Cemetery Caches

[+Navarone]

For some reason I enjoy the cemetery caches the most. I guess it is the history that most of the hold cemetery's hold. I'd like to point out one thing that completely amazes me. That is how many of these old cemetery's have vandalized tombstone's. Mostly they are broken off or knocked over in some way. Now I'm not a very religious man but if you do have to answer to something in the afterlife this is certainly not something I'd want on my list. I know I'm into these paranormal shows too much as well but I'd think doing something like his would bring you a terrible aura. Well anyhow just me venting. Any of you have comments or concerns on this?

[+puzzleppl4jesus]

today we found a cache in a cemetary. We are a Christian family and we feel like we have taught our children well about what comes after death and that our bodies die and disintegrate, etc.

 

My kids were saying the weirdest things like - I hope those bodies don't reach up and grab us, I hope they don't come alive, ooohh, uuuggg. LOL

 

all this weird stuff that I don't know even know where they got!! But I guess they will get used to walking in cemetaries, because we have a lot of caches around here in them!!

[+ATMA]

Breaks my heart to see what some people do to the headstones too. It makes me want to pick them up or repair them somehow.

It just proves how little respect some people have for others. I guess if you can get shot these days over a pair of tennis shoes, you should expect to see headstones treated bad as well.

[+Renegade Knight]

...My kids were saying the weirdest things like - I hope those bodies don't reach up and grab us, I hope they don't come alive, ooohh, uuuggg. LOL

 

all this weird stuff that I don't know even know where they got!! ...

Xbox...

[+Navarone]

I went to one today. It was a virtual cache so I got a shot of a tombstone as proof. You can see in this picture where it was broken off and repaired.

 

[+puzzleppl4jesus]

...My kids were saying the weirdest things like - I hope those bodies don't reach up and grab us, I hope they don't come alive, ooohh, uuuggg. LOL

 

all this weird stuff that I don't know even know where they got!!  ...

Xbox...

 

Yea, I guess. they have gameboys, but they have games like spirit, and lego star wars! LOL

Yea, I guess. they have gameboys, but they have games like spirit, and lego star wars! LOL

[+wandererrob]

I've seen some that have obviously been vandalized and I think this is not only disrespectful but just plain sad to see.

 

But in older cemetaries it is not uncommon for some to simply succomb to age. They will sometimes naturally crack, break, and or fall over. I'm not really sure what to do about that though. Repairing them seems like a good thing, but I've seen some that time has just done too much damage to.

[+Prime Suspect]

...My kids were saying the weirdest things like - I hope those bodies don't reach up and grab us, I hope they don't come alive, ooohh, uuuggg. LOL

 

all this weird stuff that I don't know even know where they got!!  ...

Xbox...

Buffy.

[alberta trailblazers]

my husband and i were wandering through a cemetery just yesterday wondering if we'd be allowed to set up a cache in the cemetery. this is allowed? do you have to ask permission? i quite agree that there is so much neat history to explore in cemeteries, as long as it is done respectfully!

[+Anonymous']

...My kids were saying the weirdest things like - I hope those bodies don't reach up and grab us, I hope they don't come alive, ooohh, uuuggg. LOL

 

all this weird stuff that I don't know even know where they got!!  ...

Xbox...

Buffy.

[+WhatsRNutts]

I just placed a cemetery cache 2 weeks ago. the webs sites I found on it said that 17 ppl were buried out there but there are only 6 headstones(some are a little broken) left and there are 2 places where it looks like lillys were placed to mark the burial sites. instead of mowing the caretaker lets goats roam around. read this log

[+Harry Dolphin]

I don't do cemetery caches. I consider it disrespectful to wander a cemetery looking for the year someone died to find find a cache. That's my opinion, so don't flame me. The cemetery caches nearby will never get done by me.

As to the condition of some of the very rural or small cemeteries, I find it very sad that anyone would vandalize them. Some people have no manners.

There is not enough land to bury everyone anymore! Incinerate me, and throw my ashes to the winds.

Cemeteries require maintenance. That can cost a lot of money! Better leave a trust fund in your will for cemetery maintenance! (Slightly sarcastic...)

There's an old cemetery nearby (with the start of a multi). It's up the mountain, near the mines, in an old iron-mining community. Gravestones date from the 1700's to 1945, or so. The cemetery is not maintained. Several graves hve hollows. Don't know if the dearly departed were moved, or vandalized. It is sad.

Thanks, but I'll skip the cemetery caches.

[+briansnat]

I'm the opposite of Harry Dolphin. I've long found cemeteries to be interesting places. The stories that the headstonse alone tell are fascinating, and the carvings are equally interesting. I've learned that in some areas they were the work of one or two people and experts can usually tell who did the stone carvings. Some even have advertisments for the stone carver on the headstone if you know where to look.

 

Whenever I see an old cemetery, I stop by to check it out. If someone finds an interesting one and I learn about it thanks to their placing a geocache there, that's fine with me.

 

As far as vandalism, of course its reprehensible, but not all damage comes through vandalism. Headstones crumble thanks to weathering, fall over on their own and get knocked over by falling trees.

[+Miragee]

I found this in an old cemetary in Tonapah, Nevada quite a few years ago.

 

 

It doesn't look the same now because more mining has occurred and the view behind her is blocked now. However, it is still an interesting cemetary to wander around. Most of the names are Slavik from the miners who worked the area in the 1800's.

[nobby.nobbs]

today we found a cache in a cemetary. We are a Christian family and we feel like we have taught our children well about what comes after death and that our bodies die and disintegrate, etc.

 

My kids were saying the weirdest things like - I hope those bodies don't reach up and grab us, I hope they don't come alive, ooohh, uuuggg. LOL

 

all this weird stuff that I don't know even know where they got!! But I guess they will get used to walking in cemetaries, because we have a lot of caches around here in them!!

scooby doo or pretty much any cartoon these days.

 

or just very active imagination!

[+puzzleppl4jesus]

I'm the opposite of Harry Dolphin. I've long found cemeteries to be interesting places. The stories that the headstonse alone tell are fascinating,

I'm with you Briansnat! I think cemetaries are incredibly interesting. There is nothing about them that freaks me out and I don't think it is disrespectful. So many people nowadays are so stinkin' scared of death, that many times this is why they avoid them. It doesn't bother me that my children find an area that is quiet in the cemetary to run around and play in. And as long as there are no plots around that area, that's fine. Do you think if these people could look down they would not remember their childhoods? Like I said, I don't walk over plots (unless they are just right on top of each other and there is no other way around), nor do I let my children. They respect the fact that people have buried their loved ones there.

 

But, to go in there and see all the LIFE that is there! The fact that these people once lived incredibly interesting lives, is so incredible to me. And to see how long or how short some of their lives were is intriguing. When I see a stone that shows what wars that person faught in or that it was a mother who loved her children - that makes me ponder on my own life and what people will say about me when I die - what will be on my headstone?!

 

There is a song called She Loved. It's about the wife of the man that started the Salvation Army. It is a beautiful song about how this woman loved everyone that she came across. How this woman clothed men who couldn't afford a coat, and warmed their hearts with her laughter, as she told them of God's love. She loved her husband and children so much so that when she died, they engraved on her headstone - She Loved.

 

Disrespectful? No! Life giving and enriching? yes!!

[Difficult Run]

I've seen some that have obviously been vandalized and I think this is not only disrespectful but just plain sad to see.

 

But in older cemetaries it is not uncommon for some to simply succomb to age. They will sometimes naturally crack, break, and or fall over. I'm not really sure what to do about that though. Repairing them seems like a good thing, but I've seen some that time has just done too much damage to.

I've always been interested in cemeteries from a historical point of view. Sadly, we are losing such relics of the past to neglect and "progress". If you do find a cemetery, it's important to document what inscriptions are present as they may not be there tommorow.

 

There are two websites I refer to often. Gravestone Studies and Saving Graves

 

Both are excellent reads.

[+briansnat]

I'm with you Briansnat! I think cemetaries are incredibly interesting. There is nothing about them that freaks me out and I don't think it is disrespectful.

 

If you go to a cemetery you will often encounter joggers, bird watchers, artists and nature lovers. Other people who use cemeteries for other than what they are intended include historians, geneologists, photographers, dog walkers and people who make headstone rubbings.

