|
Welcome
Taphophilia (dot) Com...
A repository of morbid curiosities:
Thanatology and Taphophile Issues, Cemetery,
Funeral Industry and Death Related News.
A Taphophilia Thank You...
Taphophilia (dot) Com would not be possible without the knowledge, experience and talent of DarkestWeb. From its conception and early development, DarkestWeb was faced with many challenges; from inspiring and motivating, to providing guidance and direction. The continued dedication and support has produced results greater than ever expected, and for this, I owe a huge debt of gratitude.
Announcements
Graveyards of Chicago:
The People, History, Art, and Lore of Cook County Cemeteries
By Matt Hucke And Ursula Bielski. Discover a Chicago That Exists Just Beneath the Surface - About Six Feet Under! Take a tour of Chicago's permanent residents! Please visit the Lake Claremont Press website to purchase your copy of Graveyards of Chicago today!
Green-Wood Cemetery Arcadia Publishing announces the release of Alexandra Mosca's historic account of one of New York's most famous cemeteries. Aracdia Publishing's Images of America series has an extensive catalog of many cemetery publications! Please visit Arcadia Publishing to purchase your copy of Green-Wood Cemetery and to browse other available titles!
Men of Mortuaries Calendar
To purchase your 2008 calendar, learn more about the KAMMCARES Foundation, or to be featured in the 2009 calendar, please visit Men of Mortuaries.
Epitaphs: The Magazine for Cemetery Lovers By Cemetery Lovers
For information regarding subscriptions, single issues, submission guidelines, deadlines, classifieds or advertising for future issues, please visit The Cemetery Club.
Guardians of the Soul: Angels and Innocents, Mourners and Saints, Indiana's remarkable cemetery sculpture
with photography by John Bower and foreword by Claude Cookman is now
available. Please visit
Studio Indiana for more information.
West Springfield Massachusetts: Stories Carved in Stone by Rusty Clark features information on early New England gravestone carvers with more than two hundred photos and illustrations. Please visit the Dog Pond Press website.
|
|
Teens love of history led to cemetery restoration |
|
|
|
|
Written by DeadGirl
|
|
Monday, 02 August 2004 |
By Erikah Haavie
Poughkeepsie Journal
During a walk to the South Gate Deli, Kelly Marsh lamented the sad state of the Fort family cemetery.
Gravestones were broken, knocked down and overrun with weeds. Beer bottles littered the ground.
The 18-year-old Poughkeepsie resident, then a senior at Spackenkill High School, decided to do something about it.
During the past few months, Marsh has raked leaves, cleaned up litter and scrubbed headstones at the family cemetery, which dates to 1812.
Her family and friends have helped with the restoration effort, part of Marsh's Gold Award project as a Girl Scout with Troop No. 384. This award is the highest honor given in Girl Scouting.
''I'm a real big history buff,'' Marsh said. She began researching the history of the cemetery in November. ''I learned a lot. I thought it was really cool.''
The cemetery is the burial place of Abraham Fort, a major in the Revolutionary War, his wife Jane, and about 15 known others.
After she got permission from the cemetery's owner, Marsh began clean-up work in May. The project quickly blossomed into a community effort.
Barre Memorials helped glue headstones back together. Marsh scrubbed stones with bleach. Forty bags of garbage were disposed of with the help of Town Councilman Stephan Krakower, R-5th Ward.
Marsh also is creating a small book on the Fort family, which she will donate to the Adriance Memorial Library.
Researched Fort estate
Two community volunteers, Judy Wolf and Ginny Buechele, have assisted with historical research on the cemetery and the nearby Fort home, which they also hope to preserve by forming a nonprofit organization.
The Fort home, recently threatened with demolition, was designated earlier this summer as a historic site by the Town of Poughkeepsie.
It's ''important to preserve the past,'' Buechele said. She is a member of the Mahwenawasigh chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The cemetery and home are part of what the community is today, she said.
Many people don't realize they're driving by the grave of a Revolutionary War soldier, Buechele said.
''In respecting the dead, we respect the living,'' she said. ''It shows a dignity for human life.''
Through her efforts in restoring the cemetery, Buechele said, Marsh ''has gone above and beyond the call of duty.''
''I was impressed at her ability to deal with each obstacle,'' Wolf said.
Marsh spent 40 hours on the project, and plans to do more. She wants to make a small trail through the cemetery and plant flowers.
''I'm just happy that it's nearly back to the way it used to be,'' she said.
Marsh plans to attend Plattsburgh State University in the fall, where she'll major in mass media communications.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/today/localnews/stories/lo080204s5.shtml |
|
