Cemetery Geek

Cemetery Geek by John G. West

What is a “Cemetery Geek?”  In the last year or two I had to research this term, since theEvansville Courier & Press my city’s newspaper labeled me a Cemetery Geek on the front page of the Sunday edition.  I remember some years back that being any kind of geek was considered not the best label.  I had noticed that the stigma was becoming less significant in recent years.  I believe that this change was due to the popularity of computer geek’s who could save the day for you when something went wrong with your computer.  But, do people think positively about a cemetery geek?  Too many people still look at cemeteries as a negative place to visit or even talk about.

This is probably a good time to define what a “geek” actually is all about.  A geek is somewhat obsessive about their generally single subject like computers, science or even movie series like Star Trek or Dr. Who.  Most geeks are sociable and outgoing (these parts I seem to possess a large dose).  Geeks are generally of average intelligence, but become very knowledgeable within their geekdom.  I suppose that one reason I was concerned about being labeled as a geek was because a few people thought of me as a “nerd” in my youth.  A nerd really got a bad rap over the years.  Nerds are smart people who lack much of a social life. They often have very few friends. Nerds don't talk much, and don't expect others to talk much to them. They are usually nice people, but don't have the social skills to go out and meet new friends.  Actually, nerds are very smart, intelligent people.  This was probably why the other kids around me thought I was a nerd… I was just too darn smart!  I generally have never been accused of not talking!  In fact, I have always been accused of talking too much!  Tell me how can anyone talk too much?

So, I guess I could be a smart geek, but a cemetery geek?  I know I am obsessed with genealogy.  I have researched my family history for over 55 years.  I talk about genealogy, I present workshops about genealogy, I have worked with people to help them learn to document their history.  I spent many years working with the 4-H genealogy project in Indiana.  Call me a Genealogy Geek.

Of course while researching my family history, I have visited quite a few cemeteries.  I was talking about how many cemeteries have I actually walked around to study and photograph tombstones or searched for relatives, etc.  I was able to name 78 cemeteries without notes or thinking about it much (almost all had family buried there or I had other special connections).  I suspect several were forgotten at the time, I have thought about two others since that day.  I feel like I could say that I have been in at least 80-100 cemeteries.  To me, cemeteries are places of serenity and a place to think about life.  Each grave marker is a monument to the person it records.  Often a little history can become known by the marker or a group of markers.  There are many, many different types & shapes of these grave stones.  The statues,  carvings and ornate sculpturing are so beautiful like an outdoor art gallery.  OK, I am a “Cemetery Geek” – I admit it.  I cannot help it!

I am also a geek of many other pursuits, as well.  Are you a cemetery geek?  If you are, let’s talk about our passion.

I am also known as Indiana Bones, a cemetery geek!

TSGS Meeting Notice!

Tri-State Genealogical Society
(TSGS) Meeting Notice! When: Tuesday 11 Sep 2012 - 7:00 PM
Where: Willard Library - 2nd. Floor
What: Monthly Meeting

[Photo credit: Becky West - Artwork: Chris Lantaff]

Guest Speaker for the September Meeting of the Tri-State Genealogical Society will be Indiana Bones. He will present stories about some of his adventures concerning cemeteries. The Evansville Courier & Press has dubbed TSGS Vice-President John G. West as a "Self-proclaimed Cemetery Geek!" a title he is proud of with his very active pursuit of genealogy over the last 50 years.

 His wife, Becky, gave him the name of "Indiana Bones" and the character evolved to help share his interesting and oftentimes humorous tales about cemeteries and other related genealogy subjects. Whether you are a family historian, genealogist, a history buff or just like to listen to story tellers... you should enjoy these "Adventures of Indiana Bones - Cemetery Stories!" You do not need to be a member to attend TSGS meetings - everyone is welcome!

John G. West (AKA: Indiana Bones)

 [Photo credit: Don Counts]

A drawing for an attendance prize will be awarded at the close of the meeting... you must be present to win.

The Tri-State Genealogical Society will have a brief business meeting that anyone can attend.

 

- Donald R. Counts, TSGS President

Indiana Bones Shares Cemetery Stories

Indiana Bones Presents

"Cemetery Stories"

at the Kuhlenschmidt/Hartig Family Reunion

Indiana Bones had just cautioned everyone that he was not Indiana Jones eventhough he lookes almost exactly like Harrison Ford... the 40+ crowd seemed to think that statement was funny!  Bones read about 5-6 short cemetery tales that were modified versions of some of the TSGS Cruiser Blogs.  Indiana Bones has become quite popular on the speakers circuit lately.  TSGS will have him as the monthly meeting program for September and the Daughters of the American Revolution have requested him to speak in April 2013.  Who would have known that a "cemetery geek" could become so sought after!

- Photo taken by Warren Deutsch.

