Oakwood Cemetery – Jefferson, TX, a set on Flickr.
This is an update on the grave of Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer that I cleaned the other day.
The Creole Heritage Center at NSU has announced that October 8, 2011 “has been proclaimed as Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer Day in recognition of his service in the American Revolutionary War.” The grave will be marked by the local chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
You can see the CHC’s story on the ceremony here.
Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer was a French merchant and planter who had ten children with Marie Therese Coin-Coin, a woman born a slave who eventually gained freedom for herself and her children. Their relationship began a community of ‘creoles of color’ along the Cane River area of Natchitoches parish. This community has spread out from Natchitoches, both around Louisiana and across the country. He is buried in the American Cemetery in Natchitoches, Louisiana, a popular burial site for early Catholic settlers in the area.
The Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution will be marking Mr. Metoyer’s grave in an October ceremony. A DAR member asked if I could clean the marker in advance of the ceremony. I met with her on Thursday, September 15 at around ten in the morning. The physical state of the marker appears to be quite sound apart from a portion in the bottom right corner that has been chipped off. The marker was a dark gray color and did not appear to have been cleaned in quite some time, if ever. It sits in an area of the cemetery that puts it under the branches of several trees. The combination of debris falling from above and the shady location of the grave may have contributed to establishing a foundation for dampness and biological growth to set in to the stone.
The DAR representative told me it was around 200 years old. The death date on the inscription was not readable at the time.
I returned to the cemetery the next morning and began cleaning around 10:15am. The weather was very pleasant, about 63 degrees and some light clouds in a mostly blue sky. I took photographs from different angles before starting.
- CTP Metoyer Before 1
- CTP Metoyer Before 2
- CTP Metoyer Before 3
- CTP Metoyer Before 4
I performed three cleaning cycles using the D/2 biological solution and a soft-bristle brush. I wet down the stone before each treatment and thoroughly washed it off after each as well. Each treatment cycle and rinse resulted in the removal of some material, most of which was likely dirt, grime, grit, etc., the type of material that would build up on top of an untended grave over the course of time. After the first cycle the inscription became legible. During the third cleaning cycle I used a toothbrush to clean the inscription and get into some narrower and tighter spots. The inscription reads:
CLAUDE THOMAS P.
METOYER
Décédé le 30 7bre 1815
agé de 72 ans
I returned to the site at 4pm to take a few additional photos, and I will return again about seven days after cleaning to take more. It rained earlier today (9/18/11), so some of the biological growth that died off since cleaning may have been washed off.
- CTP Metoyer 4 hrs later
- CTP Metoyer 4 hrs later 2
- CTP Metoyer 4 hrs later 3
- CTP Metoyer 4 hrs later 4
This was a very satisfying project for me. Mr. Metoyer is very notable in this area due to his position as the father of a community that gives us a distinct element for our local culture. I know several of his descendants, and ‘several’ is probably short-changing things. The story of Marie Therese Coin-Coin is a remarkable one. The cleaning job was very straightforward, and I was able to see some immediate results. There will hopefully be a gradual improvement in the appearance of the marker between now and the SAR/DAR ceremony in October.
Below is a video of me talking about the different phases of the project.
On February 15 I headed east from Natchitoches and drove out to Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church near St. Maurice in Winn Parish. The cemetery is beyond the church and sits on uneven and sometimes even hilly ground. I was there to clean the grave of Mrs. Josephine Small, a flat concrete tablet with a vertical headstone. The front face of the headstone has an angel’s head and wings carved in relief at the top and an inscription below that reads:
JOSEPHINE
SMALL
OUR BELOVED
MOTHER
AGE 70
ASLEEP IN JESUS
Atop the headstone is a carving of a lamb. Around the neck of the lamb is a sort of casing or brace of a different material that I believe is there to protect this area, possibly due to previous damage.
Both the flat tablet and headstone were covered with a large amount of dirt and grime. Some biological growth was at the headstone end of the tablet, and much more was on the front, back and carving of the headstone.
I wet down the stone and realized that two environmental factors were working in my favor. The first was that despite the uneven terrain of the cemetery, this particular grave was remarkably level. Water poured on the stone did not run off the side. The second was that the weather that day was mostly cloudy, though it did not rain. Almost no direct sunlight struck the grave during my time at the cemetery. These two factors meant that the stone would not dry out took quickly while I was working, a big advantage for work that requires the stone be kept wet during the cleaning process.
During cleaning and immediately after, it was apparent that most of the staining on the tablet was dirt and grime that had built up to such a degree as to turn the stone almost black in some places. This came off in large amounts after two cleaning cycles. The grime on the headstone also came off to a large degree, along with some of the biological growth.
