Quotable...

"If you are walking in Charleston, you are walking on someone's grave."--Sue Bennett, Charleston tour guide

Monday, February 27, 2017

A Stroll Through History

Click Here to see about my Trip to Magnolia Cemetery

The One, The Only, Magnolia Cemetery!

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The Magnificent Magnolia Cemetery

Click here to take a closer look at my adventure at Magnolia Cemetery!

Serene Saturday in Magnolia Cemetery

Here is my take on Saturday's outing!

The Beauty of Magnolia Cemetery

Click here to get a glimpse into a few of the eye-catching monuments of Magnolia Cemetery!

The Wonders of Magnolia Cemetery

Click Here to see my journey of the Magnolia Cemetery.

Check out my adventure at the Magnolia Cemetery!!!

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The Marvelous, Magnolia Cemetery

Click here for a tour of Magnolia Cemetery!
-Jade Clark

Trip to Magnolia Cemetery!!!

CLICK HERE!!! Great visit!

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Magnolia Cemetery and All of it's Beauty

Check out my post about my trip to the Magnolia Cemetery!!

The Magnificent Magnolia Cemetery

Check out my visit to the Magnolia Cemetery here!

My Adventures in Magnolia Cemetery

Click here to view my blog on Magnolia Cemetery.

Magnolia Cemetery From My Perspective

Click here to see what I thought of Magnolia Cemetery!

Graves Galore!

Click here to learn about our weekend excursion!

Sensational Sunny Cemetery Saturday!

Class photo taken by Carly Phillips
Charleston Chamber of Commerce weather ensured a fun and educational outing for my FYE "Beyond the Grave" students yesterday at beautiful and historic Magnolia Cemetery.

Nervous earlier in the week about the chance of rain, I was relieved and we were all rewarded with a gloriously sunny day with temperatures in the low 70s. For a "winter" day in late February, no complaints!

Pictured, right, on the Parker exedra monument are, from left Lexi DeJesus, Kaitlin Dotson, Morgan Bryant-Cook, Bridget McElroy, Leea Whetstone, Carlee Andrews, Spencer Parrish, Liam Ford, Emma Rosenblum, yours truly, and Cammi Calloway.

Monday, February 20, 2017

On the Hunt for Headstones

Click here to See some types of headstones

When the dead were living

Click here to explore the different kinds of grave markers within the Charleston County!

Walking With the Dead


Click to see cool gravestones:
http://aliridersblog.blogspot.com

A Tour of the Locals

Click Here to view my post on the local grave sites at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul and St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

Behind the Dead

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SO. MANY. HEADSTONES.

Here is some headstones that I thought were as cool as they come!

Wandering Into Local Pasts

My take on Monday evenings trip to Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul and St. Patrick's Catholic Church. 

-Carlee Andrews

Diving Into the Darkness

It was kind of spooky but also really cool!

Last Monday night, our graveyard class took a field trip to two graveyards-- in the dark.  I enjoyed going at night, it added to the spooky aspect of the graveyards!

We ventured into The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul's Graveyard.  We took many photos of the different types of graves and learned more about the styles of headstones and structures.  We also talked about the kind of people who were buried there.  I learned a lot about local Charleston history by visiting these graveyards.

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul's graveyard is located in downtown Charleston on Coming Street.


1. Sarcophagus

This is an example of a sarcophagus grave marker. I could not make out the writing and it was also in Latin, but it seems to be somebody important who was buried here as it was an extravagant grave.  I would think that those buried in a sarcophagus above ground would be from wealthier families and higher social status.

2.  Cross

This is an example of a cross grave marker. The person buried here is named Thomas M. Hanckel and he lived December 6th, 1882 to February 5th, 1888.  Personally, this is my favorite style of grave marker as it is easy to see and distinguish and it clearly resonates the spiritual and religious aspect of the graveyard with the Holy Cross as a headstone on top.

3. Bevel
 
This is an example of a bevel grave marker.  The person buried here is named is Lila Barksdale Pickens and she died on February 2nd, 1982.  To me, lawn grave markers are cool because they do not stick up and are flat I like how they look.

4.Die On Socket
 
This is an example of a die on socket grave marker.  The person buried here is named Elizabeth H. Reeves.  She was born on February 5th, 1908 and died on August 16th, 1984.  When I think of a classic graveyard head stone grave marker, I think of the die on socket style of grave marker.  They are definitely the most common type that you typically see or think of when in a graveyard.  This grave stone has some embellishments and intricate carvings on it, so she was probably a member of a family with some money and influence.

