When visiting a small town in the Midwest, its inevitable that history will come creeping out of every corner. A walk through an old cemetery may be considered morbid by some, but for a historian/writer it becomes the perfect place to explore a story that began centuries ago and continues today.
For this week’s photography challenge I took advantage of a prompt that fosters curiosity in those who lived before us and the stories they have to tell.
Prompt: Let a picture tell a story
One small chapter in the story in the story of a new nation . . .
Photo by: c.b.w., July 2012
The story of a small town in Indiana . . .
Photo by: c.b.w., July 2012
One family’s tragedy . . .
Photo by: c.b.w., July 2012
One family’s loner . . .
Photo by: c.b.w., July 2012
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To see all the details of the photography challenge, go here.
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c.b.w. 2012
I don’t know which one touched my heart more – the first one of the Private or the headstone marking the graves of three children. So sad and so telling. Great fodder for stories.
I took hundreds of pictures and I’m sure they will find their way into a few stories.
There were so many soldiers in the cemetery – Revolutionary War, Civil War, and WWII.
We have a beautiful old cemetery near where I live. Even though it’s a place for the dead, I feel it is very much alive. It’s full of birds, squirrels and flowers. Nothing morbid about it. I often look at the gravestones and think about the lives of the people who have gone before us. Love your post. Thank you.
I totally agree! Cemeteries have always been a celebration of life to me as well as a beautiful reminder of those who came before us.
Can’t believe you found a headstone from the Revolutionary War that is in good enough shape to still read! Wow! I, too, love to walk in cemeteries. The stories untold of those that lie beneath and those left behind.
That headstone is a replacement. The original is worn down so much there is barely a stump left. I thought it was pretty special that they had it redone.
Well done. I love walking through cemeteries, yes there is a shadow of sorrow but so many stories lie interred, so many memories, so many emotions. Love that you went with black and white for this challenge, it provided great emphasis.
I hadn’t intended to use black and initially but it fit the moment so well, I kept with it. It was a gray day, which made the color scheme all the more beautiful.
Weeping ghosts see what they died for and throw down their grey, fading guns.
Oh, I love this!
It’s a one-line poem just for you.
You want to visit http://www.deviantart.com/ It is a great places for artists of all kinds. You would fit right in with your photography.
I’ll check it out – thanks so much for sharing!
Wow, way cool. I would have loved to walk through there. Thanks for sharing.
It was amazing!
Cemeteries are so inspiring and peaceful. As a genealogist I’ve roamed many of them. Love your photos.
It was even more interesting, because its in such a small town. A number of families occupied large stretches of the cemetery, with some family names extending into the present. You would have loved to see that!
What neat photos! My mom is into tracing genealogy. She would love this.
It was fascinating to see family names continue through multiple centuries. I wondered if some of those families still live in the town where this cemetery was located.
I love cemeteries. The mysteries of unknown stories. And they’re so peaceful.
It was so quiet that day. I like to think cemeteries are quiet so we can hear the stories being told.
Nice to know I’m not the only one who enjoys the stories that cemeteries have to offer.
Everywhere I go, I walk through a cemetery. I love reading headstones and catching a glimpse of someone’s life from so long ago.
Beautiful and evocative photos. I think cemeteries and the stories whispered by the headstones connect us to the past, and remind us that others have survived amazing trials and conditions, and we will too.
I always feel so “human” when walking through a cemetery. When it comes down to it, we are all on the same journey (though we approach in different ways) and we all end up in the same place. I find that fascinating and I love the feeling of connection it creates. I don’t know these people, but at the same time I do.
I agree. Cemeteries remind us that we are all intertwined into each other’s stories.Even the people long-gone become part of who we are and who we become, thanks to our viewing these remembrances of their lives.
Great historical photos! The stories are whispering to be told……….
I can’t wait to use these and others I took in my classes this year.
Great shots. I think it’s almost always food for thought, walking on cemeteries, but I’ve never experienced it as much as when I walked on an old, Swedish settlement in Maine… the names … the words, in my own language. All the thoughts that came rushing, about the hard work … and just the journey across the ocean. No comfortable flight there..
This is such a beautiful account of cemeteries are full of so much humanity and life.
Thank you for sharing.
Cemeteries hold a special place in my heart, too. As you know my story begins in one, but there are so many old cemeteries in my home town that hold the remains of our founding fathers, wives and children. It really is awe-inspiring. Thanks for sharing your photos of some interesting and soulful stone markers.
Much like history itself, cemeteries remind us of where we came from.