Tag: Ontario

A Collection of Cemetery Statues

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For today’s blog post, I wanted to share a collection of cemetery statues. I find this type of funerary art beautiful, and always enjoy finding detailed sculptures. I do often say that cemeteries are open-air art galleries, and statues are just one example of artistic works that can be found when you visit a cemetery. 

Angel statues are sometimes a very common sight in a cemetery, especially in Catholic cemeteries and graveyards. But, you might also find representations of saints, virtues, and other biblical figures. 

To decipher which saints or figures are being depicted, it’s important to look at the details. Little details like something at the statue’s feet, or what they are holding or doing with their hands can be a big indication of who the statue is representing. 

ANGELS

The most common figures you might find in a cemetery are angels. The winged statues can symbolize many things, most commonly that the deceased is now in heaven. They can also represent a connection between earth and heaven, comfort and mourning. 

An angel statue holding a book, for instance, suggests that this statue is a representation of a celestial scribe, a recording angel. Recording angels are thought to be tasked with recording historic events, actions, and prayers of everyone on earth.

  • Lakeview Cemetery, Midland ON ©2023

You might also come across an angel holding flowers. There are many variations of angels with flowers, ranging from full bouquets to single-stemmed flowers. The flowers are thought to represent how fleeting life is. 

  • St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford ON ©2012

Some angel statues are depicted holding a wreath. This symbolizes memory and eternity, an indication that the deceased will not be forgotten. This example below also shows the angel holding their chin as if they are deep in thought, emphasizing the idea of remembrance. 

  • Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cemetery also known as Cimetiere St. Patrick, Perkinsfield ON ©2023

Virtues

The Seven Virtues are traits that some of those of the Christian faith aspire to. According to Tui Snider’s book Understanding Cemetery Symbols, this list of traits was created by Greek philosophers and then adopted by Christian scholars. Sometimes the virtues are labeled on the statue’s pedestal, but most often you must look closely at their design for clues. In this example, we can tell this is Hope, by the large anchor she is dragging behind her. 

Hillcrest Cemetery, Parry Sound ON ©2023

Saints

Based on the details, we can tell that this statue is a representation of Saint Joseph. The carpenter’s square represents his trade, as well as the concept of truth. The lilies represent purity. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of many things, including families, fathers, craftsmen, engineers, and common workers.

  • Espanola Cemetery, Espanola ON ©2021

Jesus

Statues of Jesus can also be a common find in Catholic cemeteries. He is often depicted as a young child or an adult. When depicted as a young child he can sometimes be found in the arms of Saint Joseph. He is also sometimes depicted as a young boy, with both Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary.

  • Sainte-Croix Roman Catholic Cemetery also known as Sainte-Croix Cemetery, Ste-Croix Cemetery, Lafontaine ON ©2023

Jesus is also commonly depicted as an adult, his hands pointing to a flaming heart with thorns, that have rays emanating from it in his chest. This is often called the scared heart, and also sometimes has the addition of being topped with a Latin cross. There is a lot of symbolism here to unpack. The flame represents Jesus’ love for God and humanity, while the thorns represent his passion. The rays emanating from it represent the glory of God. Jesus’s hands point towards his heart, encouraging the viewer to look at it and reflect.

  • Capreol Cemetery, Capreol ON ©2020

One of the more somber depictions of Jesus you might come across is a scene after the crucifixion. A thin and wounded Jesus is cradled in his mother Mary’s arms. He might be still wearing the crown of thorns, or it can sometimes be found lying by his side.

  • Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon SK ©2011

Statuary always seem to stand out to me, when I visit cemeteries. They are beautiful expressions of art and emotion, often made even more moving with the passage of time. Do you have a favorite cemetery statue? I would love to hear about some of your cemetery statue finds in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  • Understanding Cemetery Symbols: A Field Guide for Historic Graveyards by Tui Snider 
  • Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism by Douglas Keister

Stone Stories: Canada’s World War I Flying Ace

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Have you ever flown out of the Billy Bishop airport, in Toronto? Were you curious as to who the airport was named after? I was, but I never got around to looking into it, not until I stumbled upon the grave of William Avery “Billy” Bishop.

In the Summer of 2023, My mother and I stumbled across the Bishop family plot, while visiting Greenwood Cemetery in Owen Sound. We had come to Owen Sound to search for the second grave of Tom Thomson, but the trip ended up being just as much about Bishop.

