Cemetery Superhero

Every county needs a cemetery superhero. Here in Essex County, we are blessed to have one. His name is Ken Turner. Ken is the founder and president of the Essex County Historical Cemetery Preservation Society. He, along with about 30 volunteers, search out and restore abandoned and neglected cemeteries in Essex County.

Essex County is the oldest, continuously settled area west of Montreal. We have some ery old and interesting cemeteries, with some historically significant people laid to rest in them. According to Ken, many early grave sites were abandoned as settlers and churches moved on. Often they are reclaimed by nature, overgrown with weeds and bushes and the tombstones have become submerged in the earth. Ken uses old land survey records and newspaper obituary notices to find the locations of these cemeteries. Sometimes it is a battle to have the graves recognized by the current landowner.

At one of his presentation's which I attended, Ken shared how a landowner continued to plow his field and plant crops in spite of the fact that Ken had informed the owner there were graves on his property. Because the Ontario Cemeteries Act is weak, unregistered cemeteries in this province can be moved or removed at whim! It is up to the owner of the land where the cemetery is located to apply to have it registered.

The good news is that once an abandoned grave site is identified, and the landowner gives permission, Ken and his team go to work repairing old tombstones, cutting back bushes, weeds and grass. Often a fence is erected to protect the site and the graves are then cared for.

Thanks to the hard work of the Essex County Historical Cemetery Preservation Society a few more grave sites in our county have been saved.

Don't you wish you had a cemetery superhero like Ken?

Getting To Know The Essex County Graveyard Rabbit

Every Wednesday at The Association of the Graveyard Rabbit is "Meet A Rabbit". It is a weekly series featuring the members of the Association in order of their membership. Featuring a member each week allows each member to introduce themselves and explain the purpose of their Graveyard Rabbit blogs.

I am excited to share with you this week's "Meet A Rabbit' as it is me. Please take a few moments to read my post at Meet "The Essex County Graveyard Rabbit".

Victoria Memorial Gardens

Established in 1929, Victoria Memorial Gardens is a beautifully kept cemetery on the outskirts of Windsor. As you drive into the cemetery, directly in front of you is this island monument which was dedicated to Queen Victoria in 1932.

Queen Victoria Monument, Victoria Memorial Gardens, Windsor, ON. Digital Photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake Hogan UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Windsor, ON, December 2008.

There are a number of cremation plots on this island, including the graves of my grandparents, Joseph Brinley George and Dorothy May (Evans) George.

Grave Marker of Joseph Brinley George and Dorothy May (Evans) George, Victoria Memorial Gardens, Windsor, ON. Digital Photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake Hogan UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Windsor, ON, December 2008.

Also laid to rest in the plot just below my grandparents is my uncle, Angus George and my mother, Edie Carlisle-Michon.

Grave Marker of Brinley Angus Dewar George & Edie Carlisle-Michon, Victoria Memorial Gardens, Windsor, ON. Digital Photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake Hogan UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Windsor, ON, December 2008.

I spent some time looking at some of the other markers in the cemetery. I found the grave of a young man who fought in the Vietnam War.

Grave Marker of Private Bryan MacKinnon, Victoria Memorial Gardens, Windsor, ON. Digital Photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake Hogan UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Windsor, ON, December 2008.

This is one of the older graves in the cemetery. Since all of these markers are made of brass, over time they change to this beautiful verde gris colour.

Grave Marker of Bessie Hillier, Victoria Memorial Gardens, Windsor, ON. Digital Photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake Hogan UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Windsor, ON, December 2008.

At the rear of the cemetery is what appears to be a new section with upright, marble markers. These markers are all quite large. Most of them are beautifully inscribed. Some have photographs, or a portrait carved into the marble.

New Section of Victoria Memorial Gardens, Windsor, ON. Digital Photograph. Privately held by Kathryn Lake Hogan UE, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Windsor, ON, December 2008.

All of these graves are recent, or they are plots with markers for those who have pre-planned their arrangements and are still living. Out of respect for their privacy, I chose not to show individual photos of the grave markers.

Victoria Memorial Gardens is a well manicured and cared for cemetery. I think I might like to be laid to rest here when my time comes.

The Cemeteries of Essex County, Ontario

There are many cemeteries in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. Some are large. Some are small. Some are carefully tended and preserved. Some are abandoned and forgotten.
My purpose in writing this blog and being a member of The Association of Graveyard Rabbits is to share the cemeteries of Essex County so that they will not be forgotten.
I don't know the names of many of the cemeteries here in Essex County. It is my hope that by exploring and documenting them, I will gain not only more information and knowledge, but also an appreciation for each one. I hope you as a visitor or perhaps a regular reader, will gain those things, too.