Tag: Photography Book

Cemetery Book Review: Hillside Cemetery

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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! 

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!

References:

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

Cemetery Book Review: A State of Wonder and Serenity

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I first heard about A State of Wonder and Serenity: Mount Pleasant Cemetery in February when Norman S. Track reached out to me last year via email. He asked if I’d like to review his new book. I was happy to say yes, not only because Mount Pleasant is a beautiful cemetery, but also because I have visited it myself.

It was so fun to see some of the headstones I recognized covered in snow. That made the winter scenes feel even more special and personal.

Here is a bit about the book, from Track himself, from Blurb:

“Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a Toronto landscaped cemetery with an arboretum. H.A. Engelhardt’s design followed Loudon’s concept that the atmosphere of a cemetery should be solemn, uplifting and educational. The cemetery opened 4 November 1876…Early February, the cemetery was transformed into a winter wonderland. Fresh snow, bare trees, and a clear blue sky produced a quiet, ethereal atmosphere. The sun being lower in the winter sky created long, dramatic shadows. After a heavy snow, time seemed to be wrapped in a white silence.

I listened to the silence and peered deeply into the shadows—I had entered Glenn Gould’s State of Wonder and Serenity at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in February.”

  • Book cover for A State of Wonder and Serenity by Norman S. Track

Norman S. Track is a photographer and writer who really knows how to capture the quiet beauty of cemeteries. This is one of his new works, published in 2025.

A State of Wonder and Serenity takes you through Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, which has an arboretum and was opened in 1876. Track explores the cemetery in February, highlighting the fresh snow, clear blue skies, and Victorian monuments casting long shadows. His photos beautifully capture the calm and quiet of the cemetery.

I read a PDF version of the book, which I think took a little away from the joy of experiencing this book. Some photos span multiple pages, and that didn’t translate as well on a screen. I think the physical book would make a much bigger impact.

Even in PDF form, though, I loved the photos that Track includes. He shows different sections of the cemetery, each with its own character. Seeing headstones I recognize in those snowy scenes made it feel more personal and special. Because it’s a photography book, it’s very easy to pick up and reflect on, so it’s perfect to look at slowly or come back to in sections.

It’s a beautiful look at cemeteries in the winter, especially for someone like me who tends to stay indoors during the colder months. Being able to experience the lovely winter views while staying cozy was a lot of fun.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cemeteries, photography, or quiet places to think. Track’s photos and words make it easy to feel like you are walking through Mount Pleasant, even if you’ve never been there. It’s a great book for photographers, history lovers, or anyone who enjoys peaceful winter scenes.

Thanks for reading! 

I am always on the hunt for cemetery-related book recommendations. If you are an author and have a cemetery-related book you would like me to review, please reach out at hello@chantallarochelle.ca. I would love to hear from you!

Cemetery Book Review: Country Churchyards

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For this month’s cemetery book review, I wanted to talk about Country Churchyards by Eudora Welty. I first heard about this book through the Association for Gravestone Studies book club. I was not familiar with Welty’s work, but this book was a nice introduction. 

Eudora Welty is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, known for her short stories and novels that are focused primarily on the American South during the mid-20th century. Some of her works include the short story Death of a Traveling Salesman and the novel, The Optimist’s Daughter1.

Welty had long wished to produce a photography book about country churchyards, and at the age of 91, this dream project came to fruition.2 In July 2001 at the age of 92, she passed away due to natural causes at her family home in Jackson, Mississippi. She is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Jackson.1

Her grey granite gravestone reads:

“Eudora Alice / Welty / April 13, 1909 / July 23, 2001 / Daughter of / Christian & Chestina Welty / For her life, any life she had / to believe, was nothing but the / continuity of its love. / The Optimist’s Daughter”

Country Churchyards features 90 photographs captured by Welty in Mississippi. Accompanying these beautiful black and white photos are Welty’s memories and impressions of her time visiting these cemeteries in the 1930s and 40s. The book also features select passages about cemeteries and funerals from her short stories and novels.