 

Historically, cemeteries were places for family outings and picnics. I still see cemeteries today that have picnic tables.

 

I don't see why geocachers can't be included among respectful users of cemeteries.

[The 2 Dogs]

In Australia we were the first to place a cache in a Cemetery. The caches we have in cemeteries have been among the most popular we own. It is always better if you can get the finder to interact with the history of the place rather than just a simple find and go type. If you want a good example of what you can do, follow the links below.

 

Isaac's Rest

 

or

 

Picture This: Cryptic

 

Happy Caching from Down Under All.

Edited August 30, 2005 by The 2 Dogs

[+Mastifflover]

As long as they are tastefully done I don't think that caches in cemeteries are disrespectful at all. Many are a wonderful history lesson about the past. Feel free to hide an ammo box next to my headstone when I'm gone.

[+Runaround]

I'm with you Briansnat! I think cemetaries are incredibly interesting. There is nothing about them that freaks me out and I don't think it is disrespectful.

 

If you go to a cemetery you will often encounter joggers, bird watchers, artists and nature lovers. Other people who use cemeteries for other than what they are intended include historians, geneologists, photographers, dog walkers and people who make headstone rubbings.

 

Historically, cemeteries were places for family outings and picnics. I still see cemeteries today that have picnic tables.

 

I don't see why geocachers can't be included among respectful users of cemeteries.

Have you ever noticed how many of the old burial plots included a stone bench or chair? That was done intentionally to make it a little more comfortable for visiting family. There's one not far from here where the family marker is shaped like a giant couch. A smaller stone in front of it is shaped like a coffee table.

 

Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland hosts an annual art festival on the grounds. The grounds of the cemetery include all sorts of sculpture along with ornate headstones. It is definitely a place to be visited. They are really striving to hold on to the traditions of the old cemeteries.

 

I like cemetery caches as long as they are respectful. Keep them away from the graves. I've done at least 50 cemetery caches, probably more. I can only think of 3 I didn't like. All 3 were hidden right next to large crypts. The worst was a magnetic key case on a crypt. I sent notes to the owners letting them know my concerns but the caches are still there.

[ScottFla]

I also think cemetaries should be respected but feel that using a cemetary is fine. I haven't done any of the cemetary caches here but the ones I have looked at really seem to use the history of the people buried there to make the cache an educational event and that is a good thing.

 

The cemetary in downtown Boston was amazing...to see where some of the victims of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere, John Hancock and other historical figures were buried was very interesting. We simply don't have that history down here.

 

Is there a cache there? We were wondering as we walked around that ancient place.

[+AtoZ]

Cemeteries are for the LIVING not the dead.

 

cheers

[+copper_toad]

One of my favorites is not technically a cemetary, but it is a grave site. It is out in the middle of nowhere and if it weren't for GC we would have never seen it!

 

Soldier In The Field

[+Bear Paughs]

We've only done 2 cemetary caches so far, but they've been some of our favorites. One was a pet cemetary that I didn't know existed and was the burial site for a Kentucky Derby winner. We had to do some internet research to log the cache, and the kids enjoyed every bit of it and we learned a lot of interesting things. The other was a multi that started from the memorial for several women whose lives were lost in a clothing factory fire and ended at the original site of the factory. I love caches where we can learn more about the history of the area, they're always the most interesting. Not to mention, many of the cemetaries near us are beautiful. We enjoy walking through them and looking at the beautifully carved headstones, especially at the older ones. I have a few others cemetary caches on my todo list and look forward to being able to get to them.

[+wandererrob]

my husband and i were wandering through a cemetery just yesterday wondering if we'd be allowed to set up a cache in the cemetery. this is allowed? do you have to ask permission? i quite agree that there is so much neat history to explore in cemeteries, as long as it is done respectfully!

You should always seek permission from the land owner/manager to place a cache. Cemetary or otherwise.

 

It just covers our butts and keeps the land owner/mgr happy.

[4wheelin_fool]

You guys are giving me GREAT ideas for caches! First, I have to find a cemetary that will allow me to be buried with a headstone that will fit an ammo box in it, and allow geocachers....

