Speaker to the Dead

(not for, just to.)

[taphofilly]

Wild life at Oak Woods.

Today I was fortunate enough to see a coyote pup wandering around in an area that I suspected had active dens. I kept my distance as not to scare the youngster, nor alarm the mother coyote should she be nearby.

A short video of the coyote.

I saw the pup wander back towards the area with the dens. Duly noted.

I resumed my walk, and a short distance later heard the unmistakable sound of the bald eagle, which I will share in the following post.

[taphofilly]

History lessons from the cemetery.

There is a particular gravestone at Oak Woods Cemetery that has long intrigued me.

A marble gravestone in the shape of a cross, inscribed: St. Mark's Church, Chicago, 1889.

Why a gravestone for a church? Does it mean some of the congregation is buried near it? Why that particular year, 1889 (if I am reading it correctly)? But mostly, what St. Mark's Church?

I felt pretty sure it wasn't in reference to a Catholic Church as this is a secular cemetery, and it would likely be in a Catholic cemetery. But there is no St. Mark's to be found that makes sense.

Finally, after some digging, I found reference to it in a book about Camp Douglas, and the problem of moving the Confederate dead from there to Oak Woods in 1865-1867!

St. Mark's was an Episcopal Church at 36th and Cottage Grove Ave, near Camp Douglas, founded by E. B. Tuttle.

From "To Die in Chicago; Confederate Prisoners at Camp Douglas, 1862-1865" by George Levy:

"Reverend E. B. Tuttle: A benefactor donated a lot for him to build a chapel near the former camp, at 36th Street and Cottage Grove. This became St. Marks Episcopal Church, and it was still active in 1919* when the building was sold to a black congregation. Allan J. Fuller, the former Adjutant General, who became a judge on the Illinois Supreme Court, was a member of St. Marks. Former prisoners wrote to Tuttle asking about job opportunities in Chicago. He abandoned his successful parish in 1867 and returned to the army. He then quit the army to become an expatriate in Europe. Later, he returned to his roots in New York and wrote an Illinois history. The former chaplain died in New York in 1881 at age 65."

*correction, it should be 1917, and that congregation is still there at West Point Missionary Baptist Church.

Pictures of West Point Missionary Baptist Church, specifically the older part of the building which existed before 1917, and was originally St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

In the process of looking for evidence of St. Mark's Church (I didn't think it would still be there, even if altered!) I explored some of the area that was near Camp Douglas, and paid a visit to Douglas's tomb, which stands on part of his former estate.

Cemeteries are a great source of local history. And I am excited to have found St. Mark's Church. But, I still don't know why there is a gravestone with the name of the church and the year 1889.

[taphofilly]

Today I went back to Section G to try out my theory on the plot number, and I was able to find the requested grave!

I walked the perimeter until I found the metal marker I was looking for.

It was helpfully next to a plot marker, making it even easier to confirm on my map. My plan was to walk straight along the line on the map. It was much easier than I thought!

Can you see the faint lines in the grass? They're the same lines you can see in the satellite image. So, I followed the line until I thought I was at the point I should look for my right turn. It took a bit of looking, but I figured it out, and found the requested headstone!

The headstone with the flowers was the one I was looking for.

In this picture I lined up the marker with the headstone in the distance.

I don't know if these metal markers denote plots, but it got me there. Later I will try to locate this exact spot on my plot map, and see if I can place it in a plot, or see if it actually rests along the "path."

I am always glad to be able to fulfill a Find-a-Grave request, and this one taught me some useful lessons about the markers found at the cemetery.

[taphofilly]

Yesterday I went looking for a Find-a-Grave request at Oak Woods, which happened to have the section and plot number.

I decided to take one of the plot maps and layer it over an image of the same area from Google Earth.

Section G in Oak Woods Cemetery. Check out how perfectly that map fits the satellite image!

The plot maps aren't always easy to read. These are not originals, but copies of hand numbered maps. Having the satellite image helps me find landmarks as I wander. Below is the Section G map without the satellite overlay.

I set out to look for the section markers (as you can see in the pictures below.) Then I look for the number on my map, and see how the numbers go up or down from where I am, and start looking for the requested grave.

I learned a lot today while doing this! See the round metal plate in the following picture?

They have numbers engraved on them, and they correspond to the dividing lines that crisscross the section, breaking it up into subsections. I had no idea! I've seen those markers here and there, but they never lined up with plot numbers, so I figured they had some other use. Huzzah!!

Not only that, look at the satellite image from Google Maps for this section, see the lines? Look at the section map up above. Cool!

