Tui Snider - author & speaker

Cemeteries & Symbolism

Six Feet – More Than Just a Social Distance

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[ For my FREE book about cemetery symbols, click here. The following is one reader’s review of my book 6 Feet Under Texas: Unique, Famous & Historic Graves in the Lone Star State. (That’s an affiliate link. I earn a few pennies if you buy my book after clicking it – at no extra cost to you!)]

Russell Andrew shared his review of “6 Feet Under Texas” with me.

Six Feet – More Than Just a Social Distance

by Russell Andrew

The following book review was written by Russell Andrew and first appeared in the Tarrant County College newsletter:

I’ve had a lot of time to read lately due to staying at home and one of my favorite recent books has been 6 Feet Under Texas: Unique, Famous & Historic Graves in the Lone Star State by local author Tui Snider.

Organized alphabetically by city and packed with pictures, the book includes stories about the graves of wild west gunfighters, depression-era outlaws, rock stars and space aliens to name just a few. 

Ms. Snider even solved the identity of an unknown one-legged tightrope walker (performing with a stove strapped to his back!) who passed away following an accident (What could have possibly gone wrong?) in Corsicana. If he were alive today he would definitely have been on America’s Got Talent!

There is also the story of a hobo who was mummified and went through a carnival, a chicken coop, two headstones, two funerals and a ballad on his way to finally resting in peace.

A famous ragtime composer is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.  Did you know that?  I didn’t.

You can visit the graves of two men in the Old City Greenwood Cemetery in Weatherford who were the inspiration for the Lonesome Dove book and mini-series.  I plan to!

Tarrant County graves are well represented in the book with entries from Fort Worth, Arlington and Keller. Being a resident of Keller, I checked out the pioneer burial cairns in Mount Gilead Cemetery. 

Before reading the book, I had no idea that Mount Gilead Cemetery was established in 1847 by the Peters Colony.  So much history is all around us if we just look!

Ms. Snider provides addresses for each cemetery to make planning your visit easier as well as websites and suggestions for further reading.

Check out 6 Feet Under Texas and I guarantee you will learn some Texas history you didn’t know!

If you’re intrigued by Russell’s review, you can check out the rest of the book by clicking here. (Psst! It makes a great Christmas gift for any genealogists or history buffs on your list, too.)

Are historic cemeteries your happy place?

Do you enjoy exploring historic cemeteries as much as I do? Check out my online store: GraveHour Gifts.

READ MY BOOKS: To see a list of all my published books, check out Tui  Snider’s Amazon page. 

Learn more about offbeat travel & historic cemeteries at my YouTube Channel

Want a FREE book? Click below:

Robby the Robot Forbidden Planet Costume (3D Printed)

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[ For my FREE book about cemetery symbols, click here.]

Homemade Robby the Robot Forbidden Planet Life-Size Costume

Last year, my mad scientist husband, Larry, built his own life-size Robby the Robot costume from scratch! There were no plans available for making one, so he painstakingly designed it all himself.

He even learned CAD and 3D printing in order to make his own Robby the Robot! This is one reason why his replica weighs 45 pounds as opposed to the original, which weighs about 125 pounds.

Since Halloween’s coming up, I made a video showcasing Larry making, building, and wearing his incredible replica costume of Robby the Robot, the iconic sci fi character first seen in the 1956 movie, “Forbidden Planet.”

Robby the Robot was featured in a bunch of films and TV shows, so even if you don’t think you know who he is, you’ve probably seen him somewhere. He’s been featured in shows including: Colombo, Addams Family, Love Boat, Big Bang Theory, and many more.

Have you ever seen Robby the Robot in a movie or TV show? Have you ever seen him in “Forbidden Planet” or “The Invisible Boy”?

Larry and I hope you enjoy this video and wish all of you Happy Halloween! :)

READ MY BOOKS: To see a list of all my published books, check out Tui  Snider’s Amazon page. 

Learn more about offbeat travel & historic cemeteries at my YouTube Channel

Want a FREE book? Click below:

Oakwood Cemetery Saints & Sinners Tour

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[ For my FREE book about cemetery symbols, click here. The following article is an adapted excerpt from my travel guide to haunted places called, Paranormal Texas. Full disclosure: it’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Win/win, right?]

Oakwood Cemetery gates in Fort Worth, Texas. photo (c) Tui Snider
Oakwood Cemetery gates in Fort Worth, Texas. photo (c) Tui Snider

Oakwood Saints and Sinners Tour 

What do you get when you combine live theater regional history and a beautiful texas burial ground? Why the Oakwood Cemetery Saints and Sinners Tour, of course!