  • Canadian Military gravestone of William Avery “Billy” Bishop. Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound ON ©2023

Billy Bishop

William Avery “Billy” Bishop was born in 1894, in Owen Sound, Ontario. During his stint as a cadet at the Royal Military College in Kingston, World War I broke out. He enrolled in the 9th Mississauga Horse, Canadian Expedition Force and later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.1 He received his pilot’s certificate in 1917, although some considered him a mediocre pilot, he was an expert shot with great shooting skill and extraordinary eyesight.2

Bishop became the first Canadian Airman to be awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime. Bishop was awarded the cross for his solo early morning attack on an enemy airfield in June, 1917.1 He single-handedly attacked a German aerodrome, destroying seven airplanes on the ground and shooting an additional four airplanes down, before running out of ammunition.2 Billy Bishop was the British Empire’s second-highest-scoring flying ace, with 72 official victories.1

  • Major William Avery “Billy” Bishop VC, DSO and Bar, MC, RFC 1917

Greenwood Cemetery

When we visited Greenwood Cemetery, we didn’t have any specific graves we wanted to see. I visited the cemetery office when we first arrived, as I had read online that they offered a self-guided walking tour. They were very friendly in the office and gave me a brochure with the walking tour details. There are a couple of different tours to choose from, that take you to different areas in the cemetery. 

Greenwood is quite large, covering approximately 40 acres of land in the southwestern part of the city. It also has a long history, having opened to the public in 1854. It’s a traditional cemetery, with both upright and flat markers, a large mausoleum, memorial gardens, and a potter’s field memorial.3 

We unexpectedly came upon the Bishop family plot after getting out of the car. I had parked in the heart of the cemetery. A small Canadian flag marked the grave, the flag blowing in the wind had caught our eye. There is a large upright stone that lists the family members buried there, with names on both sides of the stone. There are smaller flat markers laid in the earth surrounding it, marking where each family member is laid to rest. There is also a Canadian military marker for Bishop that stands apart from the rest. The upright grey granite marker lists his military designations alongside the emblem for the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Victoria Cross.

Bishop family plot in Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound ON ©2023

Bishop passed away at the age of 62, on September 11, 1956, in Palm Beach, Florida. His funeral service was held at the Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in Toronto, the same church that he was married in. 25,000 people lined up outside the church to pay their respects. He was cremated, and his ashes were buried in the family plot, in Greenwood.4 He is laid to rest with his family; including both his parents, his sister Mary, and his brothers Hiram, and Reginald Bishop.

Bishop’s wife Margaret remarried after his death, and is buried with her second husband in Beachwood Cemetery in Ottawa. She passed away in 1981 at the age of 83.5 

The Billy Bishop House

The next morning, we decided at breakfast to visit one more thing before we left Owen Sound. My mother loves history, so I figured she would enjoy touring a historic home, The Billy Bishop House. She loved the suggestion, it seemed only appropriate to stop since we had already paid our respects at his grave. 

The house, built in 1884, is the childhood home of Bishop and has been preserved as a historic site and museum. The first floor has been decorated with period-appropriate antiques and items owned by the Bishops. It looks very similar to what it would have looked like when Bishop was growing up. There is a timeline in the parlor that details all the major milestones in Bishop’s life. I found this floor to be the most interesting. There is a lot of information to take in, but also lots to look at; like Bishop’s uniform, personal items, and a copy of Winged Warfare, a book Bishop wrote in 1918 that details his experiences in the air.2

The second floor looks more modern and houses changing exhibits. When we visited there was an exhibit of interviews with veterans from the war in Afghanistan. In what would have been Bishop’s boyhood room, there is a wooden framed airplane for children to explore, and the room is decorated with film posters and other memorabilia.

The Billy Bishop House & Museum

The Billy Bishop House & Museum

The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. I had a nice chat with them about Bishop, as well as the haunted history of the house. I can’t help but ask when I visit a historic location! They were not phased by my line of questioning at all, and I’m sure it’s something they get asked often. The museum runs a ghost walk in the summer months.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend one of the walks, but I did get to hear some of the stories. The house is reportedly haunted by two spirits, an older woman and a young child. The spirit of the young child is thought to be Hiram Kilbourn Bishop, who died of diphtheria at the age of 4 years old, in 1892.6 People say they have seen a small child wandering the house, wearing what looks like a dress. Young children, regardless of gender, often wore dresses during that time period, which leads the staff to think it is the spirit of young Hiram. 

