Soil from each Canadian province and territory was placed on the casket. They also included some soil from France.6
The inscription on the tomb reads “The Unknown Soldier / Le Soldat inconnu”. There is also a brass plaque embedded in the ground in front of the tomb which reads: “Here lie the remains / of Canada’s Unknown Soldier. / Please treat this grave / with respect.”
The tombstone marking the first resting place of our unknown soldier, in France, was also brought to Canada and now hangs in the Memorial Hall of the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
The inscription reads: “A Soldier / of the Great War / A Canadian Regiment / Known Unto God”
Original gravestone of the Unknown Soldier, Canadian War Museum. Photo by Craig Baird, Canadian History Ehx https://canadaehx.com/ Photo used with permission.
The Memorial Hall of the Canadian War Museum has a unique design feature, where every year on November 11th, at 11 a.m. the sun filters through a window in the hall, directly illuminating the headstone.7
A new gravestone was placed to mark the original burial site, now empty, in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery. The stone, similar in appearance to the original gravestone, is engraved with a maple leaf and the following epitaph, “The Former Grave Of An / Unknown Canadian Soldier / Of The First World War. / His Remains Were Removed / On 25 May 2000 And Now / Lie Interred At The / National War Memorial / In Ottawa Canada.”4
The Changing of the Guard
This summer, while I was visiting family in Ottawa, I had the opportunity to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witness the changing of the guard.
Since 2007, the Canadian Armed Forces have posted sentries to stand guard at the tomb, with a rotation of personnel from the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Canadian Ranger units from across the country.8 During the summer months, the changing of the guard ceremony occurs every hour, on the hour, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The ceremony is a somber occasion that reflects respect for Canada’s fallen soldiers. As the sentries execute their precise and disciplined movements, the atmosphere was heavy with reverence. The ceremony serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom and those who gave their lives in service.
While visiting the tomb, I was struck by the weight of history and felt the significance of honoring those whose identities may be lost, but whose sacrifices will never be forgotten.
We will never know the identity of the Unknown Soldier—but that’s the point.
In war, the remains of soldiers may be badly damaged, or destroyed. Even though a great effort was made to find and identify remains, many were not found at all. Almost 20,000 Canadians who died in the First World War have no identifiable graves.4 Some could only be identified as Canadians, by uniform buttons or badges, and were buried with a simple military marker, like our unknown soldier.4
So this Remembrance Day, as we pause to honor the sacrifices of those who served, remember also the unknown soldier—the many who gave their lives, whose identities are now lost to history.
A few years ago, my fiancé and I started a new October tradition. We were engaged in October, and to celebrate we planned a cute weekend getaway at a haunted hotel. We visited a haunted pub and enjoyed the small-town charm and fall weather.
We had so much fun that we started thinking about other haunted hotels we could visit—and the tradition was born!
This year, our Haunted Holiday took us to Toronto.
We had tickets to see the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden at the Scotia Bank Centre at the end of October, so it made sense to make a weekend trip. I did a bit of research into haunted locations in the city and booked us a room at the Fairmount Royal York. We also made reservations for a romantic dinner at a 157-year-old historic building known today as the Keg Mansion.
The Royal York Hotel was built in 1928-1929, by the Canadian Pacific Railway as part of its coast-to-coast chain of grand hotels. The skyscraper hotel was the tallest in the British Commonwealth at that time and dramatically altered the Toronto skyline.1
Today it’s one of Toronto’s most famous landmarks.
This stately hotel has played host to many celebrities and dignitaries over the years, such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Royal family.2 With such a storied past, it’s no surprise that it might also hosts a few ghosts.
The most reported haunting is that of a gentleman who wanders the halls on the 8th floor. He is said to be wearing a purple jacket. This ghostly figure is sometimes seen accompanied by the sounds of children running up and down the halls while laughing. Those who have heard the ghostly children have peeked outside their chamber door to see an empty hallway and find silence. Some have peeked out to see the man in the purple jacket.3
My fiancé and I were eager to chat with someone about the supposed hauntings when we checked in. Unfortunately, we didn’t meet anyone who had any stories to share with us, either being recent hires or as one put it, worked only during the day when nothing spooky happens.
