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Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Oct 30, 2009 4:16pm
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So I found that someone with a specific last name is buried at a cemetery. I wanted to use that last name in my clues for a letterbox I want to plant fairly quickly. Unfortunately the cemetery is a lot larger than I remembered (it's huge!) and finding that grave will be like finding a needle in a haystack. How do I go about locating the grave there? The only way I assume would be to go to the cemetery office, but don't know how to approach since this person, to my knowledge, isn't related to me. It is not an old grave either - 2004. Really don't want to lie or be caught in one and don't want the caretakers to go, "Why is she now looking at a grave 100 feet away from the requested grave and why is she now examining that tree?"

Anyone ever in a similar situation and what did you do?
Maybe I will plant it elsewhere...
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456583 by koalacat
Oct 30, 2009 4:20pm
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Is the box going to be at the grave? Maybe you can use the information from the grave and incorporate it into the clue. I think planting in a cemetery is kinda creepy so I don't know the rules for doing such a thing.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456583 by koalacat
Oct 30, 2009 4:25pm
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I found a few good websites when we were looking to plant in a cemetery. but they were county specific for the county i was in.
First google the actual cemetery name, and see if you can find a listing of names and plot numbers. also you could try going to the library and see if they have a list of plot numbers for the local cemetery. then if you have that information, you could go to the office if you can't find a map online, and at least if you have a place to start you won't look so fishy :

also since i know you are probably looking in MI....check out this site
http://migenweb.net/ it is probably going to lead you in the best direction.
BB
Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456585 by Turtlegirl 19
Oct 30, 2009 4:28pm
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I think planting in a cemetery is kinda creepy

Funny, I've only planted one box, and it was in a cemetery...heading out tomorrow to plant another and its going to be in a cemetery.
I can't say that i have found that many in cemeteries, or that i like it they just happened to be the best places for the area and clues i had!
BB
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456585 by Turtlegirl 19
Oct 30, 2009 4:33pm
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I like cemetery letterboxes and have planted 2 or 3 already. My question was about locating a grave at a cemetery. It is there according to a site, but I have no clue where it is. I won't put it there, but I want that last name in my clues. I feel weird asking the cemetery office about it and I am hoping for advice about it.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456586 by BootyBandits
Oct 30, 2009 4:37pm
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I am using a website, but it is not that site. I have looked at that site before and the person's name isn't listed there (using findagrave.com). Already have name of the person and the cemetery the plot is at is less than 2 miles away. However since the cemetery is huge, I have no clue where the plot is and findagrave doesn't list that information - just that said grave is there. TY though.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456591 by koalacat
Oct 30, 2009 4:50pm
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I love cemetery boxes too! I have found several and planted one myself. I also assist people in taking pictures of their loved ones headstones when they live too far away to do this themselves. I often go to cemetery offices and ask for instructions for a particular person's grave. If they even ask (most times they do not) I just inform them I am taking a photo for the deceased person's family. I have never had a problem doing this and I have visited 100s of cemeteries. I think the only time you would run into a problem is if the person was a celebrity or of public interest....then they may keep the location under wraps.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456592 by Irishman
Oct 30, 2009 5:02pm
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I often go to cemetery offices and ask for instructions for a particular person's grave. If they even ask (most times they do not) I just inform them I am taking a photo for the deceased person's family.

Or you could take along some flowers and say that you wish to lay some flowers at the grave site.....

Some cemeteries you can go online to THEIR website, put in the name of the deceased, and it will generate the information that you need.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456594 by QueenMother'n'CloudWalker
Oct 30, 2009 5:32pm
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Before posting this, I was hoping to find a website and an email address and I was going to email them. Unfortunately, their domain expired and I really do not think they would appreciate what the site has become. I was a bit surprised to see a neon pink background and a half naked guy...
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456592 by Irishman
Oct 30, 2009 5:35pm
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That's what I am thinking about doing. Other graves on the site have requests for photos. This particular grave does not, but I could say I just want to take photos of various graves. Hoped to not ask them, but it seems inevitable. Thanks
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456592 by Irishman
Oct 30, 2009 5:43pm
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I think the only time you would run into a problem is if the person was a celebrity or of public interest....then they may keep the location under wraps.

