Thursday, April 14, 2011

Dirt Nap

DSC04951 by midgefrazel
DSC04951, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.
I keep saying that I am going to measure the distance between the New England style headstone and footstone arrangement but I never get it done.

Well, today I remembered to lie down on the ground to measure the amount of space. Traditionally, the casket containing the remains of the person is supposed to be placed behind the inscribed headstone and the back of the inscribed footstone. People visiting the grave are supposed to be able to look at the information on the headstone and then walk around the body's placement to look at the footstone.

I am five feet tall. I am guessing that this footstone at one time was further away than it is now since I can't recline easily between the stones. In many graveyards, footstones are moved for the purposes of grass mowing.

Revolutionary War Cemetery in Sudbury, MA

5 comments:

Denise said...

I've also been told footstones are easier to "relocate" for maintenance purposes. Also told that footstones are sometimes moved to accommodate larger headstones in the row below.

But what a cute pic!! I first thought you were just trying to get a nap in while walking among the stones. Then I wondered if a "liquid" lunch was involved?? :)

Heather Wilkinson Rojo said...

If you don't fit, imagine me! They'd have to fold me up like a pretzel...A very cute photo!

Midge Frazel said...

I would have like to lie down on my own ancestor but as this grave is VERY special, this spot will have to do. [Stay tuned]

This photo, taken this morning by my husband, required only iced coffee for liquid refreshment. The ground is still very cold here.

Anonymous said...

Hi Midge, I think you are correct. Though some men of the 18th and early 19th Centuries were short, I doubt that many were under five feet tall! Even my own sea-faring ancestors in Mystic were around five and a half feet tall. I like your photograph, by the way.

Shanna Riley said...

I have always wondered what the exact measurement was b/tw headstone and footsone (or if there even IS one).

Thanks much - and, btw, just found you and am *in love* with your blog & resources and will be linking you to my own immediately!