The hotel is immense and beautiful, so we took a bit of time to explore our surroundings while making our way up to our room on the 9th floor.
After dropping off our things and settling into our new home for the night, we had some free time before our dinner reservation. We had just enough time for a cemetery visit, some window shopping, and a drink or two at a pub.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Opened in 1876, Mount Pleasant Cemetery is considered one of Canada’s most historic cemeteries. It was designed by Henry Adolph Engelhardt and is a beautiful example of landscape design, inspired by the European and American garden cemeteries of the 19th century.4
Spanning 83 hectares in the middle of the city, the many winding paths provide picturesque views of the park-like landscape.4 Mount Pleasant features one of the finest tree collections in North America and walking and running trails that span 1 km, 3 km, and 5 km routes.5
Mount Pleasant is the final resting place of many prominent Canadians, including former Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, Nobel Prize winner Frederick Banting, founder of the Eaton’s department store Timothy Eaton, and renowned pianist Glenn Gould.6
It’s also the final resting place of many members of the prominent Massey Family. The Massey Mausoleum was built in 1891. Designed in the Romanesque style, the family crypt features a tower, a below-grade crypt, and a statue of Hope, one of the seven virtues perched on top of its roof.7 Industrialist and philanthropist Hart Massey rests within the walls of this mausoleum, as well as his wife Eliza Ann Phelps Massey, and some of their children, like Lillian Frances Massey Treble.
I was particularly interested in visiting the final resting place of Lillian, as we would be dining with her ghost later that evening.
The Massey Mausoleum is massive and was easy to spot once I was pointed in the right direction. I will admit I did need to get directions from a groundskeeper as the cemetery is quite large and easy to get lost in. Especially when you are easily distracted by gravestones, like me.
Standing in front of the immense family crypt, I was in awe of the wealth and stature of this family, which I assume is one of the reasons for building such a massive final resting place.
I peeked inside and admired the beautiful stained glass, in the small sepulchre. The shaft of light coming from the stained glass windows in the ceiling lit the inside of the tomb just enough to make out the nameplates marking the shelves within the crypt. It felt like a special privilege to be able to see inside this final resting place of such a prominent Toronto family.
After paying my respects and taking a few more photos, I made my way back to my waiting fiancé. I excitedly showed him my photos as I described everything I saw during my short walk in the cemetery.
After a short rest and an iced pumpkin spice latte, we continued on our walk down Yonge Street stopping in at a shop here and there. We eventually sat down at a nice little pub called The Quail, where we enjoyed a few drinks and chatted with the owner. Now that I think about it, we completely forgot to ask the owner if he had any ghost stories to share.
But not to worry, we would get our fill of ghost stories at supper time!
The Keg Mansion
Our dinner reservation brought us to the Keg Mansion, a former home of the Massey family. Built in 1867, this elaborate mansion housed 26 different rooms and 17 fireplaces.8 The home was purchased in 1882 by Hart Massey, a Cleveland agricultural equipment salesman, and his wife. They would make additions to the ornate mansion by adding a turret, verandah, and a greenhouse.8
After Hart Massey passed away in 1896, at the age of 72, the estate was taken over by his daughter Lillian Massey. She would name the Mansion Euclid Hall, and reside there until her death. After her passing, the house was entrusted to the University of Toronto, serving as the home for many different establishments over the years. In 1975, the building received heritage status, and in 1976 became the home of The Keg Steakhouse + Bar. Today, it’s known as the Keg Mansion.8
The Keg Mansion does not shy away from its ghostly history. When we arrived for our reservations we were quietly seated on the second floor. Of course, we asked right away if our server had had any ghostly encounters to share. She didn’t have any stories of her own to tell, but she kindly offered to bring over the “ghost book”, a collection of reported hauntings by staff and restaurant patrons.