We didn’t experience anything paranormal on our visit, but we did enjoy exploring the house and learning more about life in that era, Bishop’s personal life, and his legacy.

My mother and I both love history and getting to explore Bishop’s childhood home was a great way to end our Owen Sound adventure. We traveled to Owen Sound to learn more about art, but we ended up also learning more about our Canadian Military history. That’s one of the reasons why I love road trips, you can plan as much as you want but it’s often the spontaneous finds that end up being the most interesting. What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport | Government of Canada
  2. William Avery “Billy” Bishop | Find a Grave 
  3. Greenwood Cemetery | Owensound.ca
  4. Billy Bishop, VC by W.D. Mathieson | Goodreads
  5. Margaret Eaton Burden Hughson | Find a Grave
  6. Hiram Kilbourn Bishop (1887 – 1892) | WikiTree

Year in Review – 2023

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Can you believe that we made it through another year? 2023 just flew by! I feel like just yesterday it was Halloween, but here we are! It’s been an interesting year, full of ups and downs. So for this week’s blog post, I wanted to carry on the tradition from last year and take a look back at what happened throughout the year. 

2023 was unfortunately the year of COVID for me. I managed to catch it twice, first suffering through two and half weeks of the worst head cold of my life. The second time I caught it, it was mild like a light cold. Unfortunately, the second time I caught COVID, I was also suffering through my first bout of poison ivy. 

Catching poison ivy, from a cemetery visit (of course), was quite the learning experience for me. It was a hard reminder that you should always dress appropriately when out in the field, especially when exploring overgrown cemeteries. Dealing with my bad case of poison ivy put me out of commission for about a month, in the middle of summer. It was not an opportune time and had me itching to get back in the field.

  • St. Theresa Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cobalt ON ©2023

Even though I had more downtime this year, I still managed to have a successful field season, visiting 113 cemeteries. 103 of those cemeteries were first-time visits. I didn’t take a count of how many new photos I added to my archives, but there is a lot to sift through and edit this winter. I can’t wait to share them on my portfolio page, and also add them to Find a Grave. 

This year also marked another new record for the number of cemeteries visited in one day! A friend and I incredibly visited 25 cemeteries during a day trip to Midland. At the time it didn’t feel like we had visited that many, but the photos don’t lie. We’ll see if we can break this new record in 2024.

Highlights

In April of 2023, I had a great opportunity to participate in a juried photography show, Our Story in Black and White. My cemetery photography was proudly hung beside other great works by local photographers; Caio Higa, Debbie Anzinger Mckay, Debby Trahan-Pero, and Rita Vanderhooft at Gallery 6500. The exhibit ran from April 30th to June 30th. After this initial run, the photography show was moved to the South End Pubic Library and ran for another month. Being part of a group show was such a great experience! I hope I can participate in more photography shows in the future.

Another highlight of 2023 was getting published! 

I was contacted by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) which was interested in my photography for their online, quarterly magazine, Beyond. A condensed version of my articles about visiting the graves of Tom Thomson was published as the cover story of their October issue, along with some of my photography. That was incredibly exciting, and I hope to work with Beyond and the BAO again the future. 

  • Cover of Beyond Magazine, Issue 7 – October 2023.

Statistics

This year was also a great year for growth. On the website, I had 6,805 visitors this year, with 12,793 views. That’s the highest count, since starting this website in 2018. I will note that I didn’t start consistently posting till 2021. Speaking of blog posts, I posted 42 times this year, with a word count of 29.3k. I have been very weary about calling myself a writer, but after seeing that word count I might have to change my mind. There is still work to be done to upgrade my writing skills, but it is kind of fun to think of myself as a cemetery tourism writer. 

I often write articles that I would like to find and read. My favorite articles to write are cemetery tourism pieces, where I talk about visiting cemeteries and related sites. I also really enjoy researching so these pieces are really fun for me to write. I also feel more connected to these sites after learning about them and visiting them in person.

