MARBLE ORCHARD CEMETERY PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography by A. Louise Weston
Strange, Spooky & Bizarre
You never know what you will see in a cemetery. I'm not talking about ghosts, but there are strange things, sometimes it's a trick of the light, others, it's a broken coffins illuminated by a flash in an otherwise dark mausoleum and, occasionally, it will be the humor of death, whether by the deceased or by those left behind.
The photos below are thumbnails. Click to open the full size photo gallery.
Pioneer Rest Cemetery, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, 2003 A monument to a beloved child that has been corrupted over time by fungus and moss. She gazes at the rare visitor passing by through her one, remaining eye. Note the tattered spider's web on the left side of her head.
St. Ignatius Cemetery, Centrailia PA January 13th, 2013 Known as The Silent Hill Town, Centrailia was used as the setting for the famous game and horror film. This huge cross sunk deep into the soft ground almost as if it were being swallowed.
South Highland Methodist Cemetery, South Highland, NY, October 2003 These headstones are just left in a jumble, as if no one cares. Note the spooky reflection in the window on the left side.
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Sleepy Hollow, New York (formerly Tarrytown, NY until 1996), October 2003 This angel's broken face is simply disturbing.
Natchez City Cemetery, Natchez, Mississippi March 2008 A murder most foul, town eccentric Miss Jennie's bullet ridden body found in THE GOAT CASTLE MURDERS. Octavia Dockery, along with her companion Dick Dana, were originally suspects in the murder. Later, after being cleared, they charged twenty-five cents to enter the now-infamous mansion dubbed "Goat Castle".
Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois, September 2006 At 29, Julia died in childbirth. Shortly after her burial, her mother, Filomena, began having visions where she saw her daughter was been buried alive. For over 6 years, she tried to have her daughter's body exhumed. Finally, she won. In the casket, they found Julia's body had not decayed. The "incorruptible" state in which she lay is often associated with saints, but is in fact a natural phenomena called adipocere, or grave wax.
German Waldheim (Forest Home) Cemetery, Forest Park, IL August 2008 The mausoleum only remains six feet above the ground. At one time, it had a short flight of stairs up to the door.
German Waldheim (Forest Home) Cemetery, Forest Park, IL August 2008 Taken by sticking my arm through a small hole in the door of the Sunken Mausoleum with a flash, this amazing iron coffin appeared in the photograph. I don't think I see any traces of the body so what happened to the skeleton is a mystery.
German Waldheim (Forest Home) Cemetery, Forest Park, IL August 2008 Taken by sticking my hand back into the tiny Sunken Mausoleum window. I will leave it to your imagination what is protruding from the break in the coffin.
