Cemetery orientation -- exceptions to the rule

[DrRod]

Since the middle ages, cemeteries have been laid out so that the residents could rise up facing the east at the second coming. I recall seeing an old item in Ripley's Believe It Or Not about a cemetery that was laid out north/south rather than east/west so it must be considered universal.

We have a very old cemetery where the oldest part is also laid out in this alternate manner -- north/south. The cemetery was established behind a log cabin Dunkard church in the 1800's. The Dunkards later became the Bretheran and are still much in evidence in our area. The markers must have been wood since they are all gone now but the plots are very clearly visible.

I've asked every church member and local old timer if they know why this would be but they don't know. The minister didn't even know about the whole east/west thing.

So I'm throwing this out to see if anyone would have some insight into this oddity.

Thanks

 

[riptides]

Since the middle ages, cemeteries have been laid out so that the residents could rise up facing the east at the second coming. I recall seeing an old item in Ripley's Believe It Or Not about a cemetery that was laid out north/south rather than east/west so it must be considered universal.

We have a very old cemetery where the oldest part is also laid out in this alternate manner -- north/south. The cemetery was established behind a log cabin Dunkard church in the 1800's. The Dunkards later became the Bretheran and are still much in evidence in our area. The markers must have been wood since they are all gone now but the plots are very clearly visible.

I've asked every church member and local old timer if they know why this would be but they don't know. The minister didn't even know about the whole east/west thing.

So I'm throwing this out to see if anyone would have some insight into this oddity.

Thanks

It could have been not practical to use the east west layout for the plot itself due to natural obstructions of some sort? Or it could have been where their perception of east was during the time of plot layout?

 

[tcreeley]

Found this- Facing East Burial Method. Genealogy, History, Family History, American South.

If they couldn't place bodies E/W, they used N/S and buried people on their side so that their eyes face to the east.

Then also they said that not everyone layed out a cemetary with a compass, and time of day/season threw off accurate determinations of E and W.

This is all new to me!

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I live in Rayne, Louisiana where we have a 'wrong way' cemetery.

Rayne, LA - Wrong Way Catholic Cemetery

 

[CobyRupert]

Never new about cemeteries being that way, but the Mason Hall sure is.

 

[oosik]

I've never heard of this situation. I know from the dozen or so cemeteries I've visited here in the wheat country - they surely do not appear to be laid out in an E-W orientation. Every small town, which has a grain elevator, usually always has a cemetery. There are also many private family cemeteries in this area.

In my travels, I will take a compass and check those I'm aware of.

 

[Wagtail]

Just to throw a different oddity into this... many old cemeteries, if 'mixed' RC and Protestant, not only had them in different sections but they would be further divided by a brick wall.

And that wall went down 6 feet. ath:

.............................

Just Googled and the cemetery with the buried wall between P's & RC's is in Belfast, Ireland

.............................

 

[Sigarms]

Amazing how much stock we put into our bodies when our body is dead.

The only cemetary I still frequent is where my mom is burried and I don't get their often as it's in Pa. National cemetery, where 3 uncles and 2 cousins are burried as well. Off memory, I HIGHLY doubt that all the "residents" are burried facing east, but will need to take a compass the next time.

Small creek up in Pennslvania I was paddling by myself. Had hard rains, and it pretty much a raging river. Came across 3 guys paddling, 2 where from Michigan (I was young, probably mid 20's, these guys all looked older, mid to late 40's I'd guess). They asked if I knew the river and if they could tag along going down as they hadn't paddled the this creek in years and was totally different at higher water . We paddled for a ways, then asked if we could take a break. Turns out they had come to Pa for their buddies funeral, as all 4 of them (including the gent who had passed) had paddled this river when they were my age. During our stop, the took out a bag of ashes, which it turned out was their buddy. We all said a prayer and they spead his ashes into the river, as it was the dead man's request. Amazing friends and one of the coolest furnerals I've ever attended.

From time to time I do remind my boys that I hope they work hard and smart when they get old, as our only request after we're dead is to spread our ashes in some areas of the country we loved being in.

 

[RSKY]

Slightly off topic but does anybody know the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard? There is a difference you know.

Found this out on a ghost tour in Charlestown SC years ago.

RSKY

 

[woody]

Amazing how much stock we put into our bodies when our body is dead.

The only cemetary I still frequent is where my mom is burried and I don't get their often as it's in Pa. National cemetery, where 3 uncles and 2 cousins are burried as well. Off memory, I HIGHLY doubt that all the "residents" are burried facing east, but will need to take a compass the next time.

Small creek up in Pennslvania I was paddling by myself. Had hard rains, and it pretty much a raging river. Came across 3 guys paddling, 2 where from Michigan (I was young, probably mid 20's, these guys all looked older, mid to late 40's I'd guess). They asked if I knew the river and if they could tag along going down as they hadn't paddled the this creek in years and was totally different at higher water . We paddled for a ways, then asked if we could take a break. Turns out they had come to Pa for their buddies funeral, as all 4 of them (including the gent who had passed) had paddled this river when they were my age. During our stop, the took out a bag of ashes, which it turned out was their buddy. We all said a prayer and they spead his ashes into the river, as it was the dead man's request. Amazing friends and one of the coolest furnerals I've ever attended.

From time to time I do remind my boys that I hope they work hard and smart when they get old, as our only request after we're dead is to spread our ashes in some areas of the country we loved being in.

My Father-in-law has requested the same thing, there is a small creek not far from where we live and we have floated it many times he says he would like to scattered there.