Every October the North Fort Worth Historical Society chooses interesting characters from Oakwood Cemetery’s residents to “bring to life” through well-researched performances by costumed historians.

Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

2020 Consolation Prize!

Unfortunately, if you’re watching this in 2020 then I must tell you that there is no cemetery tour this year. (I’m sure you can guess why!) But that’s why I made this blog post and video. Since we can’t go this year, consider this a consolation prize!

I’ve been going to the Oakwood Cemetery Saints and Sinners Tour in Fort Worth, Texas since 2015. I’ve taken so many photos (and even a little bit of video.) I hope you enjoy this little blog post and companion video that I’ve put together. (To see the companion video, click this link or the image below: Oakwood Cemetery Saints and Sinners Tour.)

Cemeteries are Open-air Museums

I often say that historic cemeteries are open-air museums. That’s what I love about the Oakwood Cemetery Saints and Sinners Tour. It really brings history to life in a special way.

The performances are often quite funny, but some will bring tears to your eyes. I learn so much each year. I wish more historic cemeteries had tours like this.

Horse drawn hearse in Oakwood Cemetery (photo by Tui Snider)
Horse drawn hearse in Oakwood Cemetery (photo by Tui Snider)

Fort Worth is “Where the West begins”

Since Fort Worth is considered to be “Where the West begins,” these tours often give you a glimpse into Wild West history. You’ll learn about cattle barons, oilmen, gunslingers, cowboys, soldiers, suffragettes, shopkeepers, and more!

There’s even a section called Bartenders Row where Wild West saloon workers are buried. Another plot is nicknamed Soiled Doves Row. A soiled dove is a euphemism they used in the 1800s to describe what we would call a prostitute or sex worker today.

I go into more detail about the ladies in Soiled Doves Row, Bartenders Row, and other historic people in Oakwood Cemetery in my new book, 6 Feet Under Texas.

Me playing Faro! (photo by Larry Snider)
Me playing Faro! (photo by Larry Snider)

Faro versus Poker in the Wild West

One year I learned how to play Faro. I’d never even heard of it before! Faro is the card game you see people playing in Wild West movies. I always thought it was poker, but Faro was a very popular card game for gamblers.

And get a load of those guys’ mustaches! That’s a major commitment to history, am I right?

There's a trap door in the chapel floor - for raising & lowering coffins! (photo by Tui Snider)
There’s a trap door in the chapel floor – for raising & lowering coffins! (photo by Tui Snider)

Unique casket “elevator”

Whether you go before or after your tour, make sure you visit Oakwood’s Chapel. Not only will you see some really gorgeous stained glass windows. but they have a rectangular door in the floor up by the altar that has a rather unique function.

In the old days, caskets were stored in the basement where temperatures were naturally much cooler. When it was time for the memorial service, they would raise the casket up through this rectangular door in the floor. Clever, eh?

I wasn't the only one wiping my eyes after this WWII vet shared his story! (photo by Tui Snider)
I wasn’t the only one wiping my eyes after this WWII vet shared his story! (photo by Tui Snider)

Drop by my table and say hi!

I know it can be crowded, but when you come to the Saints and Sinners Tour you better stop by my table and say hi. Not in 2020, of course, but in the future.

I am a member of the North Fort Worth Historical Society and you can usually find me sitting with my husband, Larry, in the shade selling books and enjoying a really fun day at Oakwood Cemetery.

Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Is Oakwood the “John Smith” of cemetery names?

You’ve probably heard that John Smith is the most common name in America, right?

Well, I sometimes joke that Oakwood is the “John Smith” of cemetery names because it seems like every big city has at least one burial ground named Oakwood Cemetery.

How about you? Is there an Oakwood Cemetery near you? Let me know in the comments below.

Are historic cemeteries your happy place?

If, like me, historic cemeteries are your happy place, drop by my new store, GraveHour Gifts.

Plan your trip to Oakwood Cemetery’s Saints and Sinners Tour

To visit Oakwood Cemetery: You can visit Fort Worth’s Oakwood Cemetery year-round. The address is 701 Grand Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76164

Saints and Sinners Facebook page: To find about upcoming historic cemetery tours in Oakwood, visit their Facebook page. 

Tui Snider’s YouTube: I feature Oakwood Cemetery in several of my YouTube videos, so you may wish to check those out before your visit. Here’s the link: Exploring Historic Cemeteries.

To learn the spooky-but-true history behind a whole bunch of haunted places in North Texas (including Oakwood Cemetery), check out my travel guide: Paranormal Texas.

