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!
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.
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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.
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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? 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.
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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.
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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.
Keith
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.
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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.
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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.
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