I also have a lot of fun writing cemetery recipe posts. These posts seem to resonate with readers as well, as they are often the most searched-for articles. I do enjoy experimenting with cooking and baking and these posts encourage me to do that, while also having a research element to connect the recipe to the gravestone.

This year the top viewed blog posts are a bit varied, with one post from last year ranking in second place.

Top 5 blog posts of 2023

On social media, my Instagram account is growing as well. At 2,754 followers, it’s my favorite place to interact with followers and share my photos.

Overall it has been an excellent year, full of growth and adventures. As I settle in for the winter, I will put my hiking boots away and focus more on research and photo editing. The winter break is an excellent opportunity for me to update my portfolio, as well as research and write more in-depth blog posts about this year’s cemetery travels. I am currently working on a few stone stories and have plans to start a new blog series of cemetery stories. I also would like to catch up on my reading and post some more cemetery book reviews.

Of course, I have already started thinking about next year’s cemetery adventures as well, and have started some maps and travel plans. I hope to visit some more unique grave sites, cemeteries, and famous graves next year. Maybe even exploring out of province. The possibilities are endless, and I am always finding new and interesting places to visit when I go down the research rabbit hole.

I want to finish this 2023 recap by thanking every one of you for your support and encouragement.

All the comments, likes and shares do not go unnoticed. I love being part of this cemetery community and have met so many amazing new people because of it. I appreciate all of you, and wish you all the best in the coming new year.

Here is to another year full of curiosity and adventure!

As always, thanks for reading!

Happy Holidays

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As another year draws to a close, I wanted to share my appreciation for you, the reader, for joining me on my graveyard adventures. At this special time of year, I would like to say thank you, and wish you all a happy holiday season, and a happy new year!

It’s Winter in the Cemetery

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Winter is here in Northern Ontario! 

We’ve had a few snowfalls since November, and the temperature has been steadily dropping. I have never been a Winter person really, although I have tried many times to find a winter activity that might make me enjoy it more. Figure skating, ice fishing, snowshoeing—not for me!

I tried again today to see if maybe winter cemetery visits might be something I would enjoy. It doesn’t hurt to try right? I was quickly reminded why I don’t like graving in winter, as soon as I exited my vehicle. 

  • Civic Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2023

I hate the cold!

It isn’t even that cold today, but still makes me question why I live somewhere where the air hurts my face. It’s -3°C in Sudbury today, but feels like -8°C with the wind chill. That’s 26.6°F which feels like 17.6°F for my American friends.

Aside from being uncomfortable, the cold isn’t good for my equipment either. The cold can drain the battery life of my DSLR, which would shorten my cemetery trip unexpectedly. I would rather not play that game of roulette. 

Wandering cemeteries in the winter isn’t that safe either, for me or the stones. The snow isn’t that deep yet, but soon it will be a couple of feet deep, which can completely obscure some gravestones. I wouldn’t want to accidentally step on and damage a tombstone. They also become tripping hazards as well. I wouldn’t want to hurt myself tripping over a stone, while also damaging it in the process. Too risky, if you ask me.

I’m sure for some, visiting cemeteries in the winter, is a great past time. If you have the proper outerwear, can tolerate the cold, and come prepared with backup batteries an outing in a snow-covered cemetery sounds delightful.

For me, I see this time of year as a great opportunity to curl up with a good book and a hot beverage or research by the light of my iMac. Reading, scouring the internet, and sifting through my photo archive to work on future blog posts and cemetery trips seems like a much more comfortable use of my time.  

When I visited Civic Cemetery today, I did notice a few beautiful and interesting scenes. Many of the graves were decorated with Christmas ornaments, wreaths, and lights. I also found a small Christmas tree, that looked like it had been recently put up, judging by the tracks in the snow. I also saw some rabbit and possibly dog tracks dotting the fresh snow as well. 

Civic Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2023

Despite the cold weather, the cemetery was a fairly active place today, with a handful of visitors in the mausoleum, a burial taking place, and a couple of folks just out and about for a walk, dressed warmly in their mitts, toques and snow pants of course.

Cemeteries in the winter sure are pretty though. The starkness created by the grey weather, bare trees, and white snow does create a mood. That being said, cemeteries in Autumn are still my favorite.

So until the snow melts, I’ll stick to online research, book reading, and updating my online portfolio. I do have some upcoming Stone Stories to share with you as well!

Stay warm out there, and thanks for reading! 

