Adairsville, Georgia

Zoning Out ~ The Burial Zone:  The burial zone is the cemetery’s raison d’etre, but it quickly disappears from view. What we know about the departed is what we observe in the proximate visible landscape. Grass becomes the great equalizer, and memorials begin their work of differentiating one grave from another. Eastview Cemetery. [2013]

Cincinnati, Ohio

Zoning Out ~ The Burial Zone:  Once the grave is dug, a burial vault is inserted, and the casket lowered. Vaults are water-resistant and strong enough to prevent settling and compression. Once internment takes place, however, the burial zone becomes irrelevant to the life world. Its edges are solid system boundaries. It's a rare sight to see so many burial vaults above ground. St. Joseph's Cemetery. [2013]

New Orleans, Louisiana

Zoning Out ~ The Burial Zone:  A spatial analysis of cemeteries is facilitated by recognizing the existence of four zones: (1) burial zone, (2) grave marker, (3) contiguous zone, and (4) land use zone. The most important from a functional perspective is the burial zone. It is the space that envelops the mortal remains, whether corpse or ashes. Here, the earth is being prepared to take back its offspring. End of story. Holt Cemetery. [2011]

Blanding, Utah

Miners to the End:  What did he love in life? (1) his religion, (2) his marriage, (3) his children (4) his job in the mine, (5) his service station, and (6) Blanding. What did she love in life? (1) her religion, (2) her marriage, (3) her children, (4) her service to the community, (5) her piano, and (5) Blanding. This couple's life was about more than the mine. As for the evergreens and cones: symbols of everlasting life and the promise of rebirth. Blanding City Cemetery. [2013]



Our Love of Blanding is Only Exceeded
By Our Love of Our Children

 

Durango, Colorado

Miners to the End:  His name, dates, and mate are on the other side. This side is devoted entirely to the mine. It would be nice to think it was a silver mine since the cemetery is located in La Plata County. La plata means silver in Spanish. He died in 1977. Greenmount Cemetery. [2013]

Rainelle, West Virginia

Miners to the End:   It was the mine that supported the family.  Everyone should know that, and for a while they will.  But, these 'decorations' are ephemeral.  It's the bronze marker that's permanent.  Two types of space are available for commemoration of the dead:  (1) space on the marker, and (2) space contiguous to the grave.  On another front:  it's Mom 3, Dad 1.  Wallace Memorial Cemetery.  [2010]

Another Coal Miner in Heaven

 

Laramie, Wyoming

Green Hill Cemetery:  Not only do we have a map here, we have a conservation problem that is typical for granite headstones in dry regions. Out-a-limb hypothesis: feldspar in granite that has not been polished (lines, letters, images) is undergoing chemical weathering as rain water (slightly acidic) pools in cuts, becomes a clay-ey solution, and leaves a trail as it evaporates while weeping. Now, please, let's have an expert's assessment. . . . [2013]