Author Archives: gravelyspeaking

Many cemeteries are like outdoor sculpture gardens, with statues of angels, allegorical figures, weeping women, and saints at nearly every turn.  And in some cemeteries even some of the most renowned sculptors of the 19th and early 20th Century can … Continue reading →

A common and oft heard remark from Christians is that when they die, they will go to Heaven and meet with St. Peter at the “Pearly Gates” when they enter the Kingdom.  This is such a popular scenario that there … Continue reading →

Three mausoleums in the Springdale Cemetery in Peoria, Illinois, employ the use of the visual illusion of trompe l’œil.  For instance, from the street the J. LEE NEWTON Jr. Mausoleum looks like it has an elaborate filigree bronze door—detailed and … Continue reading →

JAMIE SON OF J.B. & STELLA R. SAX BORN NOV. 12, 1886 DIED MAY 8, 1887 The gray marble gravestone of Jamie Sax, who died just shy of being 6 months old, is an empty bassinet.  The intricately carved basket … Continue reading →

THE TWELVE GATES WERE TWELVE PEARLS, REV. 21:21 “TO-DAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.” LUKE 23:43 FRANK HAMILTON, 1853 – 1947, RESTING CARRIE HAMILTON, 1852 – 1908, RESTING ELBERTINE R. HAMILTON, 1862 – 1958, DEVOTED DISCIPLE Two monuments, … Continue reading →

The polished black granite gravestone in Cleveland’s Lakeview Cemetery honors disc jockey Alan Freed, a pioneer in Rock & Roll radio.  His gravestone displays an image of a juke box on the face of the stone and the following epitaph … Continue reading →

Bronze, which is distinguished from other metals by its brown coloring when new, and a green patina after it has aged, is another metal that is commonly found in cemeteries, though limited because of its great expense.  Because bronze is … Continue reading →

Another material that grave markers are made of is cast iron, though as common as some others. Cast iron became much less expensive in the second half of the 19th Century coupled with the ease of making more intricate patterns and … Continue reading →

The last few posts have concentrated on grave markers made of material other than stone.  Often the material is whatever is at hand when marble, granite, or slate, aren’t’ or is too expensive for some of the families burying their … Continue reading →

As stated in the previous post, “Tombstone” and “gravestone” are words that are used interchangeably to describe all grave markers, no matter what they are made of.  And, in fact, gravestones or rather grave markers are made of many kinds … Continue reading →