I returned a week later on February 22 to take some “after photos” and was very pleased with the overall results. The headstone showed less biological growth despite the fact that I do not think that it rained at the site during the interval, which would have washed off some of the dying growth. The bracing material looked significantly cleaner as well. The weather report says that it will rain quite a bit at the site tonight, so the grave may look even cleaner over the next few days.
NOTE: As always, I should mention that I do not clean to make things look pretty, but as a preservation procedure that extends the life of the resource. An improved appearance is an added bonus.
Here are some before and after photographs of the grave:
Before
After
Before
After
Before
After
See more photos of this cemetery on my flickr page.
Weaver Cemetery is located on Hwy. 120, west of the turnoff to I-49. It is fairly standard in terms of the type of markers and orientation. It is fairly large with a hill on one side and a large amount of space with no visible graves. The oldest grave I saw dates to the mid-1950s.
This is a rather sweet image:
While not a dominant practice, many graves in the area have benches for loved ones to sit on when they come visit.
The deceased receive many titles from those they leave behind: mother/father, son/daughter, friend, etc. Here they are referred to as the guardian angels of what I presume are their descendants.
NOTE: In my experience, nobody out-decorates the Bynogs pound-for-pound.
More support for my theory that there are Dowdens pretty much everywhere:
I’m not a fan myself, but I was very intrigued by this grave, which has a scene from a NASCAR race on the back.
Using Mrs. Lafitte’s 2001 year of death as a base date, here are the drivers who had most commonly driven each number car around that time:
3: Dale Earnhardt (Note: Any racing fan can easily tell you whose number this was. Earnhardt passed away in 2001, a few weeks after Mrs. Lafitte. No one has driven the 3 car since)
5: Terry Labonte
83: Not driven by anyone from 1994-2001, the most frequent driver prior to 2001 was Lake Speed. (a great name for a race car driver)
In another setting, this grave would not stand out so much. In Weaver, it is unique. It is a vault-type grave more commonly seen in African-American cemeteries. It may be a bit hard to see, but it has four bolts, two on each side, where others of the same type would normally have handles.
I have seen this emblem on three or four other graves at various sites, but I still don’t know what it means. One of the symbols looks like a communion wafer and chalice, and another looks like a crown. I don’t know what the other three could be. Let me know if you have any ideas.
This headstone appears to have had a fleur de lis of some sort attached to it at some point.
Many headstones have quotes from the Bible or the deceased. Every now and then something literary shows up, like this quote on the back of the headstone of Melba Page Palmer. It is an excerpt from The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam:
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
It’s a solemn, serious and thought-provoking piece of work. Not far away is something a little more lighthearted:
You’re a good man, Charlie Brown
The comic character theme continues just a little further on:
See more photos of this cemetery on my flickr page.
Friendship Cemetery is located on Friendship Road off of Stewart Loop, between Robeline and Many. It is across the street from Friendship Nazarene Church. The gate puts the founding date at 1948, so it is not too old and most of the graves are in very good condition. It is not very big compared to some other sites, but there are several graves that stood out as different from things I have seen anywhere else.
One feature not common to other cemeteries is a central walkway. This path runs the entire length of the site and ends at the rear gate.
There are at least two headstones with the following medallion set on the front, which shows the close relationship between the cemetery and the church across the street. It reads “Minister: Church of the Nazarene.”
I’ve seen Thibodeaux, but I’ve never seen Quibodeaux.
This grave has a metal plaque set in granite set behind the headstone. I do not know exactly what the hole in the middle is designed to hold, but in other places I have seen an urn with flowers or a candle.
I really liked this brick masonry work with an inset for decorations and metal plaque with the inscription.
In this case there is a metal gate set behind two headstones, with a cross set atop the gate. The gate does not surround the plots, so this is not a case of sectioning the graves off from their surroundings. The gate is likely just for decoration and perhaps represents the gates of heaven.
This is an example of a rather rare occurrence, that of adult siblings being buried side by side and sharing a headstone. This is seen much more often with married couples. In this case the sister is still alive. I really like the quote “Twins by birth/Friends by choice.” The back of the grave reads “Matthews Twins.”
This footstone at the Hutto grave is inscribed with a quote from Act V, Scene V from William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix’d in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, ‘This was a man!’
The site dates to 1948, but the oldest marker I saw on my visit was this one from 1952:
See more photos of this cemetery on my flickr page.
Fenders Cemetery is located across the street from the Sabine Parish Tourist & Recreation Commission, which is at 1601 Texas Highway in Many, LA. I went into the Commission building to ask if they could tell me anything about the cemetery, but I didn’t have much luck.