My experience is the opposite. But then, the people whose graves I have looked for are historic figures, so maybe that is different.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456606 by koalacat
Oct 30, 2009 6:53pm
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their domain expired and I really do not think they would appreciate what the site has become. I was a bit surprised to see a neon pink background and a half naked guy...

I am not sure what the name of the Cemitary could have been to be change to this kind of site.

I remember when I use to use a free email account (like gmail or hot mail) on excite.com website. you could go to email by type something like www.excite.mail.com. I realy like the way the site was set up until I typed in mail wrong (male)....
and yes I was at work at the time.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456639 by pie-rat
Oct 30, 2009 7:00pm
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It is the name of the cemetery .com and I am not in a place with a risque sounding name. The word cemetery is in the domain name.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456591 by koalacat
Oct 30, 2009 10:24pm
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I think I would just go to the office, tell them the truth, that you were walking away from a grave of someone you know and noticed an interesting name on a grave sort of close by, but since then you had forgotten where it was exactly in relation to the other one. They should give you a map and circle that grave on the map for you. Interesting: as in, sounded familiar, or maybe a distant relative, or you just like reading names in cemeteries. Do you know for a fact that they will ask you a bunch of questions? I wouldn't think so, but could be wrong. What about calling them first, then if you meet with resistance at least you haven't wasted the gas. You might call a funeral home and ask those questions, say..I'm curious of cemetery rules, is it possible to get a location of a certain name even though I am no relation? Tell 'em your a history buff. Doing research or something.
My 2 cents.
OD
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456709 by Okie Dog
Oct 31, 2009 5:38am
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That is not the truth. I found the name on a website. Using findagrave.com, I found someone with a last name that fits my potential clues. A week or two ago I realized you could search for non famous graves there. It's funny, because one of my plants at the beginning of the month looks like I did the same thing, but that was completely stumbled on.

I probably will take a camera and say that I need pictures.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456709 by Okie Dog
Oct 31, 2009 6:45am
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Just my two cents....First, I doubt that they would question you, as cemeteries are public places. But if they did.....you could claim you were doing some geneology research. I have some friends who are involved in geneology stuff, and cemeteries are an important part of their research -- and not necessarily just old direct relatives, but also decendents of old relatives (including those with more recent deaths without the same family name). I'm positive cemeteries get questions just like yours all the time, and I'll bet the person you were asking for directions wouldn't be interested in hearing any more!!! ;) Good luck....
Where's Wendy
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456773 by RubberRabbit
Oct 31, 2009 7:39am
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I have found several boxes in cemeteries, or close by a cemetery. Usually the clues start at the parking area or a certain road in the cemetery and give directions in degrees or paces from one noticeable headstone to another so that you end up in the right place.
I have also planted a couple of boxes in or near cemeteries, but certainly not on a burial plot.
Cemeteries have a lot of history, both family history and local history, as well as some really neat stones. There are many reasons for people to be there - photography, peace and quiet, genealogy searches. So someone wandering around really shouldn't attract too much attention. Of course Memorial Day season is not the best time to go letterboxing in a cemetery!
Lady Eilonwy
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456790 by LadyEilonwy
Oct 31, 2009 1:52pm
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many reasons for people to be there - photography, peace and quiet,

I hadn't really realized that people do visit cemeteries for peace and quiet until our last visit to a large cemetery when we were looking for a good spot for a box (which we didn't find)....but there were people there sunbathing; couples making out; people reading.......I was surprised!!!
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456583 by koalacat
Oct 31, 2009 3:01pm
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I ended up going to a different cemetery, one that is smaller and has lots of old graves. Plus there was a name there that worked too.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456583 by koalacat
Oct 31, 2009 3:36pm
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I would say you were performing a random act of genealogical kindness, recording/photographing a plot for someone else. I've been taking GPS readings of my ancestors and others for a while. A hundred years from now the stones may be gone, but the location will be preserved.
Re: Finding a grave at a cemetery
Board: Stupider Questions About Letterboxing
Reply to: #456583 by koalacat
Nov 1, 2009 1:14am
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You may need to ask yourself how you expect boxers to find your plant. If you plan to use the grave as the starting point to the clues, and you can't find it, how do you expect others to find it?

Obviously, once you've found the grave and planted, perhaps you plan to give directions to the grave in the clues, which is fine, so nevermind.

I've only found a few boxes in cemeteries, but they were some of my favorites.

Kelsung