As for the grave, I didn't find it. I don't think the plot number they used is correct, as I don't think the numbers go that high in section G. They might be using that metal marker number so I will walk along that area next time. Maybe those "paths" also count as long plots? I had to give up the search since the cemetery was about to close, but I will try again soon.

If anyone knows more about cemetery plot maps, or how the lines we can see in the satellite image are achieved, please comment!

#OakWoodsCemetery #CemeteryMaps #Cemetery #Taphophile #FindAGrave

[taphofilly]

The snow has thawed, and the willows are taking on their yellowy hue at the cemetery. More birds are migrating back, and we have a couple of newcomers this year.

With only my cellphone, I didn't manage any great pictures, but I saw a pair of bufflehead ducks in the small lake along with the Canadian Geese and mallards.

A little further along I thought I saw a great blue heron, but it seemed off. Were its feathers damaged? No! Those (now there were two) were not herons, they were bald eagles!!

You can see it in the middle of the picture, kind of.

Right before it took off in the above picture, it had landed in a tree nearby. I had never seen one that close to me not at a zoo. You can know how big something is, but not realize it, or really get it, until you witness it yourself. That was how I felt seeing those bald eagles swoop around and land in that tree.

My son saw them a few days ago, so maybe they'll be here for a while.

I feel like there is something pithy to be said at this moment in US history concerning bald eagles moving into a necropolis...

Before I saw the eagles, I had just taken these pictures of William E. Hale's tomb. Here is a little bit about him from Wikipedia:

"William Ellery Hale (April 8, 1836 – November 16, 1898) was an American businessman, real estate investor and civic leader. He was the president of the Hale Elevator Company, one of the first hydraulic elevator companies in the United States. He owned many buildings in Chicago."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ellery_Hale

I've always been fond of the flower motif on this headstone. I've seen it on other headstones at Oak Woods, and on my way out, I noticed one of them; the headstone of Warren Grafton Purdue. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102554802/warren-grafton-purdy

They're not identical, but I assume from the same makers and drawings.

I'll leave you with a few more views that caught my eye today.

[taphofilly]

Winter is a rough time of year for me. This winter has been particularly hard. But, today I walked in the cold that is less brutal, with the sun shining.

When I first walked into the cemetery, I saw the coyote run across the path I was about to take, and I immediately was glad.

Today's observations were footprints in the snow. They betray just how busy a place the cemetery can be.

That last picture with my shadow is looking down at Peaceful Lake. You can see many animal prints along the edge of the water, and going across.

I was able to distinguish the prints after a bit; coyote, squirrel, goose, and some smaller birds. And, of course, human.

[chefinheels]

It's me 🤷🏻‍♀️

[taphofilly]

I should add this to my profile, it is absolutely me.

[taphofilly]

It was really nice out yesterday, and since I didn't need to keep my hands in gloves or pockets, I decided to have a little fun.

[taphofilly]

Har hvitar min alskade maka

TILDA MARIA SWANSON

Född den 9 Dec. 1859

Död den 3 Maj 1906

It translates from Swedish to:

I have lost my beloved wife

TILDA MARIA SWANSON

Born on 9 Dec. 1859

Died on 3 May 1906

It caught my eye for 2 reasons. First, the animal carved at the top. Sheep? Second, most headstones that aren't in English are in German or Dutch at Oak Woods.

Here are a few more from the same plot.

HAR VILLAR VOR

ALSKADE SON

OSCAR JOHN SWANSON

FODD 1, OCT. 1865

DOD 30, NOV. 1905

Translates to:

Here rests our beloved son

OSCAR JOHN SWANSON

BORN 1, OCT. 1865

DIED 30, NOV. 1905

I am sorting through a lot of pictures, and I have been busier, so I haven't been posting too much, but I will be back with more soon I hope.

[taphofilly]

Today was a milder day, overcast and damp. First stop was that sugar maple with the red leaves.

I mostly stayed on the roads today since the ground is so wet. I had a pretty major bunion surgery on my right foot over the summer, and although I am walking quite well, I am still very much recovering, and need to watch my step.

I didn't take many pictures, until I came by one of my favorite tree stump headstones, that of Longenecker.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139332609/joel-minnick-longenecker

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Minnick_Longenecker

"Joel Minnick Longenecker (January 12, 1847 – September 19, 1906) was an American farmer, soldier, lawyer, State's Attorney, judge, gubernatorial candidate, and Department Commander of the Illinois Grand Army of the Republic. He was active in nationally prominent trials involving the Chicago Anarchists, and Irish nationalists."