Cemetery Book Review: Sacred Ground, Volume Two

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I hinted last week that I had been working on another cemetery book review for you. For this month’s book review, I wanted to share Sacred Ground, Loyalist Cemeteries of Eastern Ontario, Volume Two by Stuart Lyall Manson.

Sacred Ground, Volume Two continues the author’s exploration of United Empire Loyalists buried in loyalist cemeteries in Canada. This volume looks at five cemeteries in the Eastern Ontario County of Glengarry, and one other in Cornwall, Ontario. I was very excited when Stuart reached out, asking if I would be interested in reviewing his second book on loyalist cemeteries. You might remember a previous blog post I wrote, reviewing his first book, Sacred Ground: Loyalist Cemeteries of Eastern Ontario, Volume One.  

Stuart Lyall Manson is a professional research historian with over 25 years of experience and is also a heritage cemetery advocate.1 His second book Sacred Ground, Volume Two just came out in September of this year. He graciously provided me with a PDF version of his book to review. This book, also available in softcover, is 214 pages and contains color as well as black and white images. 

Here is the book synopsis from Goodreads:

“The second volume of the book series Sacred Ground: Loyalist Cemeteries of Eastern Ontario continues the approach of the first volume, describing notable loyalist cemeteries situated in Eastern Ontario. This volume covers cemeteries in the counties of Stormont and Glengarry. It is a collection of detailed profiles of a selection of these historical locations in the region. In each chapter, the author discusses, in-depth, a single cemetery containing the mortal remains of at least one loyalist. A historical overview is provided of each of these burial grounds, along with biographical information on specific loyalists with particularly remarkable stories. The locations were selected based on geographic distribution, religious diversity, and other factors. The book is based on rigorous primary and secondary source research. It complements other publications that list burials or transcribe tombstone inscriptions. Those publications are important resources. This book supplements that basic data with greater historical context and additional research into the lives and experiences of these men, women, and children who laid the foundations of modern Ontario. This volume includes the following cemeteries:

  • St. Andrew’s United Cemetery (Williamstown)
  • St. John’s Presbyterian Cemetery (Cornwall)
  • Falkner Settlement Cemetery (South Lancaster)
  • Salem United Cemetery (Summerstown)
  • St. Raphael’s Cemetery (St. Raphael’s)
  • Gleninore Cemetery (Charlottenburgh)”
  • Sacred Ground, Loyalist Cemeteries of Eastern Ontario, Volume Two by Stuart Lyall Manson.

I enjoyed this book. The author digs deep to uncover the lives of those who have been forgotten by many. I liked the fact that the author does not shy away from explaining that this type of research can be quite difficult when many people have the same names and full details are not always written out. I can just imagine the rabbit holes of research one had to go down to pull it all together.

As well as providing life stories and timelines of those buried, Volume Two also looks at the story of the cemeteries themselves. The one that stands out the most to me is St. John’s Presbyterian Cemetery in the city of Cornwall. A beautiful cairn was constructed with the remaining gravestones in the 1930’s. In 2017, with hardly any notice the cairn was demolished, destroying most of the remaining gravestones. Today there is only an empty lot where this cemetery sits. Without this kind of research and documentation, these sites may be lost to time, but the author has done an amazing job of collecting old photographs and piecing together the history of this site for future generations. 

As I’ve mentioned before, I always jump at the chance to read about Canadian cemeteries. There is so much history to be found here, and you don’t have to travel far to find it. Accompanying each chapter is a smattering of maps, letters, and photographs of interesting gravestones and beautiful ruins. At the end of each chapter, I found myself saying “I have to visit this one!”. For this reason, I also loved that the locations of each cemetery were included as an appendix at the back of the book. Cemetery name, location, and even coordinates are included.

Just as I recommended the first book in this series, Volume Two would be a valuable read to anyone interested in learning more about Canadian history and the indelible mark left by United Empire Loyalists. This would also be a good book to pick up if you are planning some cemetery road trips in the future. As I did with Volume One, I have already added these cemeteries to my Google maps for future trip planning. 

Will you be adding this book to your TBR list? Or better yet, have you already read it? I would love to hear what you think in the comments.

Thanks for reading! 

I am always on the hunt for cemetery-related book recommendations. Please feel free to share yours in the comments. 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.

