Dusty D has long enjoyed taphophilin' around in Washtenaw County cemeteries. There are interesting things in each one without exception, but Highland of course is my favorite. I made a little tour of the south side of the cemetery with a pdf guide you can print out and take over there. This was major fun to research, but difficult, too--there's a lot of vague or somewhat urban-legendy type info out there about some symbols (urn in particular, ugh!) and it took a bit of work to clarify some things. But I love that kind of hunt. At any rate, I hope you enjoy this tour and the north-side tour is coming in 2 weeks.
Showing posts with label iconography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iconography. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tour of Highland Cemetery Grave Iconography
Dusty D has long enjoyed taphophilin' around in Washtenaw County cemeteries. There are interesting things in each one without exception, but Highland of course is my favorite. I made a little tour of the south side of the cemetery with a pdf guide you can print out and take over there. This was major fun to research, but difficult, too--there's a lot of vague or somewhat urban-legendy type info out there about some symbols (urn in particular, ugh!) and it took a bit of work to clarify some things. But I love that kind of hunt. At any rate, I hope you enjoy this tour and the north-side tour is coming in 2 weeks.
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Hands of Highland Cemetery
Dusty D has been working on writing a small self-guided tour of some of the most beautiful and interesting iconography to be seen in Highland Cemetery. The guide includes a map to go from spot to spot and a brief explanation of what the various symbols are said to mean. The tour will be a printable pdf and will form my upcoming story for the Ann Arbor Chronicle.
One of the areas of tombstone iconography that fascinate me are the depictions of hands. In Highland, there are hands pointing up to heaven, down-pointing hands holding the "broken chain" of a severed family connection, hands pointing to a book, representing the Bible, hands pointing a scroll curled around an arrow, and this handclasp, representing the deceased being welcomed into Heaven by Jesus.
One wonders, just out of curiosity, if it is the left hand or the right hand depicted here on Tillie Booth's grave that is the hand of Jesus.
Other things included in the tour are: graves showing the "draped urn" symbol, the "sheaf of wheat" symbol, the ivy symbol, and symbols corresponding to occupations and fraternal groups. It also features the three (?) dogs to be seen in Highland.
I'd like to know what you think would be of interest to a visitor not necessarily familiar with Highland. Is there a grave of particular beauty that is a favorite of yours? An unusual symbol you've noticed? I can include a quote by you about it if you give me permission to quote you. Time to go back to the cemetery now for more research!