I was happy to peruse the reported hauntings while they brought out our drinks. Some of the stories I was familiar with, like the story of Lillian Massey and her maid. Lillian passed away in the house in 1915, at the age of 61. Lillian was beloved by her staff, and her maid in particular took her death very hard. The story goes that after learning of Lillian’s death, her maid, distraught with grief brought a length of rope with her upstairs to the oval vestibule, where she fashioned a noose and hung herself.9
The vestibule is still a feature in the Mansion today, just outside the washrooms on the second floor. People have reported seeing Lillian’s spirit as well as the spirit of her maid, in various rooms throughout the house. The washrooms, in particular the women’s washroom, are thought to be one of the most haunted areas in the Mansion. Patrons have reported feeling cold spots, and even capturing ghostly images in photographs taken in a mirror above the fireplace in that washroom.
The stories I found most fascinating though were the sightings of the ghost of a young boy.
Throughout our meal, my fiancé and I couldn’t help eavesdropping on the conversations happening around us. The ghostly phenomenon happening at the Mansion is well known, and we were not the only ones asking questions about ghosts.
One server stopped by our table and told us a story about a mother and son who had come to the Mansion for supper. The little boy went to the bathroom, and on his return told his mother that there had been another little boy in the bathroom, all alone. Worried, the mother told her server who in turn told a manager. The manager went to the bathroom right away to see if the little boy needed help, but there was no one there.
We would learn later in the evening that there had been a young Massey boy, who also died in the house, who was around 10 years old. His playful ghost is also often reported.
Geoff, the Bar Manager stopped by our table after our meal and told us about his encounter with the child ghost. He had been walking with a tray of drinks past the front door area, where the large staircase is when he overheard a little girl telling her mother she wanted to play with the trains. The mother, confused, asked her daughter what she meant. In response, the little girl pointed to the empty staircase and said she wanted to play trains with the little boy. She was quite emphatic saying that he was playing with the trains and that she wanted to play too.
Except there was no one on the stairs, no little boy, and no toy trains!
Geoff assured us that even though the ghosts were very active, no one had experienced anything malicious. My fiancé and I hoped we would have an encounter of our own, but alas we didn’t experience anything. We both made it a point to visit the washrooms, and I did take a few selfies in the bathroom mirror, but I didn’t capture anything.
What we did have was a lovely evening of good wine, good food, and ghost stories.
After dinner we made our way back to the hotel to freshen up, then it was off to the Scotia Bank Centre for an evening of heavy metal. Iron Maiden put on an excellent show!
After a couple of hours of rocking out, we walked back to our hotel, stopping on the 8th floor to take a look around. It was quiet on that floor, so we returned to our own room for the night.
Although we didn’t get to experience any hauntings ourselves, we both agreed that it was a great weekend. You can’t go wrong with romance, ghost stories, and heavy metal. It was definitely a haunted holiday for the books.
There is just something magical about wandering through a cemetery bathed in the warm colors of autumn. So today on the blog, I explore how the crunch of leaves underfoot and the cool breeze tousling your hair as you walk among the headstones, creates a uniquely reflective experience.
The stunning yellows, oranges, and reds herald the changing of the seasons and mark the transition from verdant green to withered rotting leaves. The falling leaves remind us of the cycle of life and that everything dies.
Autumn begins on the fall equinox, usually on September 22 or 23. The equinox happens twice a year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring between the summer and winter solstices.1 It marks the point where the sun crosses the equator’s path and becomes positioned exactly between the Northern and Southern hemispheres.1 On the equinox, day and night are approximately the same length, but the fall equinox marks the beginning of longer nights and shorter days.1
As we lose daylight earlier, the yellow glow during the golden hour is intensified, creating a golden light that beautifully bathes the gravestones. It’s a photographer’s dream!
Gravestone symbolism draws heavily from Greek mythology, so it seems only fitting to share the Greek story of Persephone’s return, an anecdote used to explain why the seasons work the way they do.
In the story, Persephone was abducted by Hades and forced to live in the Underworld. Demeter, Persephone’s mother, searched far and wide for her daughter. Demeter threatened to make the earth a barren place until her daughter was returned to her.2
A deal was struck: because Persephone had eaten four pomegranate seeds while in the Underworld, she would return to Hades and live with him for four months out of the year.2
So when Persephone traveled to the Underworld to fulfill her four-month stay, Demeter’s sadness at being separated from her daughter was expressed by the barrenness of autumn and the winter cold.2
The month of October can be considered the peak of autumn, with the fall colors reaching their most vibrant, usually during the first couple of weeks. The beginning of October is also considered by many to be the start of the spooky season, which culminates on October 31st, Halloween.
