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Newton takes public on journey through Nevadas cemeteries |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Tuesday, 14 March 2006 |
Newton takes public on journey through Nevada's cemeteries
3/10/2006
Jane Pieplow
Museum Director
On Tuesday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m., we are pleased to host Reno Gazette-Journal photographer Marilyn Newton for an evening presentation. No, she won't be focusing her talk on the day-to-day toil of a news photographer. Instead, Marilyn will be taking the audience on a historical journey of Nevada's cemeteries through the pages of her 2004 book, Alkali Angels: Recording Nevada's Historic Graveyards.
The frontspiece of her book, published by Carmel Publishing Company in Cedarville, California, describes how and why Marilyn pursued this subject:
"For seven years Newton traversed Nevada in search of historic graveyards following leads and tips from fellow Nevadans. She ventured alone into remote places in her quest to record the fragile beauty of Nevada's historic grave sites. Newton was a woman on a mission. First it was the photography "" the act of recording the image -- that drove her into the desert. But as she felt the presence of the souls who are buried in Nevada, Newton wanted to know more about their lives and deaths. She spent four more years researching history, legend and lore.
"This book is more than just another coffee table conversation piece. . . Alkali Angels makes us aware of the urgent need for the preservation of Nevada's historic graveyards. It inspires an awareness of Nevada's history, and places us out there in the endless sky and ocean of sage.
"Newton's images of solitary graves standing watch over high desert valleys swept by clouds evoke the simple drama of life and death in early Nevada. Her work reminds us that Nevada is not a roped-off museum exhibit. Even in its historic past, Nevada is alive."
Wow! What a preface for a book. I must confess that up until I had to write this column I had not taken the time to look over Marilyn's book carefully, so after reading this preface, I felt compelled to do so. The book is divided into chapters, each the name of the state's 17 counties. Of course, I looked up Churchill County first, and I really did marvel at her photographs of the small graveyard that still exists on Allen Road, and the LeBeau gravesite on Eight-Mile Flat near Sand Mountain. The Stillwater Cemetery is also pictured.
The book's text is short and to the point, but the choice of subject matter is part of the legend and lore that Marilyn researched for so many years. One such story comes from Stillwater and relates the death of an old prospector named Cyrus Kellogg who was found sitting against a tree frozen to death in the winter of 1894. Kellogg was about 70 years of age, a stoop-shouldered wiry old man, standing about five feet eight inches tal, and well known to Stillwater residents.
After he was found, the town folk brought his mortal remains to the courthouse to thaw so he could fit into a coffin. Meanwhile word of his passing quickly spread and many citizens arrived for the funeral. But he was still frozen, so while they waited the mourners decided to have a dance. They danced and danced until the old prospector finally thawed enough to be straightened into a recumbent position, then they buried him in the Lawrence Ranch graveyard nearby.
A morbid story, perhaps, but in those days, death was more commonplace and more immediate to everyone than it is today. What better way to see someone to the "great beyond" than to celebrate with a party? I'm sure Kellogg would have been pleased.
Newton's book is filled with more of this kind of lore, and, of course, her many stunning photos. Join us on Tuesday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. to see some of these images and let Marilyn lead us firsthand on her journey of producing this book.
You can read much more about Cyrus Kellogg in the museum's book, In Focus, Volume 14, available in the Museum's Store.
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060310/FALLON/603100311/1029/FALLON |
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