"Dead Art" -- Secrets In Headstones

If you’re looking for a place nearby to check out some art, the local cemetery is probably not a spot on your list, but you may want to reconsider that since a walk through one will include interesting history, remarkable artwork, and many secrets in the stones… not to mention some spooky stories to go along with them… if you know where to look. In our area of Connecticut we’re lucky enough to have several nearby sites that include all of these.

When walking through cemeteries there are always monuments and carvings that draw our attention right away. Most often these are the larger statues and elaborate carvings, but take a closer look at some smaller stones and you’ll notice a lot of symbolism included on them. Even what seems like the most random of details can tell a story about the individual at rest there, the artist who carved the stone or the time that they lived.

Flowers and trees are very common inclusions on headstones, but each one holds its own meaning. A Tulip signifies love, a sheaf of wheat indicates that the person lived a long life, an Oak tree shows strength and is often used for heads of households, a Weeping Willow portrays immortality (perhaps not what you’d expect in a cemetery), Lillys show marriage, and tree trunks often represent lives cut short.

There are many religious symbols found on headstones as well, and while many of them such as the Star of David, crosses, and doves, are common, others may not be as obvious. Hands are often used for religious meanings as well, for example a hand that appears at the top of a stone can indicate the “hand of God,” or hands coming from the edge of a stone can mean a “guide to heaven.” These symbols are often nondenominational and are frequently found in community burial grounds where there may be many faiths included. Some of the other less-obvious symbols for religion include the “all seeing eye,” a crown, a book (which symbolizes the bible or other religious text), and even some torches which are used to depict God’s “light of the world.”

Animals – like in our life – are often shown as companions in death on headstones. If it is a bird, it is most often a dove, which symbolizes spirits, signs of heaven, or “carries of the soul.” Owls indicate wisdom, Swallows are used for motherhood or a child, Lambs are used to denote a “child of God,” and if you happen upon a Butterfly, that references the “rebirth” of the person. Sometimes those of us who are passionate about animals in our lives will have them included in our headstones as well, be it cats, birds, horses, dogs, or many other kinds. While headstones with carvings like these are not as common in larger town cemeteries, smaller town cemeteries and private burial grounds where there are not as many rules about conforming to specific headstone designs often are filled with these unique stones. Many of these stones are beautiful pieces of artwork when you come across them.

These are just three of the many categories of art you will find throughout cemeteries, and there are always other headstones that are made special for individuals, families, or even groups, which stand out from the rest and add a truly personal touch to these often-overlooked outdoor art galleries. And then there’s the spooky stories to make your trip that much more interesting.

The Orange Center Cemetery (across from 653 Orange Center Road) contains lots of history as well as its share of unusual stories. It is still in use, but the headstones in the older area date back to the early days of the town, and while walking through the cemetery you’ll recognize many names that are prominent throughout Orange such as Treat, Case, Lambert, Clark, and others. The Northwest side of the cemetery contains the oldest headstones, which feature very interesting carvings and designs, and there are also several larger monuments of interest throughout the cemetery. Numerous visitors have reported encounters with strange mists, apparitions, and even eerie music that seemed to emanate from inside the cemetery itself. Because the cemetery sits along the roadside, many people passing by late at night have reported spotting unusual shapes and shadows in the cemetery. A few have even pulled in thinking that people were trespassing after hours and driven around the cemetery, only to find it completely empty.

Over in New Haven is where you’ll find the sprawling 85-acre Evergreen Cemetery (located on Ella Grasso Boulevard), which is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in our state. One thing many people forget is that cemeteries were not originally designed to merely be a final resting place that would be visited once in a while, they were laid out in park-like manners, complete with streets, sitting (sometimes even picnic) spaces, and many other features that were meant to be used by the community. Evergreen is home to Mary Hart who is buried underneath a pink Granite marker which features an inscription that ends with “The people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away,” earning her the nickname of “Midnight Mary.” The exact story about the passing of this 48-year-old woman has several versions, each one a little spookier than the last, but the most historical one is that she had fallen ill and her family thought her dead, so they buried her. The following evening a relative had a dream that Mary was still alive in her coffin, and the family chose to dig her up, only to discover scratch marks on the inside of the coffin – she had, indeed, been buried alive. Although there is no confirmation of this – or any – story about her, there was a big concern in older days of accidentally burring someone before they were actually dead. Whatever this case may be, her spirit has been said to roam the area for decades, and has been reported by people of all ages and backgrounds, including those who weren’t familiar with the stories at all.

In the other direction, an interesting stop on your funerary art hop is Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport (found at 215 Dewey Street). Mountain Grove was established roughly the same time as Evergreen Cemetery was, and was designed in a similar park-like layout. Notable people who can be found there include Margaret Rudkin who was the founder of the Pepperidge Farms Company, baseball player Neal Ball who played for both the New York Yankees (back when they were called the “Highlanders” as well as the Boston Red Socks, as well as the very-famous Tomb Thumb and P.T. Barnum. Mountain Grove has many stories as well, from the apparition of a young boy who seems to be wondering in search of a gravesite, to a woman who is seen crying while kneeling next to a headstone before vanishing right before your eyes. As this cemetery is also bordered by main roads, people passing by at night have seen unusual things through the cemetery fences, and there have been many pictures that appear to show strange apparitions and mists taken as well.

IF YOU GO: Remember that most cemeteries are open during the day until sunset, but are CLOSED AT NIGHT. You can enjoy these locations and stories without having to trespass! Trespassers are charged and fined – and if you trespass, you deserve it. Also remember that many headstones – especially in the older areas of cemeteries – are very fragile, so stone rubbings can actually damage many. Photographs are best! Larger cemeteries such as Evergreen and Mountain Grove often have tours that you can attend to learn more about the history and artwork found in them. They’re great outings if you want to know more!

LEARN MORE: This Wednesday, December 14, we will be hosting a slideshow and discussion on funerary art and some local cemeteries from 7:00pm – 9:00pm at our Library & Research Center, 284 Racebrook Road, Orange. This discussion is open to anyone interested. In addition to the slideshow and talk we will be joined by Funerary Art expert Diane Bajorinas who will answer questions and share her research into the secrets of the stones. You can contact us at sgra@sgra.org or (203)247-0310 for details.