Some of the reasons given were:
- to protect the graves
- to provide shade for the grieving family
- to keep out robbers, wild animals and livestock
- it was a status symbol
- to comfort the dead's spirit
They are kind of interesting looking. We were geocaching and came across these Grave Houses that are located near a geocache. After finding the nearby cache, which was not in the cemetery by the way, we walked around and checked out some of the old grave markers.
This is something I've never seen before either. They were like cement jugs and they enclosed an urn. Has anyone else ever seen that? Several of them were broken, altho the urns were intact.
I liked this one because of the Confederate flag....
Geocaching sure does take us to see some interesting things!
I have to say this is interesting. I never knew of the Grave Houses. Have never seen one. The cement urn was different too. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking that might be a southern thing, but maybe not.
DeleteNope, I never heard of them either-- more of a regional thing?
ReplyDeleteYour guess is as good as mine. We've been to a lot of cemeteries both in Illinois and Kentucky and I've never seen that before.
Deletefascinating! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThere's a very old cemetery here that has those little houses built of stone and brick and stained glass on the two ends. They are situated on a hillside to catch the afternoon setting sun. At just the right time the sun hits them stained glass and they look like they are glowing. Never saw the jug/urns before.
ReplyDeletexo
I'll bet that is really pretty. I'd love to see a picture of that.
DeleteThings I had not seen before- and I have visited lots of old cemetaries
DeleteI would think I'd have seen those before in the south, but no, I haven't.
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