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Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58288 by Crazyolis
Dec 22, 2006 12:14pm
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From anything that I have read, there is not really a problem with walking across graves unless they are new. Once the ground has settled and the grass has grown in, it's all right. Think about it, the caretakers drive a lawn mower over them! We try to stay on paths as much as possible and not touch the actual stones.

If it bothers you, you can walk around the graves. The markers are placed at the head with the writing facing the burial plot (unless that's not standard). So if you are reading the names on the stones, stand at least 6 feet away. In older cemeteries, it gets much harder to define a "path". But it really isn't a big deal. A bigger issue is your manner, especially if there are others nearby who may be in mourning. No pets. Or any of the obvious-eating, drinking, littering, etc.

Stacy
Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58261 by Mama Llama
Dec 22, 2006 1:42pm
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I have taken my kids to several cemeteries now...to find boxes. Every time we go I remind them...before we get out of the car...that we are in a cemetery so we need to be respectful, stay on the path, and keep our voices low. They've been 98% good about that. I've had to remind them a couple times...but they ARE 4, 5, and 6 1/2!

As for planting...we haven't planted one YET...but we do have several in mind! I just love history...and there is always SO much history in cemeteries. Mine will all have a "local legend" with that person's background in the clues. There are also several historical houses/museums that I'm going to try to contact about having a letterbox inside. We'll see how that goes! *GRIN*

D5 Mama
Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58261 by Mama Llama
Dec 22, 2006 2:24pm
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We absolutely take the kids to cemeteries. We've found some pretty cool boxes and learned some cool historic stuff. They're extremely respectful and very patient. Sometimes they ask some crazy questions, but hey, they are kids.
-the happy gemini
Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58319 by Smimle
Dec 23, 2006 3:10am
Thread (disabled) Board
yesterday we went with four little ones (six and under) and they were very respectful (but we had already hiked about 2 miles!) JUST be careful you do not drive your car tires over beer bottles...this could be bad.
Dunhom5- you still have air in your tires?
Six Stars
Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58393 by six stars
Dec 23, 2006 7:42am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote you still have air in your tires?


Yes...thankfully! Thank you so much for your help with that too! I probably would have at least one flat tire if it wasn't for you!

D5 Mama
Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58261 by Mama Llama
Dec 26, 2006 12:48pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Big Yes here, we are respectful but sometimes touching a stone is a way to touch the person. We rub my moms when we're visiting and(creeps!) have been known to lie down and have conversations with her! (No we're not nuts)


NgOO
Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58261 by Mama Llama
Jan 1, 2007 10:21am
Thread (disabled) Board
I frequently letterbox with my granddaughters - aged 4 and 6 - and I have taken them into cemeteries. They are well behaved children and stick close to me. We check out all the artwork that is in the cemeteries and I've never had them ask a question I felt uncomfortable answering. I have been fascinated by the art and history or the cemeteries all of my life and I guess I want to share that with them.
Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58275 by Shoafsters
Jan 1, 2007 12:46pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote read the birth and death years, and see how old they were when they died. is that weird?


Heck, on. I think that's probably the initial reaction of anyone looking at a gravestone. It is for me, anyway, after reading the epitaph. I just love old cemeteries.

Pied Piper
Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #58288 by Crazyolis
Jan 1, 2007 1:02pm
Thread (disabled) Board
As Stacy of Nitrocat and Kittens said, they're driving a lawn mower over them all the time. And another thing you should consider is that in some of the oldest cemeteries, the grave markers have actually been moved from their original locations over the graves because they weren't planted in an "orderly" fashion. So in some cases, there is really no way to tell where the actual grave is anyway.

I found this out while living in Boston when I took the "Ghost and Graveyard" trolley tour one year. The tour was intentionally a little cheesy, but we did learn some interesting things--including one fact which helped me to figure out the location of a mystery box. Unfortunately, I moved before I could get that box, but it is on my list of must-get-at-some-point.

Pied Piper
Grave rubbings Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #60055 by Pied Piper
Jan 1, 2007 6:51pm
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Does anyone do grave rubbings of those Stones they love? or that jsut plain touch them? I started when I was a kid with my Aunt when we would travel and have now started my kids doing it....there are some incredible pieces of art ....that until I was introduced to LBing I never realized could be memorialized in a beautiful stamp thru a letterbox .....my boys all have great memories and opinions of cemeteries.....they are just where our bodies hang out while our spirits have stuff to do...; )

I was jsut wonderinf if I was the only strange one who did this....
teekasue
Grave rubbings Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #60132 by teekasue
Jan 1, 2007 6:59pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I love cemetereies too, but rubbings can destroy stones...better to take only photos (and rubber stamp impresions) and leave only footprints (and letterboxes).

night writer
Grave rubbings Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #60134 by Romana
Jan 1, 2007 7:10pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Here's a site that gives helpful hints for photographing tombstones:

http://www.familytreemagazine.com/ancestornews/photographingheadstones.html

~MC
Grave rubbings Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #60136 by Mama Cache
Jan 1, 2007 7:56pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I've had gool luck by having my daughter adn I stand close together and cast a shadow on the headstone in question...then taking the pic with and without the flash. advantage of digital camera...you can see wheether you got the shot before you leave the gravesite.

night writer
Grave rubbings Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #60132 by teekasue
Jan 2, 2007 12:10pm
Thread (disabled) Board
You definitely aren't the only one that does it, nor are you strange. We do stone rubbings all the time. Usually if there is a cool etching, we will make a rubbing.

My sister-in-law made the remark the other day that about half of our vacation pics were from cemetaries. She seems to think that is rather odd, but hey...
Grave rubbings Re: Cemetery boxes?
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #60239 by hopeinnc
Jan 4, 2007 3:38am
Thread (disabled) Board
My favorite spots to go lb'g are the cemeteries. I've only planted 2 traditional boxes and the second one is a cemetery box. It's where the Bedford Reunion was held for years and years. So, there's a story with the cemetery. I read somewhere that years ago, cemeteries were gathering places. It makes sense, most were near the churches.

My 6 yo loves to go with us. I have to constantly remind her and her father that they need to walk around. I know it's not necessary (see the mower post previously). But, it creeps me out. And, I also know that 'they' aren't there, it's just their bodies.

I did some rubbings while in England. Westminster Abbey actually makes money off it. But, they had the coolest brass tomb markers I've ever seen.

Also, it's a great place to plant a box for those that can't hike a trail as easily as others.

Janet, Blooming Flowers