READ MY BOOKS: To see a list of all my published books, check out Tui  Snider’s Amazon page. 

Learn more about offbeat travel & historic cemeteries at my YouTube Channel

Want a FREE book? Click below:

Haunted Doll House Museum in Granbury, Texas

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[ For my FREE book about cemetery symbols, click here. The following article is an adapted excerpt from my travel guide to haunted places called, Paranormal Texas. Full disclosure: it’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you. Win/win, right?]

Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX
Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]

Doll House Museum in Granbury, Texas

The Granbury Doll House Museum has over 2500 dolls from around the world.  The dolls are on display throughout a two-story historic home that, when you think about it, kinda looks like a great big dollhouse.

This unique museum was founded by Jane Sharp and Barbara Williams. Jane and Barbara are sisters, and their Doll House Museum is truly a labor of love. The top floor of the house serves as a doll hospital, and is where the women painstakingly restore these historic playthings.

Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]
Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]

A labor of love

A walk through the Granbury Doll House reveals everything from mass-produced Barbies and G.I. Joes to handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces from famous doll makers.

Many of the dolls are donated by family members who no longer want them, but realize their historic significance. When there are no descendants to take these special dolls, Jane and Barbara fix them up and display them to the public.

Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]
Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX, Vicky shows us the Dolly Rekord doll. [photo (c) Tui Snider]

Thomas Edison’s Dolly Rekord Doll

One of the most unique exhibits is a 1922 Dolly Rekord doll. It contains a wax cylinder created by Thomas Edison that allows it to “speak.” (Watch my YouTube video about the Granbury Doll House if you want to see and hear this amazing historic doll in action!)

When I asked museum volunteer, Vicky, which doll was her favorite, she immediately showed us this fascinating, and very historic, Dolly Rekord doll that you can see in the above photo.

Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]
Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX. Selfie with Rhett and Scarlet. [photo (c) Tui Snider]

Fun for all ages

On my first visit, I had a couple men in tow. I didn’t think they would find the place interesting, but we ended up staying for nearly 2 hours! Although I did have a Raggedy Ann, a few Barbies, and a Little Women doll (Jo, the writer, of course!), I was quite a tomboy growing up. So even I wasn’t sure how fun the doll museum would be. Well, let me tell you: if you enjoy history and toys, you will love Granbury’s Doll House Museum. The women who work there are so knowledgeable.

Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]
“Clowning” around at the Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]

But is it a haunted doll museum?!?

As our visit drew to a close, I finally mustered up the courage to ask if the sisters ever experience paranormal activity at the museum. Some people are touchy about this, depending on their belief system, and the the last thing I wanted to do was irritate those lovely ladies!

The two merely laughed and told me the Granbury Doll House has its “share of spirits.” They went on to explain that not only do the Pirates of the Caribbean figures rearrange themselves on the shelf, but they often find some of them on the floor, as if they had been fighting.

Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]
Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX. The top light turns on by itself! [photo (c) Tui Snider]

Who’s afraid of the dark?

Another strange occurrence involves the second floor light. Even when they are sure they have turned it off, it often turns itself back on. When I suggested that perhaps one of the dolls is afraid of the dark, the women murmured that I just may have something there!

You can also watch my video of the Granbury Doll House Museum here:

Paranormal investigation at the haunted doll museum!

A few months later, I returned after hours to attend a paranormal investigation led by Greg Steven’s group, TxRIP. A command center was erected outside by the garage, and the air-conditioning was turned off inside the house.

This made for quite a hot experience. While I didn’t enjoy the sweat dripping down my back, this lack of a/c made the sudden pockets of ice-cold air during our investigation very obvious!

Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]
TX RIP investiaged the Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]

The results?

None of us felt anything sinister in the doll museum, but TX RIP detected several anomalies on their videos. You can visit their Facebook page, where they share results from their investigations by clicking here.

According to fellow author and noted psychic, Teal Gray, “For me, the highest concentration of energy was located near the stairs and the rooms to each side of the kitchen,” adding that, “A mischievous boy doll on top of the refrigerator with a big smile on his face seemed delighted we were there.” Overall, according to her psychic impressions, “The spirits seem to be very happy with Barbara and Jane running the museum .”

Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX [photo (c) Tui Snider]
Doll House Museum, Granbury, TX. Psychic, Teal Gray, joined the investigation. [photo (c) Tui Snider]

Plan your trip to the Granbury Doll House Museum

If you’d like to visit the museum, you’ll need to take a trip to Granbury, Texas. The museum is open most weekends from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. but I would check their Facebook page before going. Admission is free, and if the American flag is out, the museum is open.