5.Obelisk
 
This is an example of an obelisk grave marker.  Personally, I love how these look because they are so grand and show status and importance of the person buried there.  It really makes a statement in comparison to the smaller graves in the graveyard and grabs your attention.  The person buried here is named Joseph Smith Gibbes.  He was born on June 7th, 1794 and died on September 16th, 1876.  Gibbes clearly lived a pretty long live given the time period he lived in. The grave is inscribed with the words, "troubled soul, you rest in peace at last."

6. Die on Base

This is an example of a die on base grave marker.  It is a more subtle style, but still sticks up more than others.  The person buried here is named Percy Guerard and he lived from December 14th, 1836 to April 10th, 1990.

7. Box Tomb

My apologies for the not so great photo, but this is an example of a box tomb.  The person buried here is named Thomas Horry born on June 13th, 1748 and died on January 5th, 1880.  According to Find a Grave, he was the third song of Colonel Elias Horry and Margaret Lynch Horry born in Wadbecan in the Parish of Prince George Winyah. He was also a member of the Convention which formed the present State Constitution under which he afterwards served for a few years as Representative and a Senator. He lead a pretty successful life!

8. Lawn

This is an example of a lawn grave marker.  It was very hard to make out the writing on this one, but what I could pick up was that two people are buried here because you can just barely make out two names sort of along with the words "giveth his beloved"

9. Headstone

This is an example of a classic headstone.  The person buried here is named Marie Cannon Magee and she was born 1923 and died in 2009.  I looked this grave up on find a grave and google and strangely enough could not find anything on her.

10.Mausoleum
 
This is an example of a mausoleum in the graveyard.  This is one of my favorites because of how grand and large it is.  It truly makes a statement and stands out above all of the other graves in the graveyard.  The family name on this mausoleum is Johnston.

Can You Find Them All?

Learn about some of the grave markers in Charleston's graveyards and cemeteries by clicking here!

Window to the Past

Click here to see my post about Ruth Miller's visit!

Grave Diggers

Click here for my blog on St. Luke and St. Paul Cemetery.

After dark Adventure

Click here to see examples of the diversity of grave markers here in Charleston, SC!

Monday's Exploration

Click here to check out some of Charleston's holy graveyards!

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Late Night Trips to Graveyards

Click here to see my Spook Graveyard Shenanigans! (Pictures too!)

Mysterious Campus Headstone Solved?

Ruth Miller and me- and friends! (photo by Lexi DeJesus)
For decades now, the headstone of a 19th century U.S. president's mother has been seen (or not even noticed) by passersby on the College of Charleston campus in front of the Robert Scott Small building.

The name etched in stone is that of Elizabeth Jackson, whose son Andrew Jackson would be America's seventh president from 1829-1837. Not sure who is or was? Well, look at a $20 bill and there he is.

Charleston historian Ruth Miller knows more than most about how Mrs. Jackson's headstone came to be at CofC.

It's an interesting and far reaching story that includes the Revolutionary War, British prisoner of war ships in the Charleston Harbor, the Daughters of the American Revolution, World War II troops stationed at Fort Moultrie and past CofC president Ted Stern.

Charleston Post and Courier writer Robert Behre in 2011 wrote a column that does the best job I've seen of connecting the dots in this history mystery.  For the sake of brevity and my desire to move on to other Ruth Miller topics in this post, I encourage readers to check out Behre's very detailed piece on the Elizabeth Jackson headstone.

Miller's long career has included being a teacher, writer, author, speaker and tour guide. On her website, she lays claim to co-founding Charleston's first daily walking tour in 1979.

Years ago, while giving a tour to 30 visiting morticians, they turned the tables on her by wanting to go into some of the church graveyards on the tour and telling her unique and interesting stories about some of the graveyard markers and symbols and the people buried under them.

This sparked in Miller a passion to learn more about Charleston's rich graveyard tradition- and to share her knowledge with authors. She was written booklets on several of the Holy City's most distinguished graveyards such as the ones at the Circular Congregational and Unitarian churches.

Speaking to my CofC "Beyond the Grave" students on Feb. 6, Miller detailed how Charleston had "more religious freedom than any of the other 12 colonies."

"Our (South Carolina) constitution defined a congregation as needing only seven people," she said.

