Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Perpetual Care

That phrase is inscribed on numerous headstones at this historic cemetery near Emerson, Iowa.

I mean — with an old Midwestern cemetery, a summer sunset and my camera in the passenger seat — you don't expect me to just drive on by, do you?

I literally watched the sun go down, what seemed like millimeter by millimeter ... until, finally, it was gone.

As a rural cemetery, many of the residents had lots of room to themselves.

These four, small markers in the middle of the long rows intrigued me. (Upon closer inspection, they said "Mother" and "Father.")

A lot of the old markers have interesting, unique features, including this one that's surely a Bible on a podium. Then you notice that with the spine on the right, the Bible has been read and the book is now closed.


This reads "In Memory of our Country's Defenders."

"First Burial in this Cemetery."

"Adelaide Applegate." With a name like that, she had to have been in musical theater.

Rest in peace...

2 comments:

Annie Oaktree said...

My great, great grandmother, how lovely to have stumbled across your enchanting photo essay. I'd never seen her grave before. Her granddaughter, my grandmother Lucile was a singer and my mother Beth Parrish Nowlen, an actress,

Good work, beautiful close.

Annie Oaktree said...

My great, great grandmother, how lovely to have stumbled across your enchanting photo essay. I'd never seen her grave before. Her granddaughter, my grandmother Lucile was a singer and my mother Beth Parrish Nowlen, an actress,

Good work, beautiful close.