To learn the spooky-but-true history behind a whole bunch more haunted places in North Texas, check out my travel guide: Paranormal Texas.

Let me know if you go to the Granbury Doll House or any of the other places in my books! And be sure to tell the ladies that Tui sent you! :)

Address: 421 Bridge Street, Granbury, Tx 76048

Website: www.facebook.com/TheGranburyDollHouse

What about you?

Think you’d enjoy visiting the Granbury Doll House Museum? Or would all the dolls make you nope right out of there?

READ MY BOOKS: To see a list of all my published books, check out Tui  Snider’s Amazon page. 

Learn more about offbeat travel & historic cemeteries at my YouTube Channel

Want a FREE book? Click below:

New book: “Influenced” by Patricia Josephine

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Brand new book from Patricia Josephine

You know those cartoons where a character has an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other? My friend, Patricia Josephine, has a brand new book out that takes a very playful look at these creatures who attempt to influence us mortals. It’s called Influenced, and here’s what it’s about:

Blurb for Influenced by Patricia Josephine

There is no Light without Dark.

Influencers are the voices that whisper in our ears. Tiny Angels and Devil sitting on our shoulders and guiding our choices. They are sworn to thwart the other. It is their duty.

Or so they thought…

Nothing is as it seems and questions are piling up. Do Kale and Ariel have the strength to face the truth? Will Antonia and Landon be forced to choose a side? Can Soleil break through to Kemuel? Three tales, three choices: Light. Dark. Or the shades of gray between.

Which one will win?

Author Interview with Patricia Josephine

1) Tell us a bit about yourself and your background as a writer.

Well, writing wasn’t on my bucket list. It wasn’t even on the radar. I was all about art in high school, then later, cooking. Most of my day jobs consisted of cooking in restaurants. I always had story ideas. I’d use them to lull myself to sleep. Sometimes. There’d be nights, I’d lay awake most of the night, musing on various stories. It wasn’t until I was bored one day that I decided to write the stories down. When I started my first young adult novel, it seemed like a story people would enjoy reading. I started looking into publishing. It exploded from there and now not writing is a very weird concept.

2) What does a writing day look like to you?

In 2019, I made myself a work schedule. The goal was to have a set time to clock in and out. One of the main reasons for this is I have two chronic illnesses and they can eat up my energy. It’s important that I use what energy I have wisely. With this new schedule, I can get anywhere from 2-5 hours of writing in a day. I also don’t write every day, but every other day. It gives me time to recharge and rest. I’m not doing nothing on those off days, though, I work on my art and crafts, so I’m still being productive. It’s just in a different way.

3) Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

There are a few inside jokes or name drops of people from my life. In Path of Angels there are two bullies named after ex-boyfriends. I thought it’d be hilarious to name them that because most people would do it to be petty.

4) What have you learned from being a writer?

I’m a stubborn person. Writing is hard. Publishing and selling books is harder. There’s been times I’ve felt like I sucked at it and would never find people who enjoyed reading my stories, but then I get stubborn and want to keep going to spite the world.

5) In your opinion, why write?

Why not? ;) Seriously though, I’ve been creative all my life and I think any creative endeavors, be it writing or art or crafts, are good for people. It gives them something to work toward and accomplish. When I finish a story or a knitting project, I feel good about myself. It boosts your self-esteem.

6) What genre do you write and why?

I’m bad and haven’t really stuck to one genre, but all my stories contain some fantastic element: vampires, werewolves, fairies, aliens, angels. Once I came up with a story idea that didn’t have any of that, but I had zero interest to write it. It was too close to real life, and I like to escape when it comes to reading. If you pick up one of my books, forget the world, and let me take you for a ride. *Warning, I may try to punch you in the feels.*

Buy Influenced here: Influenced

Patricia’s official author bio:

Patricia Josephine is a writer of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi Romance books. She actually never set out to become a writer, and in fact, she was more interested in art and band in high school and college. Her dreams were of becoming an artist like Picasso.

On a whim, she wrote down a story bouncing in her head for fun. That was the start of her writing journey, and she hasn’t regretted a moment. When she’s not writing, she’s watching Doctor Who or reading about serial killers.

She’s an avid knitter. One can never have too much yarn. She writes Young Adult Paranormal, Science Fiction, and Fantasy under the name Patricia Lynne.

Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo, and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow.

Follow Patricia online:
PatriciaJosephine.com 
Patreon 
Kofi
Facebook 
Newsletter 
Goodreads 
Amazon Author Page 

Buy Influenced here: Influenced

Have you seen Tui’s YouTube Channel?