I particularly like the detailed symbolism on this headstone, with the anchor and the broken tree limbs, and that the plot includes a small seat in the same style facing the headstone.

On my way out, I decided wet ground be damned, and walked along the edge of a small slope so I could compare my walking map to the cemetery map later (still need to do that), and saw a couple of marble headstones that are in a style not common at Oak Woods, and are very likely from City Cemetery. The clasped hands do show up on a number of headstones, but as far as I have seen, this is the only headstone with a willow at Oak Woods.

I'll write more about some of these symbols soon.

Until next time.

[taphofilly]

I am not a fan of snow, but I need to walk, so I went to the cemetery. I left the binder at the office, and figured if I managed 20 minutes that would be okay.

I felt like that was probably plenty, and decided that since I was near one of my favorite headstones, that of Hettie Mason, I would go see her in the snow, and then get back on the path to head out.

As I turned around to walk towards the path, I saw this:

Those are my footprints as I started to walk, and then backtracked to look at the coyote prints. The coyote!! So, I followed them. Slowly. I have no intention of making the coyotes nervous, and have learned how to behave around them.

I had a pretty good idea of where the tracks would lead; to the brushy area where they hide out, and I see their paw prints in the mud after rainy days.

It ended up being a solid walk, and actually fun.

[taphofilly]

What a difference a day makes.

Yesterday:

And today:

Same tree near the entrance to Oak Woods Cemetery from a slightly different view point.

I did return the binder today after photographing the maps, for anyone wondering.

[taphofilly]

Today I found my holy grail: the plot maps for Oak Woods Cemetery. Someone left a binder stuck in a tree, so naturally I had to take a look. Holy Smokes!

My guess is an employee left there by accident. It's lucky each page is in a plastic sleeve, since it had been raining earlier. They're also lucky that I found it, since I will photograph the maps, and return the binder intact to the office.

I have wanted to see the plot maps for years, and this binder is an absolute treasure!

Let me share a few lovely details that caught my eye at first glance. I love some of the different fonts used over time, and finding the surveyor information is so cool!

I'm so excited for what this means for learning more about the history of this cemetery and those buried here! It'll be a huge help for Find a Grave requests, too!

It's going to be hard to concentrate on work today, let me tell you!

[taphofilly]

I am still organizing Harold Moody's notes, so today I leave you with some tree stump headstones, one of my favorite styles, a link to an article about them from Atlas Obscura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-gravestones-are-shaped-like-tree-stumps

These headstones are typically made of limestone in our area, but not exclusively. I've seen some made of marble, and maybe sandstone. Although there are many at Oak Woods, the best cemetery in the Chicago area for tree stump headstones is Bohemian National Cemetery.

[taphofilly]

Last night I ran across the guided tour notes for Oak Woods Cemetery given to me by my late neighbor, Harold Moody. I had scanned and cleaned up some of the notes, and today I decided to follow the notes, and take pictures of each item on the list. It didn't take me long to realize I would need to change the order in order to make it easier to follow. I also had a funny moment when I went looking for the Scammon lot in the B4 section, just to realize I had been right next to it in B1 while searching for Eckersall.

I am going to start sharing Harold's notes with my amendments, and of course photos. I also plan to update Find A Grave listings as I go.

I've also been looking up newspaper clippings about Harold Moody, and will write up something about him soon. He was the first neighbor to befriend us when we moved to Woodlawn, and he introduced us to Oak Woods when he invited us to join one of his tours.

Today I will leave you with the first item on his tour:

***

TOUR OF THE OAK WOODS CEMETERY. INCLUDING THE PLACES OF INTEREST. IS SUGGESTED AS FOLLOWS:

On Roadway, West of Office, A relic of the great Chicago Fire of 1871, at which time the cemetery office was located downtown in the approximate center of the area which was burned.

(photos of the relics of the Great Chicago Fire at Oak Woods Cemetery.)

[taphofilly]

I've slowly started adding pictures and information to FindAGrave.com

Today I added images and information for the Wedelius family. Walter's headstone has no death date, but I was able to find his death notice in a list of people recently killed in car accidents in Chicago. The clipping is from the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday, October 11, 1933. He died on September 30, 1933.

What caught my attention is the wood branch details on the headstone. I love tree stump headstones, and all their variants.

[taphofilly]

Sunday, November 10, 2024 at Oak Woods cemetery in Chicago. Fall colors are putting on a beautiful show so far this year.

I plan to share more information in some posts, and others will be like this one, a collection of what caught my eye that day.