References:

  1. Home | Stuart Lyall Manson’s website

A Collection of Interesting Epitaphs

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Can you believe we’re already 3 weeks into November? Field season seemed to just fly by this year! We had our first snowfall last week, which solidified the end of the season for me. 

That being said, it’s time to turn my attention to my photo archive and research. That includes some heavy reading and crawling through the Find a Grave website. I am currently working on my next cemetery book review, but it’s not quite ready yet. So to tide you over this week, I wanted to share a collection of interesting epitaphs. 

An epitaph is an inscription found on a gravestone that accompanies the name, birth, and death dates. These short verses and poems are inscribed to the memory of the deceased. The word epitaph comes from the Greek word “epitaphion” which means funeral oration. “Epi” meaning upon and “taphos” meaning tomb.1

Epitaphs became more popular in the 19th century, as a way to honor and memorialize the dead, but also share a little about the deceased’s life and personality.1 The most common epitaph you will find in a cemetery is the phrase “Rest in Peace”, or the Latin “Requiescat in Pace”. But you might also come across bible verses, poetry, or short sentiments proclaiming everlasting love for the deceased. You might also find a variation of a momento mori poem, a reminder that death is inevitable:

“Remember me as you pass by, / As you are now, so once was I, / As I am now, so you will be, / Prepare for death and follow me.”

So for today’s collection, I wanted to share some of the more interesting epitaphs I have come across on my cemetery travels. 

  • “He is not dead but sleepeth” Photo: Eyre Cemetery, Sudbury ON ©2011
  • “”Blessed are the dead / which die in the lord” Photo: Old Greenwood Cemetery, Sault Ste Marie ON ©2019
  • “Do not stand at my grave and weep. / I am not there.” Photo: Strong Cemetery, Sundridge ON ©2022
  • “Rest is Free” Photo: Rea Cemetery, Mimosa ON ©2022
  • “Budded on earth, / to bloom in heaven.” Photo: Farr Historic Cemetery, Haileybury ON ©2022
  • “Farewell dear I bid thee Adieu, / My stay on earth was short with you. / Weep not for me, nor sorrow make, But love the baby for my sake.” Photo: Nipissing Junction Union Cemetery, North Bay ON ©2022
  • “Beware kind friends as you pass by. / As your are now so once was I. / As I am now you too must be. / Prepare therefore to follow me.” Photo: Sylvan Acres Cemetery, Waubamik ON ©2023

Have you come across some interesting epitaphs on your cemetery walks? Do you have a favorite? Or maybe you have something you would like written on your own gravestone? I would love to read your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. What is an Epitaph? | Columbia Gardens Memorials

2023 Cemetery Scavenger Hunt

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What are you up to this Halloweekend? 

That’s right, it’s the last weekend in October before Halloween. Time to get in those last autumn days enjoying some seasonal activities, and getting ready for the ghouls and boils to come knocking on your door for treats.

I have a pretty full weekend planned of pumpkin carving, horror movies, and of course one last visit to a cemetery. 

This Sunday is the fourth annual Halloween Cemetery Scavenger Hunt, organized by Talk Death. If you are not familiar with Talk Death, they are a death-positive collective, whose mission is to encourage positive and constructive conversations around death and dying. 

This annual cemetery scavenger hunt is designed to bring together communities, families, cemetery lovers, and history enthusiasts. It’s a fun way to get outdoors and learn about your local history and art and architecture of different eras.

Want to join the fun?

It’s easy to play along! On Sunday, October 29th, at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT visit your favorite local cemetery and tune in to Talk Deaths Instagram page.

Then follow the clues provided to search for gravestones that match the clues, like symbolism, names, and dates. Take a selfie with the stones and submit your finds using the link in their bio. The first 3 people to fill out the form completely, win!

You can visit the TalkDeath 2023 Halloween Cemetery Scavenger Hunt webpage for the full details! 

  • Talk Death 2023 Cemetery Scavenger hunt. October 29, 2023.
    Image created by Talk Death.

Although this is meant to be a fun event, please be mindful when visiting any cemetery. Be respectful, and do not disturb the gravestones or grave goods.

That being said, I had a great time participating last year, and l look forward to playing again this year. Last year I visited Park Lawn Cemetery with my Mom. We were the only ones in the cemetery that day, but we still had a lot of fun!

This year, my cemetery of choice is Lasalle Cemetery. It’s a fairly large cemetery and has some older stones. Feel free to join me, if you are in the area!

Regardless of what you get up to this weekend, I hope you have a great one and take some time for a little Halloween fun. 

Happy Halloweekend, and thanks for reading! 

Cemetery Tourism

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Have you ever heard the term cemetery tourism before? Visiting cemeteries may not be at the top of your list when on vacation, but it should be!

In recent years cemetery tourism has become more and more popular. But, I would argue that it has always been. In today’s blog post, I wanted to talk a little bit about cemetery tourism and share a few upcoming cemetery tours happening in Ontario.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the only open places around were cemeteries. They afforded people an outdoor space to take walks and get fresh air, revealing their importance alongside parks and other green spaces. This also gave people a chance to appreciate cemeteries as more than just places of sorrow and remembrance, but also places of art, history, and culture. 

Since then, visiting cemeteries and graveyards has become an increasingly popular trend, not only among taphophiles and genealogists but also among general tourists. Wandering around cemeteries in new places is a great way to learn about the history and heritage of an area, and to also see examples of local art and architecture.

But cemetery tourism really isn’t anything new!

For decades people have been traveling the world specifically to visit tombs and mausoleums. The pyramids of Giza see over 14 million visitors each year, making them one of the most popular tombs in the world.1 Granted, the Pyramids are one of the seven wonders of the world, they are also tombs that were built over 4500 years ago by the ancient Egyptians to honor their dead.2 

Another popular example is the Taj Mahal, a white marble mausoleum that was built in memory of an emperor’s wife.3 It sees approximately 7 to 8 million visitors per year.4 Visitors flock to this site, not only to experience the exquisite architecture but to also experience the reverence this tomb represents. 

  • Cemetery Tourism

Closer to home, I find it’s common to see cemetery stops marked along motorcycle and cycling routes. Not only are cemeteries and graveyards perfect places to stop and stretch your legs on a long bike trip, but they also make interesting points of interest where you can learn more about the history of an area. 

Another way cemetery tourism is becoming more prevalent is the creation of cemetery tours. I see more tours offered every year in local or nearby city cemeteries. Not only are they great ways for cemeteries to fundraise, and bring more people into the cemetery. It’s a perfect way to highlight the cemetery’s history, showcase important people, and make history come alive. 

Generally, cemetery tours can be done at any time of year. You can often find them happening in the summer months. But, I find October is the best time of year for a cemetery walk. The atmosphere is perfect, with the crisp air and crunchy leaves. It’s a beautiful backdrop to explore history and learn about the past. October cemetery tours can be a fun activity to do if you are looking for something different to do for Halloween. Often, some of the history shared is on the darker side, creating an eerie atmosphere as you stroll among the graves.

Want to add a cemetery walk to your list of activities this month? Here is a small round-up of cemetery tours that are happening in Ontario. I would suggest booking your tickets fast as October is almost over! 

Upcoming cemetery tours

Fergus: Wellington County Museum & Archives Cemetery Tour 

Friday, October 27 from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person.

This tour takes place outside on the museum grounds, and at the Poor House Cemetery where over 200 inmates were laid to rest.

You can purchase tickets at this link.

Hamilton: War of 1812 Cemetery Tour

Saturday, October 28 at 11 a.m. This is a free event. Roughly 2 hours in duration.

A lively, informative tour of selected grave sites in historic Hamilton Cemetery. Each tour will introduce you to some of Hamilton’s more interesting personalities and its rich history.

Visit their website for more information. 

Mississauga: Haunted Mississauga 2023 Heritage Tour

Friday, October 27. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Tours run at 7 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 7:40 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:20 p.m., 8:40 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tours take approximately 45 minutes.

This event includes a guided heritage tour around a dimly lit historic cemetery with actors retelling stories from the darker side of the past.

You can purchase your tickets at Eventbrite.

Ottawa: Tales from the Mausoleum at Beechwood Cemetery

Monday, October 23 to Monday, October 30. Tours run at 8 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. every night. There is an extra tour time of 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, October 28. Tours are roughly 75 minutes in duration.

A one-of-a-kind evening filled with storytelling and chills.  Experience the darker history of the cemetery’s early days and the ghost stories connected to some who rest there—including strange reports from staff that continue to this day. 