Do you have questions about historic cemeteries and headstone symbols? Drop by my YouTube channel and let me take you one some virtual cemetery tours!

READ TUI’S BOOKS: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols,It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Grab a FREE book:






Fact vs Myth: The True Meaning of Coins on Military Headstones

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[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Grave Goods: The Meaning of Coins, Seashells & Other Items Left at Historic Cemeteries. I hope you enjoy it! Also, full disclosure: that’s an Amazon affiliate link. If you buy stuff after clicking it, I make a few pennies at no additional cost to you.]

Do coins mean specific things on military graves?

A modern urban legend that began making the rounds of the internet in 2009 claims that when coins are seen on military headstones, the different denominations mean specific things.

I wanted it to be true, but…

In recent years, readers have forwarded many articles about this to me, or told me about it in person. While it certainly sounds interesting, and I wanted it to be true, when I actually researched it, the story fell apart.

Red flags during research

To begin with, I was only able to find information about this practice online. It’s not in any of my reference book. Even worse, there were many inconsistencies in the accounts I read. For instance, according to one source, a quarter means you served in the same unit as the deceased, but according to another article, a quarter means that you were present when the deceased lost his life.

So which is it?

The same thing happened with all the other coins, too. Pennies, nickels, and dimes all meant something different according to different sources.

Myth vs Fact

Nor was I able to drill down to the origins of this practice.  I finally turned to snopes.com, a website that specializes in separating facts from urban legends. Unfortunately, this turns out that this is a modern myth.

Of course, you may still find coins on a military headstone, just as you may find them on anybody’s headstone. I merely want to clarify that the practice of having different coins signify specific things on military headstones is a recent idea and not a longstanding practice. (To learn more about the meaning of items left at gravesites, check out my book: Grave Goods on Amazon.)

(c) Tui Snider - Visitors often leave coins on the grave of Machine Gun Kelley in Paradise, TX
(c) Tui Snider – Visitors often leave coins on the grave of Machine Gun Kelley in Paradise, TX

Traditions must start somewhere!

And who knows? Perhaps the idea of “which coin means what” will be definitively codified and people will begin to follow this tradition in a consistent manner. After all, traditions have to begin somewhere!

Challenge Coins left on military headstones

In any event, grave goods ranging from stuffed animals and photographs to military medals and coins frequently appear on the graves of soldiers. There is even something called a “challenge coin” that may be left by military personnel on a headstone.

Challenge coins are non-monetary metal tokens that some military units provide in order to promote morale. These tokens may be inscribed with a soldier’s unit or other identifying information. Like other grave goods, a challenge coin may be left on a military headstone.

So what do coins ACTUALLY mean on headstones?

The practice of leaving coins with the deceased dates back to the ancient Greeks, who believed the rivers Styx and Acheron separated the living from the dead. A ferry trip was required to cross these waters, otherwise the soul of the deceased would be forced to wander the river banks for 100 years.

To avoid this, ancient Greeks placed a coin in the mouths of their dead as a way to pay Charon, the ancient ferryman.

These days, coins may be found on just about anyone’s grave, but I see them most frequently at the graves of historic figures, especially criminals, such as the notorious “Machine Gun Kelley.”

So while nickels, dimes, and pennies do not mean specific things, in general, coins left at gravesites are a way to let others know that a grave has been visited and that you are wishing them well.

Here’s a video for Identifying US Veterans Graves:

Since you’re here, do you know how to quickly identify 3 different types of official American military markers for soldier’s gravesites? To see more examples and learn some surprising cemetery history, check out the video I made, too:

Memorial Day’s Forgotten History – Then and Now!

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the different types of US military grave markers. As you can see, there’s a shield on the Civil War type, the Confederate type comes to a point, and the General Type lacks the shield, is rounded, and has space for a religious emblem of belief.

Do you know Memorial Day’s Forgotten History? Here’s a video I made explaining:

  • What did Memorial Day used to be called?
  • Why do we celebrate it in May?
  • What does 3pm have to do with Memorial Day?
  • How did Memorial Day change after WWII?

WANT TO LEARN MORE? READ MY BOOKS: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my books: Understanding Cemetery Symbols and Grave Goods. They’re available on Amazon.

Learn more at my YouTube Channel:

Do you have questions about headstone symbols? Drop by my YouTube channel and let me take you one some virtual cemetery tours! You can also tune in to my 30-minute historic cemetery podcast on the first Tuesday of each month: Tombstone Tuesday with Tui Snider.

READ MY BOOK: If you enjoy historic cemeteries and want to learn more, check out my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Grab a FREE book: