Cemeteries of Lancaster County
I have always found something very soothing about cemeteries. Maybe it's the idea of finally getting a very long deserved, long term nap, or maybe it's just the quiet that they exude, but seeing them always seems to bring the outside world to a crawl. I definitely like the architecture of headstones, tombs, and crypts and am always impressed by cemeteries in 'odd' locations. Personally, when I pass, I'd like to be composted and used as fertilizer for an apple tree, but this has obviously not always been possible.
This cemetery is adjacent to a "Friends Meeting" church in southern Lancaster County, PA. I pass it often and finally brought my camera with me. I'm particularly happy with the slight over exposure on this particular image, giving it a somewhat haunting look.
Taking a step back and looking at the sheer volume of headstones really begins to make one wonder about the stories that must exist. These people all had their own families, jobs, likes, dislikes, pets, and so many other things. Maybe they thought they were just 'boring' people, but I imagine they all had a favourite toy and game they liked to play.
Do you think maybe Ruth liked the winter?
This particular cemetery really speaks to me. There's something soothing to me about being at rest in a peaceful field beside an old church, regardless of religion. I bet Robert Kain was an interesting person with some great stories to tell. Certainly well travelled, from Ireland to south Pennsylvania.
This was a young fellow, only 36 years old. This is an inviting piece and intriguing headstone. Free At Last. Free from what, I wonder?
There are so many stories waiting to be told in cemeteries. It would be an interesting and fun creative writing experience to walk through and put on paper what these stories might have been. What was Gregory Carter finally free from? What was Robert Kain's voyage across the Atlantic like? Did he meet his wife on the voyage over, or did he bring his family with him?
hi @wwwiebe
I also have a certain feeling with cemeteries. and like you I can't explain what it is. perhaps it is respect for life that has been and is no longer there. moreover, I am not a believer, therefore I do not believe in eternal life and for me a dead person is a dead man and yet, somehow I look for wandering spirits, I feel a different energy than in other places and then maybe, I say to myself, I am wrong not to believe in anything ... and when you see family members bring a flower with a smile or a tear, then I also wonder how many stories there are in there. beautiful pics :-))
congratulations and thanks for sharing with us
Thank you very much @road2horizon! I can't quite put my finger on it either, but they hold a quiet fascination for me. I'm not particularly religious either, but I do have a healthy respect for what came before me too.
Funny how I enjoy the subdued audience of my local cemetery where I sometimes practice my Iaido arts.
Cutting the undead and protecting the realm of the living? :D
More like embracing my sense of mortality, communing with the spirits, suits my Gothic style and I am certain not to strike anyone with my katana practicing my Katori Shinto ryu technique. I generate too much attention at my local public park .
It's very peaceful with few distractions, isn't it?
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Probably first time I enjoyed a writing about a cemetery, photos about it and those headstones you pointed out made a headstart in me.
Thank you for making the story on a place that may transfer the silence of fear to the onlooker a very interestig read.
Thumbs up for using the photos in Black and white.
Thanks for the kind words @angelro! I agree, black and white worked much better than colour for these. It definitely helped create the mood I was looking for.
hi @wwwiebe - this is beautiful, and you capture the meloncholy and wonder, the feeling of the past palabale in these places, but it doesn't really fit the rules for #tellastorytome - if you'd like to enter again, you'd be very welcome, you can double check the rules and prompt here
thank you, and hope to you manage an entry - @calluna <3
Ah, sorry @calluna. I was just browsing through tags to use. I'll definitely check out what you have!
I have the same facination , love the blog ! Its a niche here but i love it
Thanks! I really enjoyed putting this one together.
I loved it too and of you have more blog on it i say !
Great used tags!!!
I am one of the people who are afraid but at the same time intrigued, once I went to a cemetery, although it was very bright and had more life that place than my school HAHA lie, lie, I only say that it must contain many stories that the world He does not know underground, isn't crazy?
When I was a child I attended an after-school camp that was held on the same ground as a cemetery. As a child it was a little creepy. Nothing reached out to grab us by the ankles though. :)
Hi wwwiebe,
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Hey, thanks @curie! It's always nice to see other actual people kicking about.
I certainly don't have this kind of feeling or connection with cemeteries. Probably because I am way scared of ghosts. They sure are calm but not peaceful i would say.
It would be quite out there, but in my mind I would start thinking about a lady in white looking at me or something ghostly. So everytime I pass from a cemetery, it creeps me out.
When you say
I am really just sitting here and thinking like ok there are humans who think something like this. I have never met anyone who plans on where they want to be buried and how, it justs with people in 80s I guess? Are you eighty or young maybe? just curious
Hahah. No, definitely not 80. I was asked once if I wanted to be buried 'back home' in Canada or here in the US, and my answer was that I didn't want to be buried at all, is where that idea came from.
hehehe Ok I am satisfied now :)
One can but wonder when visiting how their lives were, definitely not a place I get too often, always found you do tend to stop and think about the life the person had passing through.
Personally I find cemeteries a peaceful place to stop and take a walk around, excellent photography!
Thanks for the compliment @joanstewart! I really appreciate that. :)
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