October Stone Stories: Homer Watson, Spiritualist

Posted on October 11, 2026 Posted in October, Stone StoriesTagged Art, Canadian Cemeteries, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Photography, Gravestone, Homer Watson, October Stone Stories, Spiritualism, Taphophile, TravelLeave a comment

When you think of famous Canadian artists, you might picture their paintings hanging in a gallery. But what if their former home also has a few ghost stories to tell?

Back in 2024, my mom and I visited the Homer Watson House & Gallery in Kitchener, Ontario, as part of a Guess Where Trips Historic Haunts adventure. Guess Where Trips creates surprise road trips with pre-planned stops, so you can discover hidden gems and local history without having to plan the whole day yourself. I wrote about our adventure in a previous blog post, Cemetery Road Trip: Guess Where Trips.

On our visit to the house, we let the staff know we were particularly interested in its haunted history, and they kindly gave us a private tour, focused on the ghost stories.

Portrait of Homer Watson. Homer Watson House & Gallery, Kitchener ON ©2024

The Artist

Homer Ransford Watson was one of Canada’s best-known landscape artists. Born in 1855 in Doon, now part of Kitchener, Ontario, he developed an interest in art at a young age and received his first set of watercolour paints when he was eleven.¹ He had little formal training, but learned by studying other artists and copying prints.¹ He eventually became known for his landscape paintings, many of which were inspired by the countryside around his hometown.¹

Watson’s career took off in 1880 when he exhibited The Pioneer Mill at the first exhibition of the Royal Canadian Academy.¹ The Marquis of Lorne, Canada’s Governor General, purchased the painting as a gift for Queen Victoria.¹ The Queen acquired another of his paintings, The Last Day of the Drought, the following year.¹ His work eventually reached audiences beyond Canada, with exhibitions in cities including Paris, London, Glasgow, and Chicago.¹ He also became the first president of the Canadian Art Club.¹

Today, his former home is a museum and art gallery, where we got to learn more about his life, his art, and some of his more unusual interests.

We toured the rooms one by one, stopping to hear stories from our guide along the way. One of my favourite spaces was the art gallery room. Added in 1906, it has high windows that let in natural light without taking up valuable wall space.² The house didn’t get electricity until 1915, so that natural light would have been especially important.² The room is still used as an art gallery today.²

I also loved seeing some of the tools Homer used to create his paintings. His paint palette and brushes have been preserved, along with one of his easels.¹ According to the house’s history, he died in 1936, leaving an unfinished painting on his easel.¹

The Spiritualist

The room that really caught my attention was the front parlor.

Homer Watson was a Spiritualist who believed in communicating with the dead, and the front parlor was one of the spaces where he held séances. Spiritualists believed they could connect with the spirit world, through séances or mediums.

And he wasn’t the only notable figure interested in spiritualism. William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s tenth prime minister, was also a Spiritualist and became friends with Homer. The two participated in séances together, including one held in Homer’s parlor on a Friday the 13th.³

One of the artifacts I found most interesting was a collection of spirit cards. These were used during séances to record messages believed to come from the other side. Some feature Homer’s own handwriting, and the gallery has transcriptions to help visitors understand what the cards say.

Homer’s interest in Spiritualism became especially significant after the death of his wife, Roxanna, in 1918.³ The two had been married for nearly four decades, and she had been an important source of support and artistic advice throughout his career.³ After her death, Homer struggled with his painting until he experienced what he believed was a visit from her spirit.³

According to the story shared by the gallery, Homer was sitting in his studio when he saw Roxanna at the bottom of the staircase, surrounded by a curious amber glow. He recalled her telling him, “Do not despair. All is well, Homer.”³

The house still displays the chair associated with this story. Seeing it in person, alongside the staircase, made the story easier to picture. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it’s an intriguing piece of the house’s history.

I was particularly taken with Watson’s painting, Untitled (River by Moonlight). The dark, moody blue tones and the moon peeking through the clouds made it especially beautiful. I later learned that Spiritualism influenced Homer’s artistic outlook, too. He saw his creative work as something connected to a greater spiritual force, making the relationship between his art and his beliefs even more interesting.³

Doon Presbyterian Cemetery

Of course, no Stone Stories post would be complete without a cemetery visit.

The staff were happy to point us in the right direction when we asked where Homer was buried. His grave is at Doon Presbyterian Cemetery, just a short walk from the house.⁴

The large Watson family monument commemorates several members of Homer’s family.

It bears the names of his parents, Ransford, who owned a local sawmill, and Susannah, as well as his older brother, Jude Nathan, and his sister, Phoebe. Jude Nathan died in a brickyard accident, while Phoebe continued to live and work in the family home after Homer’s death.⁴ An inscription on the side of the monument also remembers Homer’s only son, Charles, who died at birth.⁴ One side of the monument is dedicated to Homer and Roxanna.

After learning so much about Homer during our visit to the house, it was nice to finish the day by visiting his grave. Between his artwork, his family history, and all the stories about his interest in the spirit world, there was certainly a lot more to him than I knew before our trip.

I’m glad we made the stop in 2024. I’d recommend Homer Watson House & Gallery to anyone who enjoys a bit of art, local history, and a few ghost stories.

October is an especially good time to visit, as the gallery holds its annual Spirit Season fundraiser, featuring haunted history tours, paranormal investigations, and other spooky events.⁵ Check the gallery’s website for the current schedule if you’d like to plan a visit of your own.

Thanks for reading!

References:

Homer Ransford Watson | Homer Watson History & Archives
Homer Watson House | Homer Watson History & Archives
Spiritualism Tour | Homer Watson House & Gallery
Doon Presbyterian Cemetery Tour | Homer Watson House & Gallery
Spirit Season 2026 | Homer Watson House & Gallery

October Cemetery Stories: Mizpah Pioneer Cemetery

Posted on October 4, 2026 Posted in Cemetery Stories, OctoberTagged Canadian Cemeteries, Cemeteries, Cemetery, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Photography, Gravestone, History, Mizpah Pioneer Cemetery, October, Taphophile, TravelLeave a comment

It’s been a little while since my last blog post. Life has been keeping me busy lately, and the blog has had to wait its turn.

But with October here, I’m excited to get back to sharing some cemetery stories!

October seems like a good time to explore some of the spookier side of cemetery photography. So, over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a few stories with a little mystery mixed in.

This week, I want to share my experience visiting Mizpah Pioneer Cemetery in Muskoka.

I visited Mizpah earlier this year. I went there to explore the cemetery, photograph the gravestones, and see what I could learn about the people buried there. I also had a rather strange experience when it was time to leave.

A Cemetery Trail Through the Woods

Mizpah Pioneer Cemetery is a little different from the cemeteries I usually visit. Instead of rows of graves spread across an open field, this cemetery follows a trail through the woods. A simple wooden arch marks the entrance, along with a large, hand-painted sign that tells some of the cemetery’s history.

I have a soft spot for handmade signs. There’s just something about them that makes a place feel a little more personal. This one gives visitors a glimpse into the people and community that once existed here.

During our visit, there were several fallen trees along the path, so we had to climb over them to reach some of the gravestones on the other side. We did our best to visit every grave we could find as we made our way along the trail.

It’s definitely not your typical cemetery layout, and I found that made exploring it even more interesting.

Mizpah Pioneer Cemetery, Grassmere ON ©2026

A Little History

The pioneer community of Mizpah was established in 1885 and was originally known as Nelson’s Appointment. The name changed to Mizpah after a church was built in the area. The cemetery sign explains that the name comes from a passage in Genesis: “The Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent from one another.”¹ By 1910, most of the families who had settled there had moved away.²

According to the sign at the cemetery entrance, the pioneers who settled here carved their homes and lands from the surrounding forest. The families remembered at the cemetery include the Harts, McGinases, Nelsons, and Halls.¹

The cemetery was used for burials between 1884 and 1905. Only a small number of memorials remain today, and there may be other graves in the surrounding forest whose markers have disappeared over time.²

The community church once stood beside the cemetery. According to the entrance sign, it was later rebuilt as a school and eventually became a home nearby.¹

Among the surviving gravestones are members of the Hart family. Herman Hart died in 1891 at the age of 83, while Thomas Alvin Hart died in 1886, at just three years old.³

Thomas Alvin Hart shares a memorial with other members of his family, and the stone includes the epitaph “We loved them in life / Let us not forget them in death.”³

The cemetery also has the grave of an unidentified Indigenous person. The sign says they were buried with a blanket for a shroud.¹ The grave is marked by a wooden cross that reads, “An Indian 1884.”

The cross is about as tall as I am and looks fairly new, considering the year engraved on it. There were around eight stones perched on top of it, along with a couple of pouches of tobacco.

It’s a distinctive grave, and I found myself wondering about the person buried there. Who were they? How did they come to be buried here? Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any information about them.

After my visit, I tried looking for ghost stories or reports of hauntings connected to the cemetery, but I couldn’t find much. That surprised me a little, considering the strange experience we had when it was time to leave.

After we had walked the entire trail, climbed over fallen trees, and done our best to visit every gravestone, we made our way back to the car.

Nothing unusual had happened while we were in the cemetery. It had been a quiet visit, and we were ready to head home.

Then my car decided it had other plans.

I recently bought a new vehicle, one with a lot of electronic features, including a push-button start. I started the car and put it in reverse to leave. Suddenly all the emergency lights came on and the car stopped responding. The engine was running, but the car wouldn’t move.

I tried putting it in drive, then reverse again, but nothing happened. The parking brake wasn’t on, and I had no idea what was wrong. Since the cemetery is pretty remote, I had a brief moment of panic wondering how we were going to get home if I couldn’t get the car moving.

I took a breath, turned the car off, and waited a few seconds before starting it again.

Everything was completely normal. The emergency lights didn’t come back on and the car responded like it should. We were able to leave without any problems.

Whatever caused it, it’s something I’ve never experienced before or since.

Was it just a glitch with my new car? Maybe. It definitely gave us something to talk about on the drive home.

My mother and I joked that maybe the residents of Mizpah weren’t quite ready for us to leave.

Thanks for reading!

References:

Mizpah Pioneer Cemetery entrance sign | Photographed during visit
Mizpah (ghost town) | Ominous
Mizpah Pioneer Cemetery Memorials | Find a Grave

A Collection of Ceramic Portraits

Posted on September 13, 2026September 9, 2026 Posted in CollectionsTagged Canada, Canadian Cemeteries, Cemetery, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Photography, Cemetery Portraits, Ceramic Portrait, Collections, Gravestone, Gravestone portraits, Headstone, Ontario, Post Mortem Photography, Posthumous Portraits, Taphophile2 Comments

One of my favourite things about photographing cemeteries is all the little details that can easily be missed, like ceramic portraits.

These small photographs give us a glimpse of the people whose names are carved into the stone. Some are still in pretty good shape, while others have faded, cracked, or weathered over the years. A few have deteriorated so much that it’s almost impossible to make out a face.

Today, I’m sharing a few ceramic portraits I’ve come across during my cemetery travels.