Fenders is hard for me to figure out. It has stones marking burials at least as far back as the 1870s. Some of the names appear to reflect first-generation immigrants. There are several different styles and levels of commemoration. There are even what appear to be ruins of brick vaults. If asked to describe it, I’m not sure I could.
On to the photos.
Fenders has something I’d never seen before, which is the trellis-post thingies (technical term).
How can you not love Schatzie?
And then there’s “Charlie Night Hawk.”
I’ve seen “Meet me at the river” and “I’ll see you on the mountain” but I’ve not been told that someone was coming to get me. (Tell them there’s no hurry)
It has been gratifying to see people of today making the effort to place markers on unmarked graves, though I cannot say for sure that they have not simply replaced an older and more historic marker.
Does it get any more Puritan than Civility?
Or more Biblical than Palistine? This is one of a group of about four markers made in the same style.
In the middle part of the cemetery are two brick vaults. One is in relatively complete condition, and the other is completely crumbled.
A large uprooted tree stump is nearby. This stump gives the answer to the question, “Why is Scotty not that fond of trees in cemeteries?”
That’s why.
Must…refrain…from making…English tea joke…
I really liked this tall monument for a man who died in World War II.
“He gave his life for his country”
Okay, maybe Enoch is more Biblical than Palistine.
See more photos of this cemetery on my flickr page.
As I searched through Google Maps looking for a cemetery to visit, I was very excited to see one called “Jerusalem Cemetery” because I thought it might be a Jewish cemetery hidden away somewhere. The only local Jewish Cemetery I knew of is on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. When I got a little closer, I saw the sign that tells me that the one on MLK is still the only local one of which I am aware.
Ah, well. Baptists are nice, too.
Jerusalem Cemetery is located on the south side of New Hope Road. The turnoff for the road is on Highway 6 between Many High School and the Town of Many. The year on the gate leading into the site indicates that it started in 1883. There are several older graves that fit in with this timeline. Overall the area is more empty than filled, with most of the graves concentrated in the central portion of the site.
This person has a question for the visitor:
I suspect I would be where he is.
Most of the time I don’t go on cemetery visits looking for anything in particular; I’m looking for something at the site that stands out to me. In some places it is decorations or inscriptions. Sometimes it is the landscape or setting of the site. In the case of Jerusalem Cemetery, I am sad to say that what stands out the most is the number of fallen, growth-covered or otherwise damaged headstones. Many of these–if not most–are among the older headstones and are in the same general area.
Why is this?
Perhaps the work done when putting in the markers was not the best. There may have been a storm or tornado that knocked over markers already weakened by weathering and erosion. Unfortunately, the idea that kept popping into my head was that these markers had all been damaged or knocked over on purpose. I can’t prove it, but the instances of markers flat on the ground next to the base on which they are supposed to rest keeps leading me in that direction.
This marker sits atop another broken marker.
Markers on the ground and an empty base:
I love the carving on this headstone, which evokes a “City of God” kind of feeling. I do not love the fact that it’s broken in half and lying on the ground.
Two more broken headstones:
In addition to those that are fallen or have suffered mechanical damage, there are several markers that are covered with biological growth or show signs of having been cleaned improperly–then covered with biological growth.
This marker is snow-white beneath a covering of growth. It sounds strange to say, but no marker this old should be this white. The stone has a sugary appearance to it that indicates a weakened state.
White marble markers aren’t the only ones that attract biological growth.
I’m curious about Jerusalem Cemetery. The site doesn’t appeared to be abandoned. There are recent burials there. There is contact information posted at the gate, so somebody has assumed some sort of responsibility for the site. In spite of all this there are shattered and growth-covered headstones that indicate either neglect or vandalism. It just seems to me that the condition of the older markers does not fit with the rest of what I see.
See more photos of this cemetery on my flickr page.
A recurring theme in area cemeteries is the use of flowers. Both real and artificial flowers are placed on graves in memory of the deceased. We find images of flowers carved into markers and memorials. They are often used to signify the fragility of life. Sometimes inscriptions describe the deceased as a flower in God’s garden, as seen below.
"God's garden has need of little flowers"
"An angel visited the green earth and took a flower away"
For whatever reason, most likely time and neglect, there are dozens of Woodmen of the World markers covered with biological growth of various colors.
I would love to clean this monument
I mentioned in my previous post that the western side of the cemetery was smaller and not as full as the eastern side; however, do not mistake this for being the “lesser” side in any way. I will be showing more photos from this side in order to highlight some of the newer aspects that have appeared at Thomas-Wren in the last couple of decades or so.
View from across the street of the western side of Thomas-Wren Cemetery
Some people see graves and think of depressing death. I usually don’t. However, it’s hard to avoid that reaction when there’s a big freaking coffin sitting right next to the front gate.
