Paying It Forward
Anyone who has worked on a cemetery project knows that it's a lot of hard work often filled with blood, sweat and tears -- and funded by pocket change and begged donations. Fortunately, there are now online community options for raising funds for worthy projects. Indiegogo is one such site.
With "Paying It Forward," I'd like to give voice to some of the cemetery-related projects that are out there. If you have a cemetery project on Indiegogo or a similar site that you need help with, let me know about it! - Minda Springdale Cemetery: Will It Play in Peoria? Yes!
I've always liked the phrase, "Will it play in Peoria?" Probably because I'm a native of Illinois, and nobody ever asked if it will play in Moline. I like the hometown feel of the question and the idea that if people in Peoria don't dig something, nobody will.
This being said, if you are a taphophile, Springdale Cemetery in Peoria is a definite hit. Springdale was established in 1855 and sprawls across 225 acres of rolling hills, woods, a creek and lush greenery. It is a rural cemetery at its finest. To see more photos and learn more about Springdale and my recent visit, check out my blog. (When you click the blog link, there's actually a new post there! 6/5/13!) Buy 'Cemetery Walk' for only $3.49 at Kobo.com!
Kobo.com has my book "Cemetery Walk: A Journey into the Art, History and Society of the Cemetery and Beyond" for only $3.49. Even if you don't have a Kobo eReader, you can download the app for your device (iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, PC, etc.) for free.
You can also purchase my book "Images of America: Chippiannock Cemetery" at Kobo for only $12.99. Taphophile of the Week: Martin Siegling
 Martin Siegling
(5/25/13) How long have you been interested in cemeteries and why? The answer lies--as it often does--in the music. As a young teen, I was influenced by my older brother who listened a lot to the John Peel Radio Show. And in the early to mid-eigthies, that meant it was full of Post-Punk, Gothic and New Wave. And that, naturally, leads to cemeteries. When I first saw the cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart," I wanted to see that angel for myself. In the early 90s, my girlfriend (she's now my wife) introduced me to photography, and on a trip around south Europe, we visited a cemetery in Madrid. I guess that's where I caught the bug .... What are your favorite cemeteries? (we all have more than one!) The Camposanto Staglieno in Genoa, Italy springs immediatly in mind. Nothing comes even close. On second place comes the Cimitero Monumentale Milano. The best in Germany was--so far--the Melaten-Friedhof in Cologne. This interview gave me the opportunity to dive again into my huge collection of cemeteries, and again I cannot help to recognize that cemeteries tend to be far more interesting and beautiful if they are Catholic. At least if you're after sculptures, which I am. I've visited 46 cemeteries since 2009 (the year I really took off) and made until today 6,843 pictures that are worthy to be kept (at least i think they are worthy). And of these 46 Cemeteries I've visited five in Italy. And made about 1,900 pictures there. That's how good they were. What are your favorite monuments? That is a tough one. I would distinguish between the monuments themselves and the pictures I've made. And since the list of my favorites changes all the time, I'll give you my all-time favourites that are not all-time at all but rather like a snapshot of favorites I have this time of the week .... (see pics below). The first one is a sculpture of a naked beauty at the Staglieno Cemetery. It's an amazing piece of art. The next one is, scuplture-wise, not very notable, but I love the photo. That's one I'm really proud of. The third was taken in Verona, Italy. It's just unbelievably beautiful. That man is desperately clinging to his wife who is ascending to heaven. My last selection is from Bielefeld, Germany, about half an hour from my home. I love her expression! And I'm quite proud of that photo .... I can't tell you the name of the monuments because I mostly don't bother about facts like that. I try to make good pictures of beautiful and/or interesting monuments, regardless the owner. I'm not sure if this is unusual for a Tapophile, but then i've never met another in the wild to discuss this matter. What is the farthest you've traveled to visit a cemetery? I would say the Prazeres Cemetery, Lisboa, Portugal. It's about 1,400 miles from home. But it's a bit like cheating, because the main purpose of that trip was a family holiday. On second place would be Budapest, Hungary. That is about 600 miles from home. What has been the most surprising thing you've seen in a cemetery? The sign at the entry of the Cimitero Monumentale Torino that clearly depicts that taking pictures is strictly forbidden. That was not only surprising. It was shocking!! What do you tell people if they think your cemetery infatuation is weird? What's wrong with being weird? Everybody is weird. Some more, some less. I myself take pride to be bonkers. What cemeteries are on your bucket list? Every single cemetery in any city in Italy that has more than 30.000 residents is worth a visit. So the list is rather long. Then there's London: The famous cemeteries in London are called the "Magnificent Seven". I've seen three of them so four remain. On top on that list is a revisit to Paris. The last time i was there we only had an analog camera and not enough film. Visit Martin's website. See more featured taphophiles on my blog! Say It Loud, Say It Proud!
