Category Archives: Uncategorized

The rusted metal marker in the Woodland Cemetery in Jackson, Michigan, seen next to a gravestone denotes that the deceased was a member of the fraternal organization of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge 29.  Many fraternal organizations and membership … Continue reading →

HENRY KAU OCTOBER 18, 1863 – AUGUST 7, 1943 KATHERINA KAU BORN OHIO, ILLINOIS JUNE 15, 1867 – DECEMBER 6, 1933 Elisabeth L. Roark wrote an article about angels titled, “Embodying Immortality: Angels in America’s Rural Garden Cemeteries, 1850—1900”, pages … Continue reading →

Saturday August 30th from 10am – 2pm is the next headstone restoration work date at Rose Hill Cemetery in Bloomington, Indiana. Come help wash and re-set gravestones.  Stay as long as you can and help out.  As you all know, … Continue reading →

Michael “Mike” Benedum Born: July 16, 1869, Bridgeport, West Virginia Died: July 30, 1959, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sarah Nancy Lantz Benedum Born: September 22, 1872, Blacksville, West Virginia Died: August 11, 1951 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Claude Worthington Benedum Born January 13, … Continue reading →

Cemeteries, large and small, urban and rural, often need volunteers to help maintain them.  That help can range anywhere from volunteers planting flowers in cradle gravestones, washing grave markers, resetting gravestones, mending fences, trimming trees, and even lawn care.  For … Continue reading →

The stained-glass window in the back of the Wittmer Family Mausoleum in the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh is a montage of symbolism.  Like many such displays the meaning of the symbolism is not always straight forward—that is, it is subject … Continue reading →

John Lupher Porter July 1, 1868, Meadville, Pennsylvania January 18, 1896, Oil City, Pennsylvania Augusta Marlin Fisher Porter October 2, 1868, Oil City, Pennsylvania July 8, 1939, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania John Lupher Porter was a Pennsylvania native and except for a … Continue reading →

An oil lamp is the centerpiece of the stained-glass window in the Fisher Family Mausoleum in the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The oil lamp hangs from the ceiling and is flanked by fluted Neo-classic pilasters.  A flickering flame billowing shades … Continue reading →

The long slender stained-glass window in the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, displays a crown and cross in a purple quatrefoil. The quatrefoil in Christian symbolism represents the four evangelists—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and is often found in the tracery of … Continue reading →

Often the inside of a mausoleum is more impressive than the exterior displaying sculptures and stained-glass windows that are not readily accessible to be viewed. The window shown here displays a woman in white robes cradling a dove in her … Continue reading →