"Remembering the Forgotten" -- Inviting You to Join Beth Wilson-Shoemaker on Her Cemetery Journeys!

     It is my pleasure to share this feature news article entitled:

          "Remembering the Forgotten"

     It was written by By Nikki Blankenship - nblankenship@aimmediamidwest.com of the "Daily Times" in Portsmouth, Ohio. 

     She interviewed Beth Wilson-Shoemaker; and because she did we, the readers, are so fortunate to have an opportunity to learn about Beth and her passion to preserve the cemeteries she visits. 

     This well-written article invites us to follow along with Beth and her rewarding pursuit to photograph, document, and preserve cemeteries while bringing to life the hidden stories they have waiting for us to discover.  

     Beth also has a fabulous Facebook Page:

    "A Grave Site: Cemetery Photographs by BAWS" 

Au naturel -- Sharing from Kettering, Ohio

Au naturel

Sharing from Kettering, Ohio. 

Spotlighting the Ridgelawn Cemetery in Elyria (Lorain County) Ohio

The photographs below are from my October 17, 2017 visit to Ridgelawn Cemetery in Elyria, Ohio. 

 It was my first visit, and one that was much overdue.  These are just a small sampling of the historic gravestones and monuments to be found at this early Ohio cemetery.  

The earliest burial that I found belongs to Nathaniel Porter who died in June (13th?) 1822.

  His "Find A Grave" memorial contains an extensive biographical write-up.  He was re-interred from another cemetery, however.  Links to memorials for his spouse and children are included with his memorial.  

A visitor can spend several splendid hours exploring Ridgelawn Cemetery in Elyria and easily become immersed in its landscape of amazing variety of trees among towering military monuments. One is topped with a soaring Eagle while another has a life-size Civil War soldier painted in appropriate Union Regimental colors. 

The 1820s - 1840s delicately carved grave markers there are indeed remarkable in their simplicity and not to be missed before you leave.  Several impressive mausoleums include those that are reminiscent of small sandstone houses! 

A visitor cannot help but be drawn to the grand wrought iron gated family plot of Heman Ely and his descendants.  

Ridgelawn Cemetery is a sacred place  where pioneer history awaits visitors who are fortunate enough to come and walk its grounds.