Ceramic Portraits

Ceramic portraits, sometimes called porcelain portraits or photo ceramics, are photographs that have been permanently transferred onto materials such as porcelain, glass, enamel, or metal.¹

The technique dates back to the 1850s.¹ French photographer Lafon de Camarsac began experimenting with the process in the early 1850s.¹ By 1855, he was producing photographic images on enamel and porcelain.²

Photo ceramics became popular during the second half of the 19th century.¹ Photographic images were transferred onto all sorts of things, from jewellery and decorative objects to plates and other household items.¹

The technique also found its way into cemeteries.

By the late 19th century, ceramic portraits were being used on gravestones in Europe.³ They gave families a way to preserve the likeness of their loved ones alongside their names and dates.³

Whitefish Catholic Cemetery, Whitefish ON ©2021

Lasalle Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2020

Field Public Cemetery, Field ON ©2021

St. Rose de Lima Parish Cemetery, River Valley ON ©2023

Some of the portraits are still quite recognizable, even though the ceramic itself has weathered over time.

Others have faded considerably. Time and exposure to the elements can take their toll, leaving behind only a faint image.

And sometimes, there isn’t much left to see at all.

Sometimes I come across portraits that are so damaged that it’s difficult to make out the person’s face. Even so, I think they’re worth photographing. The damage is part of their story too.

Lasalle Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2011

Old Greenwood Cemetery, Sault Ste Marie ON ©2019

A Different Kind of Portrait

It’s rare here in Northern Ontario, but sometimes I come across a photo of someone who looks like they’re sleeping, or possibly deceased.

Post-mortem photography became common after the introduction of the daguerreotype in 1839.⁴ It continued to be practiced into the early 20th century.⁴ Children were often the subjects because they might never have had a photograph taken while they were alive.⁴

I’ll save the deeper history of post-mortem photography for another post, because there is a lot more to explore there.

Lasalle Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2022

What I find most fascinating about these little portraits is how much they can add to a gravestone.

The name and dates tell us when someone lived. The photograph gives us a glimpse of what they looked like. Even when the image has almost completely faded, you can still see the effort that was made to preserve that person’s likeness.

After more than a century outdoors, some of these portraits may be barely recognizable, but they’re still there.

And that’s what makes them worth stopping for.

Thanks for reading!

References:

Photo Ceramic | Das Foto Museum
Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography edited by John Hannavy | PDF
Genealogy Tip: Gravestone Porcelain Photos | Genealogy Bank
Post-Mortem Photography: An Overview | University of Michigan, William L. Clements Library

Stone Stories: The King of Castle Village

Posted on August 30, 2026August 30, 2026 Posted in Stone StoriesTagged Canada, Canadian Cemeteries, Castle Village and Enchanted Kingdom, Cemetery, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Photography, Paul Des Roches, Stone Stories, TaphophileLeave a comment

Have you ever heard of Castle Village and the Enchanted Kingdom?

I hadn’t, until I spotted it while on a cemetery road trip a couple of years ago. As we drove along, a storybook castle suddenly appeared on the side of the road. It looked abandoned, and for a moment I wondered if I was seeing things.

What was a castle doing in the middle of rural Ontario? More importantly, why had it been left behind?

I made a note to research it later, and when I planned a recent day trip back to the area, I knew I had to make a couple of extra stops to finally check it out.

The castle was only part of the story. Behind it was the remarkable life of the man who built an entire fantasy world for families to enjoy, and whose final resting place is only a short drive away.

This is the story of Paul Des Roches and the dream he built.

Ceramic portrait of Paul Des Roches and his wife Julienne. Sainte-Croix Roman Catholic Cemetery, Lafontaine ON ©2026

Paul Vincent Des Roches was born on July 3, 1936, and was a talented woodworker, craftsman, and businessman who spent much of his life creating things with his hands.

In 1972, Paul built a castle near Midland, Ontario, with the goal of creating a unique place to sell his handmade crafts and woodworking.¹

Paul created items like birdhouses, candlesticks, and other wooden crafts, and his business became so successful that he was selling his creations almost as quickly as he could make them.¹

His gift shop eventually grew to offer nearly 10,000 items, including souvenir spoons and other collectibles.¹

What began as a small gift shop quickly became something much bigger. Paul continued expanding the property, eventually working with his daughter to transform the original seven-acre site into a 45-acre attraction filled with museum-like displays, and fantasy-themed areas for visitors to explore.¹

Castle Village And Enchanted Kingdom Park

Castle Village and Enchanted Kingdom was unlike anything else in the area. The castle featured towers, a water-spewing dragon, and a moat guarded by creatures from the underworld.¹

Inside the castle, visitors could explore a showroom that originally displayed early Canadian and American furniture before becoming the Museum of Medieval Arms, Armour and Heraldry.¹ The museum featured medieval weapons, life-sized suits of armour, and displays about heraldry, the study of coats of arms and their symbols.¹

In 1982, Paul added Dracula’s Dungeons, a horror-themed museum hidden beneath the castle.¹ Visitors entered by descending a spiral staircase covered in cobwebs before discovering prison cells featuring famous horror characters.¹

As the attraction continued to grow, Paul and his daughter created the Enchanted Kingdom Park, a fantasy-themed area built around an educational nature trail.¹

Visitors could explore fairy tale cottages inspired by familiar stories, like Snow White’s wishing well, and Hansel and Gretel’s candy house.¹ The park also featured Merlin the Magician’s Tower, a grist mill, a giant fountain, and an 80-foot suspension bridge crossing a pond.¹

Over the years, Castle Village became a popular tourist attraction, welcoming thousands of visitors and operating as a bilingual destination.¹ In 2005, the property received the Provincial Tourism Award from RDEE, a francophone economic development organization.¹

In 2008, Paul’s family decided it was time to pursue other interests and placed the property up for sale.¹ By then, Paul was 74 years old and dealing with health issues.¹

The property remained on the market for several years before being purchased in 2016 by businessman Deo Moreno, who introduced new attractions such as escape rooms, role-playing games, themed weddings, archery, and human foosball.¹

After closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Castle Village never reopened. It is now listed as permanently closed.¹

When I visited, it felt like stepping into a forgotten storybook. Nature has slowly begun reclaiming parts of the property, but many of the buildings and structures still remain. It was easy to imagine families walking across the bridges, exploring the fantasy cottages, and discovering something new around every corner.

