Strange and Unusual: Cemetery Headstones

I was wanting to do this post on Halloween, however I had some other posts and didn't get around to it. 

Plus why wait until next Halloween? 

Have you ever walked around in a cemetery? (If not I highly recommend it!) and approached a unique headstone? Or perhaps one catches your eye? This is a post for you!

PS. You should totally check out Caitlin Doughty (Ask a Mortician on You Tube) on her Instagram she has photos of unique/interesting headstones from her travels!! 

Now because of Covid, all but one of these headstones I haven't seen in person. But I have heard of them through the grapevine, and their stories/unique headstones fascinate me. A few of course are famous people because most celebs have unique headstones (or there's an interesting story behind it).  I will site my sources at the bottom of this post. 

Also, this will be the first installment of this series. I am hoping to do more! I want to go to local cemeteries, walk around to find some more headstones that might have an interesting story behind them or are just neat. 

Enough rambling.... 

First up: Einar Gervasius Carlson Grave location: Memorial Cemetry  Fremont, NE (my hometown) 

Born: June 19, 1890 Died: April 12, 1958

Claim to Fame: Titanic Survivor.

Besides serving in the Army during WWI (he was Swedish), Eniar was on the Titanic and survived the sinking April 15, 1912. He also farmed in Nebraska had four children and later worked as a hotel clerk. 

Interesting facts: Carlson was haunted by the sinking of Titanic, he would sleep in the barn every April because he would have nightmares and he did not want to disturb his family. He would die April 12, 1958 of a heart attack and be buried April 15, 1958 on the 46th Anniversary of the sinking! 

Other note: His Daughter Rose Ann Carlson Jensen is also buried at Memorial Cemetery (she has an urn) she would gather together her father's Titanic memorabilia and write about his experience and survival on the Titanic. It would be published in 1994 for the Titanic Communicator. 

Elijah Jefferson Bond Grave Location: Green Mount Cemetery  Baltimore, MD 

Born: January 23, 1847 Died: April 14, 1921

Claim to Fame: Inventor of the Ouija Board. 

He was a lawyer he invented and patented other inventions but he's known for the Ouija Board in fact the back of his headstone is the Ouija Board. Otherwise his headstone is pretty basic.

There isn't really much about him though or how he died etc.

Helen Augusta Peters Nosworthy Grave Location: Fairmount Cemetery Denver, CO 

Born: September 19, 1851 (my mother's birthday) Died: November 8, 1940  

Claim to Fame: Giving the Ouija Board it's name. Known as Mother of the Ouija 

Helen's headstone is pretty unique (has the sun on the front of it and on the back the moon like the Ouija board) and was dedicated in 2018 with help from The Talking Boards Society (yes it's a thing). It has her family on it as well. She was known as a "strong medium" Ouija spelled out means good luck. 

Again there isn't much about Helen in my research. Just about her life and whatnot. 

Photo Credit: Elmwood Cemetery Facebook page 

Etta Grigsby Partee Grave Location: Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, TN

Born: Dec 1884 Died: September 22, 1911 

Okay so you're probably wondering why Etta is on my list. Not only is she buried in a very historical cemetery but she died at the age off 27 before her wedding could happen she died of Chronic Kidney Failure (then known as Bright disease). But I discovered her headstone long ago from a former blogger. And I was entranced on how beautiful it was. 

Her headstone was once encased in glass but eventually it shattered. One side of her headstone it reads: Warm summer sun shine brightly her/Warm southern wind blow gently here/Green sod above lie light lie light/ Good night dear heart, good night, good night.

Grace Sherwood Allen Grave Location: Forest Hill Cemetary and Creamatory Boston, MA 

Born: June 5, 1876 Died: November 11, 1880 

Grace was only 5 years old and died of whooping cough. Her name is etched on the family headstone (which was a common thing back in the day to have a large headstone and have family added) next to her headstone is what is interesting. A monument of a little girl was immortalized by Scluptor Sydeney H. Morse which depitcts a young girl in a buttoned dress, boots, and bows in her hair. She is holding drooping flowers. The monument is also encased in glass (it would appear). 

My next post will have another sad childhood passing and a unique headstone as well. 

Last but not least....

Andy Warhol Grave Location: St. John the Byzantine Catholic Cemetry Pittsburgh, PA

Born: August 6, 1928 Died: February 22, 1987

Claim to fame: Pop Artist 

You know about Andy so I will spare the details but if you clicked on the link it takes you to an Earth Cam of Warhol's grave. 

You read right. Andy Warhol's gravesite is on 24 hour surveillance. Known as the "Figment Cam" you can watch Andy's headstone anytime of day. Why? Because why not? Also a chance to catch something strange and unusual on camera too? 

I don't know the story behind the Earth Cam but I know Andy would love it (or hate it who knows?) The fun part? You can (for a fee) have a soup can, flowers or both delivered to Andy's grave plus they will email you the time of when they will be delivered! The proceeds go to the Pittsburg food bank. 

Interesting details: Andy of course at one time said he either wanted his headstone to say "figment" (hence the name of the camera) or left blank. His headstone is pretty basic besides the array of Campbell soup cans. Sometimes his headstone looks damp/blurry but I'm sure it doesn't in person. Behind Andy's grave is his parents with his given name: Warhola (he dropped the A)

Sources: Talking Boards Society 

Elmwood Cemetery 

Find a Grave 

Earth Cam 

Stay Spooky!!

Miss Mag Nificent