Iwent to a cemetary cache once and left this log http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?LU...9e-2718b05aa12d

[+Ollivander]

Scottfla, I agree that the cemetary in Boston - "The Granary Burying Ground" - is a fascinating look at history. And to answer your question, yes - there is a cache there - one of the more inventive micro-caches I have found.

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...14-36bedeec68de

[+Navarone]

Cemeteries are for the LIVING not the dead.

 

cheers

You hit the nail on the head with that point.

[ScottFla]

Scottfla, I agree that the cemetary in Boston - "The Granary Burying Ground" - is a fascinating look at history. And to answer your question, yes - there is a cache there - one of the more inventive micro-caches I have found.

 

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...14-36bedeec68de

Ahhh, of course there is a cache there Too bad I didn't know about it, that cemetary was amazing. We did try a cache near our hotel but it got dark before we found it so we had to head back. Living in Florida my entire life (except for a short period living in Nome Alaska), I was not ready for the hills in Prospect Park

[+Team Maccabee]

I don't know how much this is a real issue, but some cemetaries are ritually consecrated in some way, especially those associated with a particular religion (Catholic, Jewish, Muslim?). Placing a box or particular items on consecrated grounds may violate some religious rules or sentiments. Another reason to ask the owner/manager of the land.

 

Time Tripper

[+garri]

We were caching an evening in a big cementary (Barcelona) , we didn't know that janitors close the cementery at 18 o'clock, we didn't read schedule sign and they shut us in.

 

Fortunately I parked the car outside and we continued with the multicache until at night, we also found a couple that told us where to find a hole in the fence.

 

 

Say cheese

[+Sean Connery]

When in high school, I had a class that took a field trip to a cemetery to do rubbings and look at the variety of headstones. In college, I had another class that sent us out on our own to do some research in a cemetery. Both times I learned many interesting facts.

 

One of my favorite caches here in Milwaukee is a multi called Maiden Voyage that starts in a cemetery where you visit the graves of the survivors of the HMS Titanic. They ofcourse died after the tragedy, not during the sinking.

[+MineRP]

Just finished doing up a puzzle/unknown cementary cache and waiting for approval. Had the most fun, no disrespect intended, the tombstones were incrediable. It's amazing what people thought important to put on their stones. Many of the limestone ones are slowly melting away with the acid rain, most marble ones are in pretty good shape. Have noticed some great cast iron markers. Great places to study early conditions of city life and a fine place for a family stroll. Talked to one old fellow walking his dog and cat. I think it great to get people back into these locations, I hope the cache agent agrees.

[+MineRP]

Cache approved

see Ethel's Tale GCQA4A

would appreciate any comments, both positive or negative

Don't know wheather I went too far or not

[+maggieszoo]

  Several graves hve hollows.  Don't know if the dearly departed were moved, or vandalized. 

 

As the coffins decay, the ground above it sinks a bit. Doesn't happen with modern caskets in cement vaults, but you see it a lot in the old cemeteries.

 

I, personally, enjoy the history of the old graveyards. I see familiar names and wonder if they were related to me and what their lives might have been like. I have two cemetery cache hides. One is our church cemetery, so lots of family there, including several underground railroad conductors.

[+Torry]

Check out the Indiana Spirit Quest series for some respectful and fascinating cemetery caches.

 

The big issue, and one that has already caused cachers problems is that some people fell violated when their great-uncle Harry has visitors.

 

The big key seems to be sure to NEVER place a cache in close proximity to an actual marker, crypt, mausoleum, stone or grave. Keep in mind that our game is nothing but a form of trespassing and/or littering to some people. NEVER place a cache in a private cemetery without permission. NEVER place a cache amongst the nicely manicured flower beds or on the memory benches or stauary. NEVER place a cache in a cemetery that is only accessible by crossing preivate land unless there is specific access for the public to the cemetery or with specific permission from the property owners.

 

Cemetery caches must be placed with a maximum of sensitivity for the families of the residents.

[+GSVNoFixedAbode]

Another point to appreciate the older cemeteries is the survival of old plantings: flowers that went out of fashion or nearly lost many years ago (eg heritage roses) can still survive in these places.

 

I'll wander around reading the headstones for clues to the cache, while the other half hunts for lost gems planted in memory. Cool both ways.