Halloween night is said to be when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinest. This is thought to mean that it is the one night when spirits can cross over the easiest to communicate with loved ones.
The idea of a veil between life and death can sometimes be found in cemetery art.
A draped urn, for instance, is a popular Victorian-era motif, borrowed from Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks commonly cremated their dead, and the symbol of a ceremonial urn was adapted to represent the idea of the body being reduced to its barest elements while the soul ascends to heaven. Often draped in a cloth, this drapery is thought to symbolize the veil between the living and the dead.3
Another symbol that symbolizes this concept is the gates ajar. This grave symbol was popularized by author Elizabeth Stuart Phelps in her 1868 book The Gates Ajar. The story follows a woman coming to terms with the death of her brother, who died in the Civil War. This symbol features an open gate, symbolizing that the gates to Heaven are not closed, and that departed souls can pass back and forth.3
As you might expect Halloween is celebrated all over the world. It is one of the oldest holidays after all. There are many ways to celebrate, the most obvious being donning a scary costume and going door-to-door for tricks or treats. But there are other Halloween traditions, older traditions that are practiced in all parts of the world.
It’s not surprising that some of them involve cemeteries!
In France, All Saints Day and All Souls Day are celebrated by children going house to house collecting flowers that they use to decorate graveyards and churches.4
To celebrate Dia De Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, in Mexico families will have picnics in graveyards at the graveside of their loved ones, to remember and celebrate their life.4
In Portugal, wine and chestnuts are brought to feast on, in the cemetery.4
And in Rome, they celebrate Feralia, which is similar to the Day of the Dead in many ways. Families visit loved ones in the cemetery and also bring offerings for the spirits of their loved ones who linger at their graveside.4
The symbolism of gravestones, like the draped urn and gates ajar, echoes the stories of Persephone and the thinning veil between the living and the dead. As Halloween approaches, traditions around the world invite us to remember and celebrate our loved ones in these revered spaces.
So, this fall, take some time to wander through a cemetery, and let the beauty and tranquility inspire some reflection on the spirit of Halloween—the connections we hold with those who have passed, the stories they leave behind, and the traditions that keep their memory alive.
Did you know that not all Witches are found in Salem?
Folktales and legends of witches can be found worldwide, even in small towns in Ontario. This truth led me down a few rabbit holes that uncovered some fascinating stories about a darker side of Canada’s history—a history of stigma, politics, and strong women.
One such strong woman was Jane Elizabeth Martin Barnes, also known as Mother Barnes. This summer, I was fortunate to visit her homestead and pay my respects at her final resting place.
Every good witch legend exists in mystery, and the Witch of Plum Hollow is no different. Some details of her story are uncertain, like the date of her birth. Some sources note her date of birth as 1794, as engraved on her tombstone, while others note November 15, 1800.
What we do know, is that she was born in Cork, Ireland. Her father was an Irish landowner, and her mother was of Spanish Gypsy descent.1 Facing an arranged marriage, Elizabeth and her lover, a military man, left for North America where they would elope.1
The young couple would have one child together before misfortune struck. Elizabeth’s husband passed away tragically, leaving the young mother alone to raise their child.1 Four years later, she would marry David Barnes, a shoemaker. Together they had nine children, six sons and three daughters.1
In 1843, the Barnes family moved to Sheldon’s Corners, near Athens, Ontario.1 They raised seven of their children in the small wood cabin, that today is known as the Mother Barnes Homestead. Eventually, Elizabeth’s husband grew tired of farm life and left, taking their youngest son with him.1 Elizabeth was left with a house full of children to mind on her own.
To support her family, Elizabeth turned to fortune-telling.