This coffin is next to the western gate
I like it when a grave’s appearance is tailored to the life of the deceased. It is even better when the tailoring goes beyond just an image or words. In this case the deceased was a brickmason, and the material and layout of the grave reflects this.
This grave reflects the deceased's trade as a brickmason
Angels usually hold something, pray, or look out at the world. I rarely see them look like they’re about to kiss.
The angel on the left appears to be about to plant one on the cheek of the other
I have seen angels. I have seen dogs. I have never seen an angel-dog.
"Angel Dog" sounds like the name of a band or a show on Cartoon Network
When it comes to statuary, the lamb is much more common, but the lion also has its place.
Lion
Here a hobby the deceased shared with his friends is shown. I thought it was nice that some outside the family were involved in contributing to this grave:
"Given in memory by: friends, bikers, and families"
I’ve seen several graves with an 18-wheeler on them, which I always think marked the deceased as a trucker. This marker indicates the career may continue as he drives the truck right on up to heaven.
An angel waits for the truck at the end of the road
This statue reminds me of the Ents from the “Lord of the Rings” series:
Dignified-looking fellow
The following grave was covered with red gravel and had these “footsteps” with words written on them and set in a row.
Footprints
"If I could be anyone I choose,"
"I'd follow in Grandpa's footsteps..."
"and try to fill his shoes."
At some point in the past, graveyards became not just places where dead bodies were buried, but places where the dead only slept peacefully until they were given new life. Here an angel sleeping on a bench decorates the grave.
Angel sleeping on a bench
I have mentioned that I look fondly on color in cemeteries. I’ve got nothing against gray–and have been told I look good in it–but anything that serves to liven up the place–no pun intended–is a welcome asset.
Sky and duck images in color on this grave
Back of the same grave, showing a sportsman's scene
This dog-shaped object is on top of the Suggs grave. I have not yet been able to determine if it was made like this or if it has eroded away into this condition. There are many crater-like depression covering the entire surface.
Object on top of the Suggs grave in Thomas-Wren
I have noted the presence of a lot of squirrel iconography. This sign takes it a bit further:
"Squirrel Crossing"
At some point while visiting Thomas-Wren Cemetery I first had the thought that the cemeteries in this area are wonderful places. No, there is not the presence of grand monuments and tombs that are found in New Orleans and other places around the state. However, the attention some of the graves receive, the decorations they hold and the feelings and emotions expressed by their inscriptions and actions of surviving loved ones are truly outstanding.
See more photos of this cemetery on my flickr page.
Front Gate of Thomas-Wren Cemetery
I don’t think it would be quite accurate to say that Thomas-Wren Cemetery is my favorite of the ones I have visited recently, but it is the only one that made me laugh out loud twice. There’s also so much stuff that I would like to return and take it all in again one day.
Thomas-Wren Cemetery is located on both sides of Highway 787 in Red River Parish. The eastern side is larger and mostly full. The western side is smaller and has more open area. There is a church set slightly apart from the cemetery’s fence on the eastern side. A few cars drove by during the time I was there.
I visited the cemetery the week before Halloween. I’m fairly certain that this decoration was there for the holiday, but how great would it be if it were there year-round? I was walking the rows of the cemetery, back and forth, back and forth. I didn’t really have my head up, or I would have noticed it sooner. So when I saw it for the first time, it caught me completely off guard, and I laughed out loud.
- This large spider decoration was on the grave during the week before Halloween
This is on the back side of a grave that had a lot of decorations. The rabbit is standing in front of a vase filled with flowers, and he’s holding a sign in his hands that also made me laugh.
- Rabbit with sign in front of flowers
- “Don’t Even Think of Eating These Flowers!”
Every now and then I see something that makes me think, “How can you not like these people?” Thomas-Wren may have more great nicknames per capita than any other site.
"Hotshot"
"Posh"
"Tater"
This grave was completely unlike any other in the cemetery in terms of material and shape.
I’m not sure what the situation is with this headstone. There is an inner part made of one material that contains the inscription, and an outer part that surrounds it. The crack in the middle of the inner stone leads me to think that it was repaired and the outer part fitted over it to hold it in place. The outer part shows no crack along the same line as the inner part. This is just a theory, however.
Inset
I noted a flat metal marker in Liberty Cemetery that stood out. Here is another in Thomas-Wren, and a vertical one at that. I’m always thrown a little by metal markers, even though they were much more popular at one point than they are now. I think I rapped on this one just to confirm that it was indeed metal.
Upright metal marker
Since this is only Part 1 of my writing about Thomas-Wren Cemetery, I’ll finish this part with an unfinished marker. It doesn’t even go so far as saying Born and Died, settling for B and D.
B and D
See more photos of this cemetery on my flickr page.
Scotty Stuff 