Even in its current state, Castle Village still reflects Paul’s creativity and determination.

Inside Castle Village

While I was researching Castle Village, I came across the work of photographer Mike Lalonde of Talking Walls Photography, who had the opportunity to photograph inside the property, and document what remains of this once-popular attraction. Mike was kind enough to give me permission to share some of his photographs..

During my visit, I didn’t venture inside, but toured the grounds from outside the fence. I was curious to see what the castle looked like inside. Mike’s photos offer a tiny glimpse of the spaces and artifacts that now sit in silence, covered in dust.

Inside Castle Village, Midland ON ©2023 Photos by Mike Lalonde

Sainte-Croix Roman Catholic Cemetery

After seeing Castle Village and learning about the man who built it, I wanted to find Paul Des Roches’ grave. That brought me to Sainte-Croix Roman Catholic Cemetery in Tiny Township.

Paul passed away on December 8, 2022, at the age of 86, following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.²

The cemetery was quiet when I arrived, much like Castle Village had been earlier in the day. As I searched through the cemetery, I wasn’t sure exactly what I was looking for. Then a ceramic portrait of the castle caught my eye.

I knew immediately that I had found Paul.

His gravestone features a ceramic portrait of Paul and his wife, along with a second portrait of his Enchanted Kingdom. It’s such a fitting detail for someone whose life was so closely tied to the place he had created.

I took a moment to pay my respects and thank Paul for bringing a little bit of whimsy and creativity into the world.

This story highlights one of my favourite things about visiting cemeteries. You never know where a little curiosity will take you or what you might uncover.

Paul had a dream and actually built it. Castle Village might be quiet now, but his creativity and imagination are still there. It’s a bit inspiring.

I think the world could use more people who are willing to dream up something a little different and make it happen. A little more whimsy wouldn’t hurt either.

Thanks for reading!

References:

Castle Village And Enchanted Kingdom in Midland Ontario | Talking Walls Photography
Paul’s Obituary | Budgell Funeral Home

Cemetery Recipes: Fried Ripe Tomatoes

Posted on August 23, 2026August 21, 2026 Posted in Cemetery Recipes, Tombstone RecipesTagged Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Photography, Cemetery Recipes, Fries Ripe Tomato Recipe, Gravestone Recipe, Recipe, TaphophileLeave a comment

You expect to find recipes in a cookbook, but sometimes you can find them carved into a gravestone.

That’s what makes cemetery recipes so interesting to me. They’re not just instructions for making something tasty. They’re also a little piece of someone’s life, preserved in stone for anyone who happens to come across it.

This month, I am trying a recipe for Fried Ripe Tomatoes that belongs to Whanitta Sheetz, whose gravestone can be found in Buck Street Cemetery in Pembroke, New Hampshire.

Whanitta (Parry) Sheetz was born in Vermont on September 26, 1941, and spent many years living in Pembroke, New Hampshire.¹ She and her husband, Marshall, owned and operated M & W Seafood Co. and the Maple Grove Campground.¹ She also worked as a mental health aide at the New Hampshire State Hospital and as a Disaster Team Member for FEMA.¹

Family was important to Whanitta. Her obituary describes her as someone who loved spending time with her family, especially cooking and playing games together. She was also an avid Red Sox fan, a nature lover, and an excellent cribbage player.¹

Whanitta died on January 16, 2015, at the age of 73. Her obituary notes that she was buried in Buck Street Cemetery that spring.¹

What makes her memorial especially interesting is the recipe for Fried Ripe Tomatoes engraved on her gravestone.

Whanitta’s Fried Ripe Tomato gravestone recipe. Buck Street Cemetery, Pembroke NH. Photo by Find a Grave contributor Randy Cummings.

It’s a simple recipe, and I think that’s part of what makes it a good one. Instead of a traditional epitaph, there’s a little piece of something Whanitta enjoyed making, left behind for others to discover.

The recipe, as engraved on the headstone:

Whanitta’s Fried Ripe Tomato Recipe

Ingredients: 3 large ripe tomatoes. 3 cups of flour. 3 tbs butter. 3 tbs olive oil. 1/2 cup milk.

Tools: Electric frying pan. Baking dish. Spatula.

Directions: Pre-heat pan to 350-400 degrees. Heat butter and olive oil in pan. Put flour in a dish for coating. Cut tomatoes into thick slices and dip in flour. When pan is hot, place tomatoes in the pan. Cook first side 4-6 minutes until dark brown. Flip and cook other side for 2-4 minutes. Place tomatoes in baking dish. Deglaze hot pan with milk by stirring milk in the pan until mixture becomes a little thicker (2-3 minutes). Pour milk mixture over the tomatoes and let it sit for 30 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy.

In the Kitchen

This simple recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients and has clear, straightforward instructions. I picked up a few nice, plump, ripe tomatoes at the grocery store, and that was really all I needed to buy. Or so I thought.

Once I got home and started getting everything together, I realized I didn’t have any milk. Luckily, my mom lives upstairs, so I borrowed some from her. She’s vegan though, which meant I ended up using almond milk instead. It seemed like a reasonable substitute, and luckily, it worked just fine.

There was one other change I had to make. The recipe specifically calls for an electric frying pan, and I don’t have one of those. So, I used a regular frying pan over medium-high heat and hoped for the best.