Miller recounted how, from England to Charleston, would come Anglicans (later Episcopalians), Dissenters (later Congregationalists), Quakers and Baptists. From France would arrive the French Protestants called Huguenots and Roman Catholics. Lutherans would arrive in Charleston from Germany and Presbyterians from Scotland. Jews would also come over from Europe.

Indeed, Charleston's nickname the "Holy City" would be richly and rightfully deserved!

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church on Hassle Street 
Charleston's religious tolerance, according to Miller, would lead to many firsts, such as:
  • Organized in 1682, Charleston's First Baptist Church, located on Meeting Street, is the earliest in the South 
  • St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, still active on Hassle Street downtown, is the oldest English speaking Catholic church in the Carolinas and George.
  •  Also on Hassle Street is the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue, which boasts the fourth oldest Jewish congregation in America 
  • KKBE's Coming Street cemetery is the oldest surviving Jewish burial ground in the South 
Researchers have identified more than 100 graveyards on Charleston's peninsula dating to the late 1600s. Miller said the oldest existing grave site dates to 1680 and is located at the Circular Congregational Church graveyard. 

"What a treasure as a cultural attraction" are these sites, Miller said. "We are a heaven for graveyard people. Graveyards tell you who is important and who isn't." 

September 2016 (photo credit: Megan Wright)

This was Miller's second visit to my First Year Experience "Beyond the Grave" class. Last semester I posted this piece after her talk. 

Thank you Ruth Miller! You are a wealth of information and an excellent teacher and historian! 

Monday, February 13, 2017

What A Time To Be Alive

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Ruth Miller's Talk

Click here for a Blog post about Ruth Miller and the graveyards of Charleston.

A Deadly Past

Click here to view information on Ruth Miller and some on Charleston's grave history.

The Human Textbook

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A Little Look Into Ruth Miller's Visit

Here is what I thought was too cool about Ruth Miller's visit!

Ruth Miller Talk

Click here to read about my take on Ruth Miller

Charleston Cemetery History

Click Here for a Blog post about Ruth Miller and the Graveyards of Charleston 

Diggin' deeper into the graves of Charleston

Click here for some insight on the graveyards in Charleston, South Carolina!

Fun, Facts, and Famous People


This is what I gathered from Ruth Miller's visit.

Check this out!

Click here to see my post on Ruth Miller!

My Take on Ruth Miller's Talk

Here's what I gathered from Ruth Miller's visit!

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Know And Be Able To Name These Types of Grave Markers!

In this Prezi are more than a dozen of the most common types of grave markers seen in Charleston graveyards and cemeteries, and across the nation for that matter.


Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Students Blog Sites- Spring 2017

Carlee Andrews            Carlee’s Grave               www.cxrkxys.blogspot.com
Morgan Bryant-Cook    Morgaritaville                www.morgaritaville.blogspot.com
Cammi Calloway          Cammi’s Comments       www.cammicalloway.blogspot.com
Christopher Clampitt     Chris’s Blog                  www.chrisclampitt.blogspot.com
Jade Clark          What the Dead Can’t Tell Us     www.untoldstoriesofthedead.blogspot.com
Alexandria DeJesus        Fly Away With Me        www.flyfromreality.blogspot.com
Kaitlin Dotson               Young Adventures         www.kaitlindotson.blogspot.com
Jorden Falker                 Holy City Hauntings      www.holycityhauntings.blogspot.com
Liam Ford     Liams Graves of Charleston            www.liamscharlestongrave.blogspot.com
Brianna Ingram             Bri’s Blog                      www.Ingrambc.blogspot.com
Bridgette Johnson        Bridgette’s Blog               www.bridgette1.blogspot.com
Elizabeth Mahoney      Liz’s Blog                        www.lizmahoney.blogspot.com
Bridget McElroy          The Urban Rodent            www.theurbanrodent.blogspot.com
Mallory Mical             Gallory Of Mallory           www.galloryofmallory.blogspot.com
Sarah Nikic                 My First Year Experience  www.nikicsafye.blogspot.com
Stephanie Owens          Stevie’s Blog                   www.stevieoblog.blogspot.com
Spencer Parrish           The Parrish Post               www.spencerparrishgrave.blogspot.com
Nina Piacentine         Nina’s Blog                        www.ninapiacentinefye.blogspot.com
Alison Rider             Ali’s blog                           www.aliridersblog.blogspot.com
Emma Rosenblum     Rose N’ Blog                     www.rosenblumec.blogspot.com
Leea Whetstone         LWLedger                        www.LWLedger.blogspot.com

Class photo taken on Feb. 13 in the graveyard at Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul