Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Friday, November 2, 2012

Sharing More Views of Saint Colmans Cemetery in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio from Gail Allen

From Gail Allen's Blog: "Gifts from Gail":

"I also went to the St. Coleman of Cloyne Catholic Church office to research two graves that could not be found in St. Coleman's Cemetery. I learned that the **two ladies in question were in fact listed in the old church death record book (one from 1939 and one from 1930), but their graves could never be found in the cemetery. 

The St. Coleman of Cloyne Church began in 1866 on the land where the cemetery is now. The church building was destroyed by the tornado of 1855. Some markers were missing and some of the small corner stones sank into the ground due to the weather, and were later covered over with growing grass. The ladies are listed on the roster of cemetery graves, but the specific locations are unknown." 

Thanking Gail for providing this Section Map below for Saint Colmans Cemetery:


**Agnes Carr Creamer 
From Gail:  Mrs. Thomas (Agnes) Creamer, lived on Hoppes Road in WCH, died May 15, 1930, at the age of 51; cause of death: stroke paralysis/acute dilation of the heart.
From Gail: Margaret Hidy, lived on Culpepper Trace in WCH, died December 11, 1939, at the age of 67; cause of death: obstruction of the bowels.
 

Thanking Gail Allen for sharing the following photographs of Saint Colmans Cemetery in Washington Court House, Ohio -- and I have added Gail's "Gifts from Gail" blog to my "Linda's Blog List" in the right column:

 Above
"Further to the right of the entrance; the left of the entrance is open, not yet occupied."
 Above:
"View to the right"


Main Entrance


"The Day of the Dead" - All Souls Day

Today is November 2, 2012 -- "All Souls Day" also known as "The Day of the Dead."  

Click on the title to link to the website "Catholic.org" for an in-depth history and perspective regarding the significance of this day. 
~~~~~~~~~~~
Also, on the website of "timeanddate.com" is a discussion about what people do on All Souls Day.  

Scroll down to see a perpetual calendar for all years showing when the observance of All Souls Day occurs as well as other holidays.  It is a very handy website!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I personally feel every day should be an "All Souls Day." 

Every Day is a good day to show respect and honor those who came before us; whether they were relatives, ancestors, veterans or strangers.   

We can do so by visiting gravesites and observing if they are properly maintained or not and then following up about it if needed.  

It might just mean making a phone call to a cemetery sexton about lack of care for the gravesites at a certain cemetery, or championing the cause to recognize a fallen veteran with a solemn ceremony, or by installing a new marker to replace a broken one -- whatever the need is to demonstrate we remember and care.  

 
I am particularly fond of this once popular poem we often see inscribed on gravestone markers of long ago:
 
From the white marble marker of Hannah Limes buried at the Sheep Pen Cemetery:

Hannah Limes
Died: November 3, 1863
Aged 73 yrs, 2 months, 24 days

"Remember friends as you pass by
As you now are so once was I
As I am now so you must be
Prepare for death and follow me."