The recipe itself couldn’t be easier. I sliced up the tomatoes and put the flour on a dinner plate to give me a large enough surface to coat each slice. It was fun, although a little messy. I fried the tomatoes for the recommended amount of time and ended up having to cook them in two batches. Once they were done, I transferred them to a baking dish.

I then deglazed the frying pan with the almond milk and poured the mixture over the fried tomatoes. While they sat, I pan-seared a small steak to go with them.

I will admit I didn’t let them sit for a full 30 minutes. Once my steak was ready, I plated everything and dug in.

I have to admit, cooking tomatoes this way felt a little foreign to me. I’d never had them fried growing up, and I don’t remember ever seeing them on a menu, so these were completely new to me. But that’s exactly why I enjoy making these recipes.

These were good! They made a really easy side dish and would be a great addition to a summer BBQ.

I love that Whanitta’s recipe is still being made and shared years after her death. A recipe can be such a personal thing, especially when it’s connected to family, and putting one on a gravestone is certainly one way to make sure it’s never forgotten.

For me, that’s what makes these cemetery recipes so much fun. I get to learn a little about the person behind the recipe, and then I get to bring a small piece of their story into my own kitchen.

Thanks for reading!

References:

Whanitta Sheetz (Obituary) | Concord Monitor

Cemetery Book Review: Abandoned and Forgotten Cemeteries

Posted on August 16, 2026August 14, 2026 Posted in Book ReviewTagged Abandoned and Forgotten Cemeteries, America Through Time, Book Review, Cemetery, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Book Review, Cemetery Photography, Ed Snyder, Gravestone, TaphophileLeave a comment

Cemeteries are meant to be permanent places of remembrance, but history shows that isn’t always the case.

As cities grow and land becomes more valuable, burial grounds are sometimes neglected, relocated, or even erased. It’s a reminder that the places around us are constantly changing, and that some stories can easily be lost if no one takes the time to document them.

That’s what drew me to the work of cemetery photographer and writer Ed Snyder. I’ve been following Snyder on Instagram for a while, and I’ve also enjoyed reading his blog, The Cemetery Traveler. I even included his blog in a previous post about some of my favourite cemetery bloggers.

So, when I heard that he had released a new book, Abandoned and Forgotten Cemeteries of Philadelphia and its Environs, I was excited to check it out.

Here is the synopsis, from America Through Time:

“Since its inception, Philadelphia has created spaces for its dead. Some still exist, but many are gone or have been neglected and teeter on the edge of oblivion. Between 1850 and 1950, cemeteries across the nation disappeared as cities grew—developers wanted the land. Accompanied by Snyder’s photographs, the reader is taken through Philadelphia and surrounding areas, examining cemeteries of all sizes and eras—many that were destroyed in the name of progress.”

Published in 2025, as part of the America Through Time series, the book explores cemeteries in and around Philadelphia that have been abandoned, neglected, or even erased over time. Snyder explains that as cities expanded between 1850 and 1950, many cemeteries across the United States disappeared as developers sought land for growing communities.¹

The book takes readers on a tour of these forgotten places.

Some of the stories are surprising, including a graveyard that now sits beneath a playground, tombstones discovered in the Delaware River, and an abandoned burial ground hidden in the woods. While some stories are frustrating, others are encouraging. In a few cases, volunteers have stepped in to restore them.

Of course, the highlight of the book is the photography.

Snyder’s full colour images are beautiful and really help tell the story of each cemetery. The photos show both the beauty of these places and the reality of their condition. It’s obvious that he cares about documenting them before they disappear completely. Snyder approaches each one with curiosity and respect, which makes the book enjoyable even if you’re not already familiar with Philadelphia’s cemetery history.

Overall, Abandoned and Forgotten Cemeteries of Philadelphia and its Environs is a great read for anyone who enjoys history or has an interest in cemeteries. If you like forgotten places, local history, and cemetery photography, I think it’s worth adding to your reading list.

Thanks for reading!

References:

Abandoned and Forgotten Cemeteries of Philadelphia and its Environs | America Through Time

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!

Stone Stories: Pamela Harvey’s Long Journey Home

Posted on August 9, 2026August 9, 2026 Posted in Stone StoriesTagged Cemetery, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Photography, Pamela Harvey, Sudbury, Taphophile, Unsolved SudburyLeave a comment

Some stories stay with you for a long time. Pamela Harvey’s story was one of those, for me.

For decades, Pamela was one of Sudbury’s missing persons. Her name appeared on lists of unsolved cases and in newspaper articles. Her family spent years wondering what happened and hoping that one day they would finally know the truth.

After 47 years, that answer finally came.

Who Was Pamela Harvey?

Before Pamela Harvey became known as one of Sudbury’s missing persons, she was a daughter, a sister, a mother, and someone who loved adventure.

Pam, as her family called her, was born and raised in McKellar, Ontario. She was independent, headstrong, and always looking for new adventures.¹Shortly after turning 18, she moved west to British Columbia, where she met Richard “Rick” Rousseau.¹ The couple later welcomed their son, Ricky, but after their relationship ended, Pam returned to Ontario to raise her son closer to family.¹

Back in Ontario, Pam worked as a waitress in Parry Sound before moving to Sudbury in 1977.¹ Her family described her as bright, full of personality, and easy to befriend.¹ She worked hard to support her young son and build a life for the two of them.¹

In Sudbury, Pam lived with little Ricky in an apartment on Lloyd Street and worked at the Kingsway Hotel.¹ She was a devoted mother, so when her sister Cate received a call that Ricky had been left in someone else’s care and that Pam was gone, the family immediately knew something was wrong.¹

Pam’s family travelled to Sudbury to bring Ricky home and try to figure out what had happened. When they entered her apartment, they found her clothing, jewellery, and other personal belongings still there.¹ To them, it did not look like Pam had simply walked away from her life.¹

Pam was officially reported missing by her father, Gerald Harvey, on Christmas Day, 1978.¹ She was only 23 years old.

