So Many Stones, So Many Different People!

Our Beyond the Grave class took a tour to St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Cathedral Church! We then learned about all the different types of gravestones people are buried under. Below I will post some of the photos I took from these churches and identify the types of gravestones that are used. I may also add a few interesting details I learned about the people buried here based off of what was written on their stone. Why don't you scroll down a bit to see.

 This gravestone belongs to the beloved Elizabeth and John Schachte. It is placed in St. Patricks Catholic Church. Elizabeth was only 53 when she passed and John 63. The gravestone used is called a Plaque Marker or Slant Marker. These gravestones can fit very little information about the deceased and are used quite often present day. They are required in many cemeteries in order to maximize ground space.

 In the Cathedral Church, I found this Die, Base & Cap gravestone. It was placed for a women named Elizabeth Toomer. On the stone it states that she was married to her husband, Francis S.Holmes. She passed in 1859 at the age of 40. Many Die, Base & Cap gravestones look similar to a Box Tomb gravestone, but this one is tall in height rather than big in width. -->

<-- This gravestone was also found in the Cathedral Church. It is known as a Box Tomb gravestone. You must be wondering if there is a person buried in the box above the ground! Wouldn't that be something. But the bodies are actually buried not in the tomb, but in the ground underneath it. Sadly, the only information I could find on the tomb about the person is their initials. May W.A.King rest in peace.

 World War 1! Wow!! William N Lucas's gravestone was -->  placed in the Cathedral Church as well. The grave is known as a Footstone or Lawn-type marker. William fought for the US army and lived from 1896 to 1977! This is one of the first gravestones I have seen that had a war veteran buried. AND from the 1800's! Such a long time ago!

 <-- Another gravestone I found in the Cathedral Church! The stone used is known as a Ledger gravestone. It covers the entire grave! The person who lays here is named Constance Wigeall Simons. She is the daughter of John and Eliza Simons. She lived from 1842 to 1929. This ledger is decorated with a large cross and a prayer written underneath.

 With the Cathedral Church having such a great variety of different monument types, heres another gravestone I found there. This is known as a Obelisk gravestone. Most of these stones have a pointed tip at the top but this one does not. It also looks as if it is simply placed on top of a ledger or footstone grave. Unfortunately the name of the person buried is written on the bottom stone and is unreadable. But on the obelisk are the words "Our father and mother." -->

 The image to the right is known as a Bedstead gravestone. This photograph was taken in the Cathedral Church. This stone outlines the grave of the person buried. There are graves that look similar but smaller. These are called Cradle Graves, they're meant for small children and the low grave represents the outline of a baby's cradle. The gravestone to the right lies Col S.B. Picken. The age for him in the photo is unclear. -->

As pictured above, this is the Bedstead grave pictured on the left. But the headstone placed with it is called a Pulpit Marker. The person who passed away is named Samuel. His middle and last name is unclear in the photograph. For adults, the bedstead grave can be the outline alone or accompanied by another gravestone and in this case it is with a pulpit marker gravestone.
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This majestic tomb below is called a Mausoleum. This particular one is found in the Cathedral Church. Mausoleum's are a building like structure that often hold six
or more tombs above ground. On this tomb it writes, "Family Cemetery, Nov. 30. 1837"
They are usually locked to prevent forced entry and vandalism. I noticed this one has a metal bar in the middle of the handle making sure it stays shut forever... spooky. It also has a smaller trap door shaped area on the left side of it that is filled in with bricks. Hmm even more spooky.

Finally, the most commonly known grave marker, the Headstone/ Tombstone. They are usually made out of one piece of granite or a slab of marble. This grave is located in St. Patricks Catholic Church. The person buried beneath it is named John Gannon. Although there is no age or dates put onto the tombstone, they placed a scripture from the bible on it wishing him eternal peace now that his life has ended.

Sadly not only his life has ended, but so has this blog post. I hope this educated you more on the different types of grave markers in cemeteries! I know I learned a lot.