TSGS Meeting Report

Report on the TSGS Meeting held on Tuesday 12 Jun 2012

We had a small attendance of about 16 for this meeting, with 10 attendance prizes providing most with something to take home!  The weather has been so nice that we should have held the meeting outside!  Click on photos to see a larger image.

 Photo of some of the members just before the meeting was called to order by President Don Counts.  Several people were still researching on the microfilm machines in the back.  Willard Library is a great genealogical research library and is so beautiful inside & out.

 Above is pictured those officers elected for 2012-13 that were in attendance - from L-R: Sue Hebbeler, Corresponding Secretary; Larry Goss, Director; Rena Goss, Director; Becky West, Director; Kim Nightingale, Recording Secretary; John G. West, Vice-President; Don Counts, President.

 Becky West, the out-going Program Chair, after thanking the society for having a non-genealogist for 2 years as the Program Chair, read a brief humorous account of the Vincent Van Gogh Family Tree.  Then she introduced Indiana Bones (pictured below) to present his "Field Trip Health & Safety Tips!"  This was Indiana Bones first public appearance.  Since, John West was tagged as a "Cemetery Geek" by the Evansville Courier, Becky came up with the name of Indiana Bones for the TSGS Cruiser Blog and to give programs as this character.  John is shown with some of his gear: hat, walking stick, cemetery bag.  During the short session on tips, Indiana Bones pointed out some ideas of what to carry on field trips to a cemetery ("cemetery hopping"). A hand-out with suggested items for a first aid kit & a cemetery bag was passed out to all present.

Photos taken by Carol Lantaff, Larry Goss and JGWest.

TSGS Meeting Program

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Tri-State Genealogical Society
(TSGS) Meeting Notice! 

When: Tuesday 12 June 2012 - 7:00 PM
Where: Willard Library - 2nd. Floor
What: Monthly Meeting

Becky West, TSGS Program Chair, has announced that the program will feature

"A Little Genealogy Humor" and an appearance by Indiana Bones.  This will be Indiana Bones first public appearance.   Indiana Bones (aka: John G. West) is a self-proclaimed "Cemetery Geek" as published in the Evansville Courier & Press recently.  Indiana Bones will briefly show some suggested items that would be good to take on any field trip, especially a genealogical trip or "cemetery hopping!"  He will have some tips on how to maintain good health and be safe.  Indiana Bones will provide everyone with a list of important things to include in a First Aid Kit and a cemetery bag to help you find the graves you are looking for.  Hopefully the program will be entertaining and give you some ideas to use on your next field trip!


During the short meeting, members will elect officers for 2012-2013.


Don Counts, TSGS President

The Adventures of Indiana Bones, Cemetery Geek

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It is the time to get away from the computer...
 and get out of the house to begin your genealogical research with your relatives and other knowledgeable people.  They will take you to the cemeteries where family are buried.  Like many that have remained in the same location for several generations, they can show you where the old homestead was.  For sure you will be out on a field trip.  Many of these locations are full of pests: insects, ticks, spiders, snakes, poison ivy and many others.  A big concern right now is ticks... I know because about 10 days ago I went into a small cemetery with some high grass and got some ticks (5-6) on me.  For some reason I did not get a single chigger!  When I got home I pulled off four ticks that were having a good time drawing my blood.  Those spots itched quite a bit (not as bad as chiggers, though).  One of the ticks got me right in the bend of my leg behind the knee.  It got inflamed and began growing in size.  I decided to see a doctor, who said it is a reaction to the bite that has worsened because of the location... not to worry.  He gave me some ointment to put on it and gave me some antibiotics to take to fight any infections.  So, I will live to experience many more field trips.

This made me think that it might be a good idea to address some of these field trips into the "wild" with some things that us genealogical cemetery hoppers should do to prepare ourselves.  So, what should we do?  Here is a list to begin with and as time goes on I will expand each in more detail:

• Carry a good First Aid Kit with you on your trips.
• Be able to identify poisonous plants to avoid.
• Bring drinking water and cleaning water in the car.
• Not a bad idea to have a cell phone and a GPS to get help or find your way.
• Wear proper clothing for protection of briars, sunburn, pests.
• Make sure you carry any medications you take.
• Have proper identification and someone to contact in emergencies.

We often just hop into our cars and off we go to places we have never been before without thinking about any of the above items.  And this is only a partial list.  Each of us have special needs to add and weather conditions will change some things needed.  This should help to give you some ideas to be better prepared.  Watch for more Indiana Bones blogs to give you more detailed information... soon, I will include what you might need in a first aid kit.

- Written by Indiana Bones

The Adventures of Indiana Bones (aka Cemetery Geek!)

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As a "self-proclaimed cemetery geek," I have decided to introduce a new feature for the blog: "The Adventures of Indiana Bones (aka Cemetery Geek!)"  I seem to be in or around cemeteries almost every day and I can not help but find something unusual to take a picture or to tell a story.  This feature will provide the format for all of these things I find interesting and I hope you bloggers will like them, too!  

Today's adventure story is about this see-through tree.