She credited her Spanish Gypsy ancestry and the fact that she was the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter as the source of her second sight.2 She charged 25 cents for a reading and soon became well known for her accuracy.2
At this time, she began to be known as the Witch of Plum Hollow, respected by some and feared by others.1 People visited from everywhere for a reading from Mother Barnes. She became increasingly involved with local lost & found cases, finding lost items and missing livestock.2 She was also instrumental in a disappearance case, directing the searchers straight to the missing body.2
Her most famous visitor was a Kingston lawyer with political aspirations. Mother Barnes foretold that this man would become the leader of a new country and that its capital would be in Bytown.2
Today, Bytown is known as Ottawa and is the capital of Canada. That lawyer was John A. Macdonald, who became the first Prime Minister of Canada in 1867.2
Mother Barnes Homestead
The small log cabin that had so many visitors in the past sat for a time in utter disrepair. Over time, the wood rotted, and the roof sagged, the derelict state made worse by vandals’ damage.
The property, which includes; two acres, the original cabin, an abandoned well, and a deteriorating barn, was eventually purchased by descendants of Mother Barnes in the 1980s. They worked hard to try and bring the little cabin back to life.3
Newspaper clipping, The Ottawa Citizen, Thursday, October 28, 1982, page 23
Today the log cabin has been restored by new owners. A green sign with large gold script declares the site as the “Mother Barnes Homestead”. Beside the sign sits a large boulder with an indent suggesting there was once something attached to it. This once commemorative boulder had a sign that read “Home of Mother Barnes”. The sign was removed to preserve it from further damage, as it had been used as target practice.1
The property is now well maintained and sits behind a wooden fence, that is dotted with no trespassing signs.
The day I visited the Mother Barnes Homestead I was hoping there would be someone on the property to talk to, and maybe get a tour of this historic house. Unfortunately, the property was deserted. The no-trespassing signs were enough of a deterrent to keep me from trying to sneak a peek inside the windows.
I would have loved to be able to explore the attic, where Elizabeth was known to perform her tea readings. I hope one day the property will be opened as a historic house and museum.
Jane Elizabeth Martin Barnes died on February 4th, 1891 at the age of 90 after falling ill with pneumonia.5 She is laid to rest in Sheldon Cemetery, not far from her homestead.
Originally her grave was unmarked, that is until local Cheesemakers Claude and Ella Flood decided to erect a monument in her memory. Curiously, the dates on the stone are incorrect, listing her year of death as 1886.5
The stone itself was not placed on her actual gravesite either, I would learn. The stone sits beneath the cemetery sign arch near the cemetery entrance. When I visited, the arch was completely overgrown and obscured with vines. The gravestone reads: “Burial Place / of / Mother Barnes / 1794—1886”
While visiting another cemetery in the area, I met two women who pointed out some interesting graves for me to photograph. After showing me the graves, they asked if I had been to visit the Witch of Plum Hollow. I said yes, to which they replied that she wasn’t buried beneath the stone.
The unmarked grave of Mother Barnes lies at the back of the cemetery on the left-hand side.
The woman also shared that there is a pipe sticking out of the ground in that area, very close to the grave. They continued to tell me a story about the pipe, and how it was plugged for a very long time, to keep the witch’s spirit in. But, sometime in the 1980s, the pipe was unplugged and the spirit of the Witch was released. I was surprised to hear a negative tone in the woman’s voice as she told the story, and how she thought the pipe should have remained plugged.
It was interesting to see that the stigma behind the term witch was still alive, well over 100 years later.
But was Elizabeth Barnes really a witch?
By all accounts she was just a single mother, using kind advice and honest predictions to provide for her family. Predictions that very often came true.
I love a good spooky story, especially in October. So for today’s blog post, I want to share another October cemetery story—this time coming from the Muskokas.
Earlier this year I planned a cemetery road trip that would take me around Lake Muskoka; visiting Bala, Torrance, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, and Port Carling. I had quite a few cemetery stops planned as well as some other picturesque stops. At that same time, Canadian author Andrew Hind was coming out with a new book called Muskoka’s Most Haunted 2.
Hind is a freelance writer specializing in history, travel, lifestyle, and the paranormal. He has written quite a few books about hauntings in Ontario. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I read the book and discovered it has a chapter on Torrance Cemetery!