  • Book cover of Country Churchyards by Eudora Welty
    Country Churchyards by Eudora Welty

My copy of Country Churchyards, purchased from Thrift Books is a well-loved library book from Topeka, Kansas. Even with the well-worn cover, and light water stains, the beauty of this book shines through.

The book is filled with gorgeous black-and-white photos showcasing unique gravestones, symbolism, and cemetery landscapes. The introductions by Hunter Cole and Elizabeth Spencer paint a lovely picture of Eudora Welty and her underlying passion for cemeteries. This, accompanied by excerpts of Welty’s writing, highlights how influenced she was by the heartfelt sentiment found in cemeteries.

I find cemetery symbols fascinating, and it’s interesting to see what common and unique cemetery motifs are found throughout the book. I often found myself comparing my area’s common symbols to those within the pages as I read through it. I did take my time with this book, really examining the photos and all of the details.

It’s a beautiful little book and a nice break from the heavier reading I have been doing lately. This is a book I would leave out on my coffee table.

Have you read Country Churchyards? Are you familiar with Eudora Welty’s work? I would love to read your thoughts 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. Eudora Welty | Find a Grave 
  2. Country Churchyards | Goodreads

Cemetery Book Review: Going out in Style

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Have you heard of #mausoleummonday?

It’s a trend on social media in the cemetery community that uses that hashtag, to showcase the beauty of mausoleums. Unfortunately, mausoleums are not a common sight here in Northern Ontario, so I have not had the chance to visit or photograph very many. This is one of the reasons I found Doug Keister’s book Going out in Style: The Architecture of Eternity so interesting. For this month’s book review, I wanted to share it with you. 

  • Going out in Style: The Architecture of Eternity by Douglas Keister

Douglas Keister is a photographer, author, and co-author of forty-five critically acclaimed books, twenty-five of which are on architecture.1 Going out in Style, published in 1997, showcases some of America’s most beautiful and unusual mausoleums. This coffee-table book is filled with gorgeous full-color, glossy photos, each accompanied by short descriptions that give a small taste of their stories and histories.

“From a nationally renowned photographer and author team, Going Out in Style: The Architecture of Eternity provides an engaging and at times surprising look at America’s forgotten architecture: the mausoleum.

Elegant, full-color photographs display the grandeur of the mausoleum, documenting the work of some of America’s most noted architects and in some cases the only remaining examples of a particular architect’s work. Additionally, photographs of the interiors of some mausoleums show rarely seen Tiffany stained-glass windows.

Going Out in Style takes readers into beautiful and historic cemeteries in such cities as New York, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and many others.” – Synopsis from Amazon.ca

  • Going out in Style: The Architecture of Eternity by Douglas Keister

This is a beautiful book! I was lucky enough to find a first edition hardcover copy, with glossy pages. All the photos are beautifully shot, really showcasing what makes each mausoleum unique. I loved that they took advantage of the book’s large size by including full-page images. There is also a paperback edition available, that is printed on uncoated paper. I have been told the uncoated paper dulls and muddies the photography. That just seems wrong for a photography book! 

I enjoyed exploring the histories of all the beautiful mausoleums presented, but it did feel like much more could have been written about them. Sometimes I found the descriptions to be just too short! I’m sure whole books could be written on some of them. Because I am not very familiar with mausoleums and their architecture, I did enjoy learning more about the different styles and periods and found myself trying to figure them out before it was noted in the description. 

One of my favorite aspects of the book, was when we were given a look inside the mausoleums. That was by far my favorite chapter. Some of them are just as ornate on the inside, as they are on the outside, while others are very plain compared to their exterior. Some mausoleums hold amazing pieces of art, like Tiffany stained glass windows. It was lovely to peek inside, into what we often don’t get a chance to explore.

I would highly recommend this book and think it would make a great addition to any taphophile’s library. I would especially recommend it to those who love mausoleums or those interested in learning more about architecture. My only note would be to make sure you get the hardcover edition! 

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

Thanks for reading!

References

  1. About Douglas Keister | DouglasKeister.com