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Gravestone Information Submissions
Cemetery Research (Epitaphs Magazine) Tools for You Links Library Art & Poetry Book Reviews Genealogy Books by Minda Advertise  The Sunken Cemetery of Camiguin
Photo by Shubert Ciencia, Wikipedia Creative Commons
Story by GhostWriterL (5/16/13) Sоmе оf uѕ wаnt tо еxреrіеnсе ѕоmеthіng оut оf thе оrdіnаrу. Sоmе lооk fоr brеаth-tаkіng ѕсеnеrу, ѕоmе уеаrn fоr а tаѕtе оf hіѕtоrу, whіlе ѕоmе wіѕh tо lеаrn mоrе аbоut thе ѕuреrnаturаl. Vеrу fеw рlасеѕ іn thе wоrld hаvе аll thеѕе thrее, аnd thаt рlасе іѕ саllеd Cаmіguіn. Thе Cаmіguіn Iѕlаnd іѕ lосаtеd аt thе сеntеr оf thе Phіlірріnе Arсhіреlаgо. Fоr сеnturіеѕ, јuѕt lіkе thе rеѕt оf thе соuntrу, іt wаѕ а fоrmеr роѕѕеѕѕіоn оf Sраіn, thе Unіtеd Stаtеѕ, аnd Jараn. Thіѕ fасt hаѕ аllоwеd Cаmіguіn tо gаіn аnd dеvеlор ѕеvеrаl fеаturеѕ thаt ѕераrаtе іt frоm thе rеѕt, bу lеарѕ аnd bоundѕ. Hеrе wе gо. Cаmіguіn'ѕ nаturаl hоt ѕрrіngѕ, соld ѕрrіngѕ, аnd wаtеr fаllѕ аrе wеll-knоwn thrоughоut Aѕіа аnd thе rеѕt оf thе wоrld fоr thеіr рrіѕtіnе wаtеrѕ аnd unѕроіlеd ѕtаtе. Ardеnt hоt ѕрrіngѕ, wаrmеd bу thе асtіvе vоlсаnо Mt. Hіbоk-hіbоk, іѕ rumоrеd tо hаvе grеаt hеаlіng роwеrѕ, аnd іѕ vіѕіtеd оftеn bу реорlе whо lооk fоr оthеr аltеrnаtіvеѕ wауѕ tо mаіntаіn оr іmрrоvе thеіr hеаlth Thе сеnturіеѕ-оld соlоnіаl Rоmаn Cаthоlіс сhurсhеѕ аnd аnсеѕtrаl hоmеѕ аrе fаmоuѕ fоr thеіr unіquе аrсhіtесturе аnd hіѕtоrу. Thеѕе ѕtruсturеѕ wеrе mаіnlу іnѕріrеd bу еіghtееnth-сеnturу Sраnіѕh ѕtуlеѕ аlbеіt wіth а lосаl flаvоr. Thеу hаvе іnсоrроrаtеd thе uѕе оf іndіgеnоuѕ mаtеrіаlѕ fоr соnѕtruсtіоn, аnd hаvе wеаthеrеd thе tеѕt оf tіmе. Hоwеvеr, thе mаіn аttrасtіоn оf Cаmіguіn іѕ іtѕ ееrіе undеrwаtеr сеmеtеrу. Thе сіtу сеmеtеrу оf thе Cаmіguіn'ѕ оld саріtаl wаѕ burіеd undеrwаtеr аftеr а vеrу vіоlеnt еruрtіоn оf Mt. Vulсаn thаt lаѕtеd fоr аlmоѕt fіvе уеаrѕ іn thе lаѕt quаrtеr оf thе nіnеtееnth сеnturу. Thе сеmеtеrу, аlоng wіth thе іѕlаnd'ѕ fоrmеr саріtаl сіtу, wаѕ реrmаnеntlу ѕubmеrgеd іn ѕеаwаtеr ѕіnсе thеn. Rumоrеd tо bе thе hоmе оf mаnу lоѕt ѕоulѕ, thе ѕunkеn сеmеtеrу hаѕ bесоmе а fаmоuѕ dіvіng ѕроt fоr mаnу еnthuѕіаѕtѕ uр tо thіѕ dау. To see more photos, click here. Minda's Latest Video (4/14/13)
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Merchandise for Sale
Still need to pick up some gifts for the taphophile or genealogist in your life? Look no further! Right now I have a surplus of wax cakes for gravestone rubbings (these are handmade and blended by me). I also have some T-shirts, bumper stickers, stickers, a key chain, Gravestone in Your Pocket packs, and car magnets still available. (Prices do not include shipping and handling.)
E-mail me now to make your purchase! At these prices, they won't last! Purchase $30 or more and get FREE shipping! 
• "I Dig Cemeteries" T-shirt - $15 each
• Wax rubbing cakes - $4 each (2 for $7, 3 for $10) - Red (1) - Orange (2) - Deep blue (3) - Charcoal (2) - Green (1) - Red/magenta (4) - Purple (2) - Brown (0) • Car magnets - $15 each (11.25" x 8.5") - "Save cemeteries ... it's patriotic!" version - Version below 
• "I Dig Cemeteries" stickers - 2 for $1
• "I Dig Cemeteries" stickers - 2 for $1 (3" x 2")
• Gravestone in Your Pocket - $3
- Set of 25 business-size cards you can carry with you or in your glove box for research on the go. Only available on TheCemeteryClub.com. 
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Reflection Stones
The perfect gift that will last forever.
Custom-made granite plaques for any occasion. (When you place your order, tell them TheCemeteryClub.com sent you!) www.ReflectionStone.com
Custom-made granite plaques for any occasion. (When you place your order, tell them TheCemeteryClub.com sent you!) www.ReflectionStone.com