For decades, her family lived with unanswered questions about what had happened to her.

Unsolved

Over the years, questions remained about whether Pam may have known something connected to a violent incident that happened in Sudbury around the same time she disappeared.¹There were also questions about whether Pam may have witnessed a murder. Without knowing what happened to her, it remained one of the many unanswered questions surrounding her case.¹

I had the opportunity to work with local author Sarah May on her book Unsolved Sudbury, which featured Pam’s story. At the book launch, her son and other family members attended. It was amazing to have them there, but it was also heartbreaking. It was clear how much Pam was missed, and how large a space she had left behind in their family and their hearts.

One of the hopes behind the book was that by continuing to share these stories, new information might come forward and help bring answers to families who had been waiting for them.

Unsolved Sudbury: Missing, Murdered, Unexplained. by Sarah May.

Identified

After nearly five decades of questions and uncertainty, there was finally a breakthrough in the case.

In March 1979, the body of an unidentified woman was discovered in St-Eustache, Quebec.² Investigators determined that she had been the victim of a homicide, but her identity had remained unknown for decades.²

Although forensic technology was limited at the time, evidence collected during the original investigation was carefully preserved.² In 2026, a collaborative effort between the Sûreté du Québec, the Greater Sudbury Police Service, the Québec Coroner’s Office, and the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale used modern forensic methods, including DNA analysis, to identify the woman as Pamela Harvey.²

After decades of uncertainty, Pam’s family finally had some answers.

Although 47 years had passed, the evidence that helped identify Pam had been carefully preserved. It is a powerful reminder that preserving stories matters. The details we save today can help bring someone’s story back into the light years later.

When I read the news, I immediately thought back to that book launch and to Pam’s family. I thought about all the years they had spent hoping and looking for answers. Nothing can undo that kind of loss, but there is something meaningful about finally being able to give a name back to a person who had been unknown for so long.

Lakeview Cemetery

It was a bright and sunny day when I visited Lakeview Cemetery. The rural cemetery was quiet, and I wasn’t exactly sure where Pam was buried, so I walked the rows of headstones. I knew I was looking for a grey marker with two ceramic portraits on it.

After searching for a while, I spotted the stone in the distance. There was Pam’s face looking back at me.

Pam shares a gravestone with her father, Gerald, who passed away in 2015. Her mother, Yvonne, also has a place in the family plot and is still living. A ceramic portrait of Gerald and Yvonne sits beside the Harvey family name, while a portrait of Pam sits above her epitaph. It is the same portrait that was often used in the media when talking about her disappearance.

“Pamela Orlean
Mar. 7, 1955
Always loved. Never forgotten”

Her death date is still blank.

If I had walked up the left side of the cemetery first, I would have seen the Harvey name engraved on the back of the stone. Instead, I came upon Pam’s portrait first.

It was really moving to visit her gravestone in person. For the longest time, the stone had been a cenotaph, a memorial to someone whose final resting place was unknown.

I don’t know if Pam will eventually be brought home to rest beside her father. I hope she will. But there’s something comforting about knowing where she is now, even if many questions about what happened to her, still remain.

There was one thought I couldn’t shake as I stood there. Pam had been found nearly fifty years ago, but no one knew it was her.

The advances in forensic technology are pretty amazing.

Evidence that was collected nearly 50 years ago was still there, waiting for the technology that could finally give Pam her name back. I hope we continue to hear more stories like this, where missing people are identified, and families finally get the chance to bring their loved ones home, and find some closure.

Thanks for reading!

References:

Unsolved Sudbury by Sarah May | Book
Collaborative effort leads to identification of Missing Person, Pamela Harvey (1978 Greater Sudbury) | GSPS

Cemetery Road Trip: Cemeteries & Metal in Matane

Posted on July 5, 2026July 2, 2026 Posted in Road TripTagged Canada, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Photography, Cemetery Tourism, Gaspesian Metal Fest, Matane, Matane Lighhouse, Quebec, Sandveiss, TaphophileLeave a comment

At the beginning of June, my fiancé and I packed up the car and headed east to Matane, Quebec, for the Gaspesian Metal Fest. Since it’s about a 14-hour drive from home, we decided to turn the trip into a full cemetery road trip adventure!

Our first stop was Gatineau, where we stayed with an old friend for the night. While we were there, he took us to a very cool spot in Ottawa called Pub Italia. The place had such an interesting vibe. The decor was full of vintage church pieces and religious items, most of them apparently thrifted over the years. It honestly felt like wandering through an old church basement, mixed with a pub. They also have something called the Beer Bible, which was a massive menu packed with beer choices from all over the place. It was fun flipping through and seeing the huge variety they offered. They don’t serve flights, but they were happy to offer samples so you could try a few different beers before deciding.

The following morning, we hit the road again and made the long drive the rest of the way to Matane. After spending so many hours in the car, we were more than happy to stretch our legs once we arrived. Matane sits right beside the St. Lawrence River where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, so the entire town has beautiful seaside views.

The tide was out when we stopped along the shore, so we wandered out across the rocks and walked the beach for a little bit. Chris found a piece of sea glass, and I found a couple of empty crab shells that absolutely came home with me. I can’t resist bringing home little nature treasures from road trips.

After checking into our hotel, we headed downtown to visit the local craft brewery and grab supper. We ordered deep fried pickles that we both agreed were some of the best we’ve ever had. We also had a couple of beer flights so we could sample different brews.