You can purchase tickets at this link.

Toronto: The People of Park Lawn Cemetery Tour

Saturday, October 28 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, October 29 at 1 p.m. Both tours are identical and will be roughly 2 hours in duration. This is a free event.

Park Lawn Cemetery is considered an oasis in the West End of Toronto; complete with lush greenery and winding walking paths. Its grounds also contain the earthly remains of some notable—and less notable—Toronto residents whose stories helped shape the city and the country.

Visit the Facebook event page to mark yourself as going.

Self-guided tours

If the above dates don’t work for you, or you would rather wander the cemetery at your own pace, some cemeteries offer self-guided cemetery tours. These types of tours can be done at any time of year. You can sometimes find handouts for self-guided tours at the cemeteries office, that include maps, directions, and information about the more notable or interesting things found in the cemetery. There are also sometimes resources online at the cemetery’s website that can be downloaded onto your phone for a mobile-guided experience.

Have you been on a cemetery tour before? Will you include one on your bucket list the next time you are on vacation? I would love to hear about your bucket list destinations or any cemetery tours you would recommend.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. Opening Hours | Giza Pyramid
  2. History | Giza Pyramid
  3. Taj Mahal | Unesco World Heritage Convention
  4. Views of the Taj Mahal | Taj Mahal

Spooky Grave Goods

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In honor of the Spooky season, I wanted to do a sort of spooky show-and-tell. For today’s blog post, I want to talk about some of the creepier grave goods I have come across while exploring and photographing cemeteries.

Grave goods is a term used for items left behind at a grave. I have always found it fascinating what people leave behind. There are a variety of reasons someone might leave grave goods; to pay their respects, to honor their loved one, this list goes on.

The most common grave goods I see in my cemetery travels are flowers, but I have also found coins, toys, figurines, and pieces of clothing such as hats or gloves. I have even found alcohol and cigarettes left on gravestones.

But there have been a couple of times where I have found some pretty creepy things. I would say maybe even sinister grave goods.

  • Spooky Grave Goods

A Horse Skull

One of the first creepy grave goods I ever came across was a skull hanging from a tree. I believe this is a horse skull, although I don’t know for certain. A horse skull would make sense for the area where it was found, in Verner Public Cemetery. Verner is a rural area, dotted with farmland.

How the skull ended up in the tree is another question entirely. I remember it was hanging on a tree at the edge of the tree line. Was it found in the forested area? Was it brought from an adjoining farm?

The questions will always remain…

  • A horse skull. Verner Public Cemetery, Verner ON ©2010

A Creepy Doll

I never expected to come across a creepy doll, the day I entered Blezard Valley Cemetery. It was in late May, that I discovered this one.

A creepy plastic doll, the kind where the eyes close when you tilt it backward. Except this one has a push pin pushed into its plastic eyeball. It was also painted black. I found it leaning up against the backside of a granite gravestone.

How it ended up there, I can’t even speculate. Was it bored teenagers? Or was it left behind with more sinister intentions? I took many photos but left the doll where I found it.

  • A creepy doll left at a grave. Blezard Valley Cemetery, Blezard Valley ON ©2021

A Ouija Board

I think this is one of my favorite spooky finds! Technically my mom found it. We had gone off on our own, in separate directions, meandering among the gravestones. She called me over when she spotted this unique grave good.

Laying above a small flat stone marker was this hand-made ouija board. It was painted by hand onto a small canvas. I wasn’t able to locate what had been used as a planchette. My guess is they used a glass or cup of some sort, and made sure to return it to where it came from. 

From the looks of it, this hand-made board had been sitting outside for some time. Being an avid Ouija board collector myself, I enjoyed finding this one. But of course, I left it where it was found.

  • A hand-made ouija board. St. Jacques Cemetery, Hanmer ON ©2021

I have written in the past about the cemetery etiquette I follow when visiting cemeteries. I do sometimes clear away debris to get a clearer picture or stand-up fallen grave goods that have been knocked over. But, I would never remove anything from a gravestone, or cemetery for that matter. 

Did you enjoy my round-up of the top three spookiest grave goods I have found in a cemetery? It’s one of my favorite things about cemeteries, you never know what you might find!

Have you ever found anything strange left behind in a cemetery? I would love to read about it in the comments.

Thanks for reading!