No gophers, but I did find a hole.

3/15/2018

I went to Graceland Park Cemetery in Omaha the other day looking for tree stones to take pictures of for a new blog post. I stepped into another topic on accident and ended up chasing a squirrel. Not a literal squirrel, but a figurative one - ya know, like I do :)

Graceland Park Cemetery, Omaha, Douglas Co., NE

I found a squirrel in that hole at Graceland Park Cemetery, Omaha, Douglas Co., NE

I spotted some interesting stones and stopped to take a few pictures when I accidentally stepped in a hole. It happens when you frequent the cemetery. They do, after all, exist in nature, and one learns how to walk...differently. It's not exactly a cautious gait but you learn to keep your balance when you step on strange things like hidden gravestones, cut down tree stumps, zombie claws, etc.

So there I was, meandering about when I stepped in a hole. I went on about my business and kept on walking, ended up cleaning an old stone to read the inscription, and then headed back to the car. For reasons I can't quite understand, I revisited the hole I stepped in. I had an inkling it might be more than just a hole.
Turns out, I was right. Good thing too, otherwise this blog would end here and would be rather boring.

Gravestone for Draginja Medakovic, Graceland Park Cemetery, Omaha, Douglas Co., NE

Below you can see what I found. The stone had quite a bit of mud on it, but the amazing thing about this is, I would bet you good money someone is watching after this stone. Someone has been here recently (within the year) and has cleaned up this stone. Someone is still remembering this memorial.

Consider this my fellow grave diggers - how many stones no longer have holes for us to stumble into? Some of them aren't even dips in the ground anymore. They're completely covered, just lying there, waiting for someone to come along and dig them up...literally!

Thurman Cemetery, Fremont Co., IA

So the next time you go to the cemetery and you don't see a stone where you expect to find one, it's not necessarily accurate to assume there isn't one there. Check with the cemetery office, ask them if they know a) if a stone was placed and b) what kind of stone it was. A flat stone may be hiding just under the surface.

Prospect Hill Cemetery, Omaha, Douglas Co., NE

Do a little research digging before you pull out a shovel, but let's remember - when you're in the cemetery, just because you don't see it, that doesn't mean it isn't there :)

Happy hunting!

9 Comments

Keith Graham

10/10/2018 04:47:28 pm

Not uncommon for this cemetery. Digging up buried markers is a low priority for them. I have documented this whole cemetery and used my data to help people locate markers on memorial day week end. While making the list I would dig markers up because I had info that there was a marker. It is still a neat cemetery with lots of history.

History Walks LLC link

10/12/2018 06:11:24 am

Hello Keith! It is a wonderful cemetery. I am actually pretty impressed with how well they maintain the monuments. Many cemeteries make no efforts to preserve grave markers. It is very common for flat stones to sink in Midwestern cemeteries. They are many reasons for this - the ground was not tamped properly when the stone was set, there were no irrigation efforts made when the stone was set and over time water erodes the soil beneath the marker, the base was not large enough to accommodate for the size of the marker, etc.
Since we have started doing cemetery preservation work, I'd say at least half of our calls are to reset a stone that is completely or partially sunken.
It is so wonderful that you help folks find grave markers!! Thank you for your comment, and happy hunting!

Keith Robert Graham

12/9/2018 01:10:15 pm

The Marker is in Sec 5 Row 46. Do you plan to do a history walk for this cemetery?

Marina Teramond link

9/5/2021 01:00:54 pm

Very interesting and particular article. Quite often I saw different holes in a cemetery, but I never keep attention to what it is. Now I will keep more attention to different stones, maybe it's a similar situation like in your stories.

Keith

9/5/2021 01:39:12 pm

It may be a sunken maker but most times if the burial was before 1957 it would be part of a sunken grave.

Shannon

9/6/2021 04:57:01 am

Hello Keith! In my experience, I find a sunken grave is more of a dip than a hole. They are usually more gradual, less "jolting" when you step in one.
Your comment about "before 1957" intrigues me - do you mean specifically at Graceland Park? I cannot think of what might prompt that date being significant for burials to be more or less likely to have grave collapse. For many years before 1957 burial vaults were quite popular, which is the most successful deterrent to grave collapse that I know of.

9/6/2021 05:07:00 am

Before 1957 means cement vaults were not used then. Ive stepped in plenty of holes in Westlawn cemetery to know that despite my best efforts I will find a hole and it’s because it’s hidden by grass.

Shannon Lewis

9/6/2021 05:39:16 am

I definitely understand what you mean about holes being hidden by grass or other greenery. My research has given me a bit of different information than you shared here. I found that cement vaults were invented in the 1880's as a better alternative to the brick burial vaults that were common at the time, and were very popular beginning around 1918 with the flu epidemic. However what was or was not popular within a specific location varies greatly.
Westlawn-Hillcrest is a lovely burial ground. I visit there often myself.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Keith!

Chance Cook link

11/10/2021 05:36:04 pm

It's good to know that sometimes there is a stone, just not placed yet. That would make sense but I could see how some people would be considered. But I'd like to find a cemetery that is on-point when it comes to placing their stones.

Cemetery Talks

No gophers, but I did find a hole.

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