The small hamlet of Torrance was settled in 1870 by three families; Torrance, Coulter, and Jestin, all originally from Eramosa, Ontario.1 They had traveled to the area to explore a free land grant offered by the Government of Canada.1 The community was named after William Torrance, who was the first postmaster.1 The Torrance Union Cemetery, also known as Whiting Family and Church Cemetery, is located on the site of the first school that was erected in the township, in 1875.2
Today, the Township of Muskoka Lakes operates and maintains Torrance Cemetery, along with 11 other cemeteries in cottage country.3 They state that they offer a “peaceful” resting place for loved ones of all faiths, but Torrance Cemetery has a long history of being anything but peaceful.3
The lone, stone mausoleum belongs to the Whiting family. Their story is one fraught with tragedy. William O’Dell Darling Pine Whiting was born in 1857, in England.4 Whiting came to Canada in the late 1870s and briefly served in the Riel Rebellion as a member of the Northwest Grenadiers militia regiment in 1885, which is when he fell in love with the Muskokas.4,5
In 1892, he would return to the area, this time with his wife Clara Margaret Cronkite and their young family.5 Whiting purchased a large piece of waterfront property on Lake Muskoka, with dreams of building the finest resort in Ontario.5 He would call it Brighton Beach Hotel, reminiscent of a similar hotel back in Brighton Beach, England.4 Unfortunately, Whiting’s dream would never bear fruit. Only a week after the official opening, in July 1895, the grand hotel burned to the ground. Luckily, no one was injured.5
In 1898, Whiting revived his dream, this time on a smaller scale.5 The second incarnation of the hotel, Brighton Beach II4, had more success. It welcomed vacationers for two decades, before tragedy struck a second time in 1917.4,5 Sadly, this fire had one casualty. It claimed the life of Whiting’s infant granddaughter.5
Whiting never rebuilt, and never recovered after the loss of his granddaughter.5 Whiting passed away in 1937, and was laid to rest in the Whiting Family mausoleum in Torrance Cemetery. His wife Clara is also laid to rest within the stone crypt, alongside two of their children—and it seems their spirits are not at rest.5
There have been many reports over the years of paranormal activity taking place in and around the crypt. Ghost lights have been reportedly spotted, as well as full-bodied apparitions and disembodied voices.5 Are the spirits restless or were they awakened by something more sinister?
There is a particularly terrifying story of vandalism and desecration of the family vault. The crypt was broken into, and a coffin smashed open.5 The dead did not rest in peace that night.
The haunted reputation of the cemetery has garnered some attention as various ghost hunters and paranormal investigators have visited the cemetery. All trying to capture proof of ghostly phenomenon.
My mother and I visited Torrance Cemetery in early April. The spring thaw left the ground littered with brown leaves, giving off heavy fall vibes. The trees were also bare, their new growth still dormant. It was a perfect, faux-fall day to be wandering a haunted cemetery.
I had read the book before our visit, so visions of ghosts were swimming in my head as we wandered the cemetery. It was interesting to stand before the family mausoleum and think about the vandalism, the desecration, and the sightings.
I examined the gated door, peering into the dark screened windows. But, I didn’t see anything, nor did I hear anything. My mother on the other hand had her own experience.
As we normally do when visiting cemeteries, we each go our separate ways, drawn to different things. She told me afterward, that while she wandered the cemetery rows she suddenly felt cold. Not from a cool breeze, but like she had been suddenly “dipped in cold water” from her head to her toes. The sensation didn’t last long, and she didn’t think anything more of it. That is until she read the stories.
My mother read the book after our visit, with the experience of visiting the mausoleum still fresh in her mind. She reacted quite differently than I did when I read the stories of Torrance Cemetery. It terrified her! She was briefly paralyzed with fear, while cozied up on the couch to read.
Then she remembered the pinecones!
My mother had picked up two rather large pine cones while we were in the cemetery. She thought that they would each make a nice natural bird feeder if smeared with peanut butter and coated with seeds. She suddenly became fearful that she had brought a piece of the cemetery home, maybe even bringing a spirit home with her.
Thankfully, nothing strange has happened since bringing the pinecones home. And they are still hanging in the tree in the backyard, months later.
Do you believe in ghosts? Could the Torrance Cemetery be haunted?
To read more about Torrance Cemetery, and other haunted locations in the Muskokas, I highly recommend the Muskoka’s Most Haunted series by Andrew Hind.
Cemetery Photography by Chantal Larochelle 