The next morning was dedicated to cemetery exploring.

The first cemeteries we visited were right along the coast, and the ocean views were beautiful. Some of them had large statues, mixed in with smaller obelisks and older gravestones. I also started noticing similarities in the cemetery gates as we visited more places. A couple of them had “R.I.P.” worked directly into the gate designs, which I thought was an interesting detail.

One thing I noticed on my last Quebec cemetery road trip was that many cemeteries seem to simply take the name of the town they are located in instead of having distinct names like Woodland Cemetery or Parklawn Cemetery. That seemed to be true in eastern Quebec as well. Most of the cemeteries didn’t have signs at the entrances. Instead, I found a few stones deeper inside the cemeteries that had the cemetery names carved into them.

Between cemetery stops, we visited the Matane Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. This ended up being one of the highlights of the trip for me. Built in 1907, the lighthouse still overlooks the shoreline and has become one of Matane’s best-known landmarks. We practically had the whole place to ourselves, so we wandered through the exhibits before climbing to the top of the lighthouse.

The audio tour was well done, and part of the experience included carrying a large keyring filled with old skeleton keys to the lighthouse tower itself. Since the tower stays locked, you need the key to make your way up the spiral staircase, which honestly made it feel like we were lighthouse keepers heading up to check on the light.

The tour ended with a local folktale about mermaids that claimed sea glass was actually mermaid tears. That felt especially fitting since Chris had found a piece of sea glass the day before. Folklore can be such a fun part of travelling because every area seems to have its own stories and legends.

After the lighthouse, we visited a few nearby villages and stopped at a couple more cemeteries before grabbing lunch. The last cemetery we visited was right across the street from a Dixie Lee, so it felt like a natural place to stop and grab something to eat after exploring. We ended up learning it was actually a chain restaurant, but it hit the spot after a busy morning on the road.

Matane is pretty well known for its shrimp and seafood. We had been hoping to try shrimp poutine and lobster rolls while we were there, but unfortunately we were a little too early in the season. I still managed to get some popcorn shrimp at Dixie Lee though, so at least I got a small taste of the local seafood.

Later that afternoon, we freshened up and headed to the Gaspesian Metal Fest. The venue is right on the waterfront, so it was easy to settle in on the patio with a drink, listen to the bands, and watch the waves roll in at the same time.

That night, we had supper with the guys from Sandveiss, who we had travelled specifically to see. They were super cool, and we had some good conversations throughout the evening. Their set was fantastic and completely worth the drive.

Before leaving, we grabbed some band merch and said goodbye to everyone. The only disappointing part was missing out on the festival t-shirt because they had completely sold out by the time we got there. The design featured a shrimp throwing the horns, which honestly sounds perfect for a metal festival in Matane.

The next day was spent driving the 14 hours back home. Since the trip back was so long, we didn’t stop at any cemeteries along the way, though I definitely took screenshots on Google Maps for future trips.

By the time we finally got home, we were both exhausted, sore, and very ready to sleep. Still, it was such a fun trip, and I am really glad we turned a concert weekend into a full cemetery road trip adventure.

Thanks for reading!

Cemetery Book Review: Hillside Cemetery

Posted on May 3, 2026May 3, 2026 Posted in Book ReviewTagged Buried America, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Book Review, Cemetery Photography, Hillside Cemetery, JoEllen Hundeland, Photography Book, TaphophileLeave a comment

Ever wandered through a cemetery and wished you could hear the stories hidden beneath the headstones? That’s exactly the experience Hillside Cemetery, Middletown, New York: Beyond the Graves by JoEllen Hundeland offers.

I had planned to share a cemetery recipe post this week, but I didn’t get a chance to do any baking. So instead, I’m switching things up with a cemetery book review. This little book blends history, photography, and storytelling, taking you into one of New York’s most historic cemeteries and introducing the people who shaped the community.

Hillside Cemetery was established in 1861, right in the middle of the Civil War.¹ Spread across more than 50 acres in the Hudson Valley, it was designed as a rural cemetery, a place where the living could visit, reflect, and honour the dead.¹ Hundeland’s book captures the cemetery’s charm and history, highlighting its large obelisks, mausoleums, and winged angels that watch over the graves. The book explores the stories of some of Middletown’s early settlers, war heroes, and influential families, showing how their lives shaped the area.

Here is the book synopsis, from Goodreads:

“Established in 1861 during the Civil War, Hillside Cemetery in Middletown, New York, is bountiful in history, art, and unique beauty. Nestled on over 50 acres in the Hudson Valley, Hillside is both peaceful and charming. Originally, it was designed as a “rural” cemetery where the living could come to grieve and honor their dead in their eternal slumber. 160 years later, Hillside continues to be a place of remembrance and solitude, but it has evolved into so much more. Moving away from the traditional churchyards and family cemeteries, Hillside welcomed all. The grand obelisks, prominent mausoleums, and the towering, winged angels pointing to the heavens continue to honor Middletown’s former residents, many who were pillars of their community almost two centuries ago. Buried here are some of the area’s first settlers, war heroes, industry pioneers, influential families, and countless others who left vital contributions in their passing. Middletown has a colorful history, and Hillside reflects this. Under these headstones lie people who lived lives filled with heroism, determination, tragedy, and triumph, just like us. Within the gates of idyllic Hillside Cemetery, the dead have stories to tell, and their legacies live on beyond the grave.”