 As you can see this tree is somewhat hollow and you can see right through it!  It is right on the line between St. Joseph and Alexander Memorial Park Cemeteries.  This section of St. Joe is directly behind Memorial Park's Office building.  I have three generations of my family buried in this small section.  My Great Grandfather James Henry Wood was buried here in 1933 about 4 years after his granddaughter (my Mother's sister) was buried here in 1929.  Grandfather Wood's daughter, my great aunt Susan Margaret Wood is buried here, too.  I suspect this tree was here in 1929 when 3 year-old Mildred Louise Long was buried here.


 Click on these photos to get larger images that will show things more clearly.

 This is a cool picture looking right through the tree at the grave markers.  The inner wood is very soft and I doubt that the tree will survive very many more years.

 In these 2 photos, you can see how this tree has lifted up and moved these grave stones!

I was putting flowers on Aunt Maggie's grave when I noticed the big hole in this tree.  From the road where Aunt Maggie's grave is located (about 8 -12 rows from this back row), I did not know you could see through the tree.  I am glad I walked up to it.  Another nice Adventure for Indiana Bones, a cemetery geek!

- Photos taken and submitted by JGWest

"Cemetery Geek!"

What in the world is a "Cemetery Geek?"


Last Sunday, I attended the Oak Hill Cemetery Walking Tour led by Dennis Au, Shawn Dickerson & Chris Cooke.  A newspaper reporter was asking several people why they came out for this tour.  When she asked me that question... I could not think of a good answer.  My thoughts were in the notion of who wouldn't want to be in this tour!  As a genealogist, most of us love cemeteries, as we do courthouses, libraries, genealogy web sites, family photos and records of any sort.


I told the young reporter that as a genealogist I could not help but be here... I guess I am a "cemetery geek!"  I could not think of anything else to describe why I came out for this tour!!!  Well, that got into the newspaper story, in fact it was the first paragraph about the tour.  I was listed as a "self-proclaimed cemetery geek."    http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/may/21/oakhill-tour-line-p/?print=1  


Being highly interested in science, math, etc., the term "geek" (to me) is basically a positive adjective of a person's in-depth interest or involvement in a particular subject.  I have always been interested in seeing these little monuments (often called grave markers) to people's lives since I was a kid of about 12-13 years of age.


My mother was an avid fan of Memorial Day, a time to remember our American soldiers and family members.  Mom would make Dad drive her around to all of the cemeteries with family to decorate their graves with flowers.  After a time, it was hard to tell who wanted to do this the most.  Of course, us kids were dragged along, too.  I started to get curious about all of these graves... who were these people to us.  That and a 5th. Grade English assignment to make a 4-generation family chart got me interested in my family history.  Shortly after I got out of service, my father died which made grave visitations a little more important to me.  The next Memorial Day and many years afterwards, my younger brother Don and I took turns taking Mom around to decorate the graves.  Mom's Aunt Maggie Wood decorated graves, too.  Don & I began putting out flowers, too.  Then, suddenly in about 2 years time - Mom, Aunt Maggie & Don were no longer with us and there really was no one else alive to decorate the graves or know where most were buried.  So, this became my primary "duty!"  We decorate my wife Becky's family, too.  Becky has a birth & adopted family to remember.


I have become a volunteer for a web site called "Find-A-Grave" to take grave marker photos to post online for others to be able to see their family's markers.  On this blog I have a feature called "Tombstone Thursday" that I post interesting or unusual grave markers that I find from time to time.  I even have a photo album on FaceBook called "Cemetery Hopping" (going from one cemetery to another & posting photos from each!).  Yesterday, I told my friend Jill Brinkley who works at Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery that we were out cemetery hopping decorating family graves... she said you are always going to cemeteries!  I guess she is right!


I guess cemeteries have become a part of my life... I was once even in charge of Evansville's City owned cemeteries - Oak Hill & Locust Hill.  In the Sons of the American Revolution, I travel around with other members dressed in Revolutionary War uniforms serving in Color Guards to honor the graves of Revolutionary War Soldiers.


OK, it appears that I am a "cemetery geek!" for sure.  I do think of the term as a good thing.  Writing this blog, I thought I should check to see what the definition of a cemetery geek might be.  I went to Google to search for the term.  What came up was that news article about me being a cemetery geek... there was no other use of the term except in describing me!!!  I may have coined a new term.  One related to genealogy, at that!  How many of our readers might be able to proudly call themselves "Cemetery Geeks?"  You would not have to be as extreme as me to qualify.  There are at least 3 qualifiers, however.  One you must know that the word "cemetery" does not have an "a" in it and that (two) you must actually go to a cemetery to see all of its glory from time to time.  Three, you must feel strongly about cemetery vandalism as being one of the lowliest things people can do.  Don't be shy or modest, please let me know if you are or want to be a cemetery geek!!!


- Compiled by JGWest (AKA: Cemetery Geek)