Hundeland is originally from Orange County, New York, and developed an interest in local history at an early age.² With family and friends rooted in Middletown, she became especially drawn to Hillside Cemetery.² She later combined this love for history with her passion for photography, which shines through in the book.²

This book is part of the Buried America series by America Through Time. Other authors in the series include Tui Snider and Jane Hopkins, whom some of you may recognize from other cemetery-related books I’ve reviewed on the blog. This series focuses on historic cemeteries across the United States, uncovering the stories of those laid to rest and their cultural and historical significance.

I really enjoyed Hundeland’s photography. Her style reminded me of my own approach to cemetery photography. The book is short and easy to read, which makes it approachable even for someone just browsing for inspiration or history. I did feel like the layout could be improved a little bit. A lot of the text appears first, with the photos coming afterward. The layout might flow better if the graves of the families mentioned appear directly after their stories. Despite this, the book still succeeds at showing what makes Hillside Cemetery unique and historically important.

If you enjoy learning about local history, exploring cemeteries, or simply appreciating beautiful photography, this book is worth a look. It’s a light read that offers both stories and visuals. This makes it a great addition to any cemetery lover’s collection or for anyone interested in historic cemeteries in the United States. After reading this one, I’m definitely looking forward to picking up more books from the Buried America series.

Next week, I’m planning to make up for the missed baking and share a new cemetery recipe, so stay tuned.

Thanks for reading!

References:

Hillside Cemetery, Middletown, New York: Beyond the Graves by JoEllen Hundeland | Goodreads
JoEllen Hundeland biography | America Through Time

Rethinking Gravestone Rubbings

Posted on April 26, 2026April 23, 2026 Posted in GeneralTagged Cemetery, Cemetery Blog, Cemetery Blogger, Cemetery Photography, Gravestone, Gravestone Rubbings, Preservation, TaphophileLeave a comment

If you have ever wandered through a cemetery with me, you already know I tend to slow right down. I look at everything. The lettering, the symbols, the little details that most people walk right past. It’s one part curiosity, and one part appreciation.

Gravestone rubbing is one of those things I have heard about for years but never actually tried, and after looking into it more, I don’t think I will. It always sounded kind of fun in theory. A little bit of history, a little bit of art. But once I started digging into it, I realized it might not be as harmless as it seems.

Gravestone rubbing is the process of placing paper over a headstone and gently rubbing it with charcoal, crayon, or graphite to capture the inscription and design underneath.¹ The raised lettering and carvings transfer onto the paper, and the results can be surprisingly detailed.

The practice has been around for a long time and really took off in the 19th and 20th centuries as a way to record older or hard-to-read stones.² It was especially popular with historians and genealogists trying to preserve inscriptions before they faded away.

One of the most well-known examples comes from Daniel and Jessie Lie Farber.³ Over several decades, they created thousands of gravestone rubbings between 1938 and 1969, documenting early American gravestone art in incredible detail. The Farber Gravestone Collection is still referenced today, and even without seeing the stones in person, you can get a real sense of how intricate and expressive these carvings can be. Some of the rubbings feel almost like artwork on their own, capturing not just names and dates, but patterns and symbolism that would otherwise be easy to miss.

Know Better, Do Better

This is where things get a little tricky.

Even though gravestone rubbing was once seen as helpful, it’s now widely frowned upon.

The biggest reason is pretty simple: it can cause damage.

Even a gentle rubbing puts pressure on the surface of a stone. Many older stones, especially ones made of slate, sandstone, or marble, are already fragile after years of weather exposure.⁴ When you add repeated rubbing into the mix, it can lead to flaking, cracking, or losing those fine details altogether.

A really good example of this is the Bean Puzzle Tombstone. It’s a unique and popular stone that has had a lot of hands on it over the years, including people doing rubbings.⁵ You can actually see how all that attention has added up over time.

Because of concerns like this, gravestone rubbing is now illegal in some U.S. states and restricted in others.⁶ In Canada, it’s not outright illegal, but many cemeteries have their own rules against it or require permission first.

Groups like Cemetery Conservators for United Standards have also spoken out about it.⁷ Their focus is on protecting these stones for the long term, which usually means limiting physical contact as much as possible.

Alternatives

The good news is you don’t have to miss out on those details.

One method I always find kind of clever is the mirror method. You use a mirror to reflect sunlight across the surface of the stone at an angle, which helps bring out the lettering and carvings.⁷ It’s simple, but it works. If you don’t have a mirror handy, even a flashlight can do the trick.

And of course, there is photography.

This is my go-to. You can capture everything you need without ever touching the stone. Changing your angle or adjusting the lighting can reveal details you might not have noticed at first glance.

The more I learn about cemetery practices, the more I realize how much things change over time. What once seemed like a good idea does not always hold up, especially when preservation is involved.

As much as I love the idea of gravestone rubbings, it’s not something I see myself trying.

For me, it always comes back to that same mindset I bring into every visit: respect the space and leave it as you found it. Do no harm.

There are so many ways to document and share these stories without causing damage. Sometimes all it takes is a little patience and a different way of looking at things.

Thanks for reading!

References:

How To Do A Proper Monument Rubbing | Summit Memorials
Headstone Rubbing: Can It Preserve History? | Legacy Headstones
About | The Farber Gravestone Collection
Gravestone Rubbings | Connecticut Gravestone Network
Bean Puzzle Tombstone | Atlas Obscura
Grave Rubbings: Etiquette, Permission, and Technique to Protect Historic Stones | Funeral.com
Reading Stones Basics | Cemetery Conservators for United Standards

Cemetery Photography by Chantal Larochelle

Tag: Cemetery Photography

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Stone Stories: Pamela Harvey’s Long Journey Home

Who Was Pamela Harvey?

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Cemetery Road Trip: Cemeteries & Metal in Matane

Cemetery Book Review: Hillside Cemetery

Rethinking Gravestone Rubbings

Know Better, Do Better

Alternatives