Tui Snider - author & speaker

Cemeteries & Symbolism

Exploring Historic Cemeteries: Oakwood Cemetery – Is there one near you?

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April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. 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.]

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

A Common Cemetery Name

I sometimes joke that “Oakwood Cemetery” is the “John Smith” of cemetery names because it seems like every city has a burial ground by that name. Many times after I give a cemetery symbolism talk, audience members will ask if I’ve been to Oakwood Cemetery. I’ve learned to clarify exactly which Oakwood they mean!

Oakwood Cemetery is like “John Smith”

My little town doesn’t have one, but a few miles away in Fort Worth, Texas, we have our own Oakwood Cemetery. It’s gorgeous, full of history, and I visit as often as possible.

That’s why this made me laugh:

Last time I visited “my” Oakwood Cemetery, it suddenly dawned on me that not only is it the “John Smith” of cemetery names, but it was actually founded by a guy named John Smith!  Lol! Not sure why it took me so long to connect the dots on that one!

Take a Virtual Cemetery Tour with Me:

Here’s a quick video from my most recent trip to my Oakwood Cemetery. Want to join me? Along the way, we’ll drop by the grave of a famous lawman (Longhair Jim Courtwright) who lost his life in a Wild West gun battle: click here to see the video.

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & 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 copy of my book:






Sign up below for your FREE book:

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Exploring Historic Cemeteries: New Testament Symbols, Christianity & the Zodiac

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April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. 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.]

Grave with symbols for the Four Evangelists. photo (c) Tui SniderGrave with symbols for the Four Evangelists. photo (c) Tui Snider
Grave with symbols for the Four Evangelists. photo (c) Tui Snider

Cemetery Symbols for the Four Evangelists

If you’re Christian, then you probably know that the first four books of the Bible’s New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Taken together, these four books are called “the Gospels,” and then men who wrote them are referred to as “the four evangelists.”

Grave with symbols for the Four Evangelists. photo (c) Tui Snider
Grave with symbols for the Four Evangelists. photo (c) Tui Snider

Angel, Lion, Ox, and Eagle

But did you know there are specific symbols linked with each of the four evangelists? An angel stands for Matthew, a winged lion means Mark, an ox stands for Luke, and an eagle stands for John.

This is why the city of Venice is full of winged lion imagery. Their patron saint is Saint Mark. Keep an eye out for these symbols the next time you visit a church.

Tui Snider and winged lion in Venice. photo (c) Larry Snider
Tui Snider and winged lion in Venice. photo (c) Larry Snider

Symbolic Headstone Features the Evangelists

As you can see, I found symbolic references to the four evangelists at this unique family headstone in Fort Worth’s historic Oakwood Cemetery.

Zodiac Signs for the Four Evangelists, too?

The four evangelists are also associated with the zodiac! This may seem strange to us now, but in the early days of Christianity, there was no distinction between astrology and astronomy . (Watch my video to learn more about this.)

Take a Virtual Cemetery Tour with Me:

I recently visited the unique headstone featured in this post over in Fort Worth’s historic Oakwood Cemetery. Would you like to come along? If so, click here to see the video.

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & 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 copy of my book:






Sign up below for your FREE book:

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Exploring Historic Cemeteries: Ragtime, Bartenders, and Bricklayers from Hell’s Half Acre

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April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. 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.]

Bricklayers Row in Oakwood Cemetery. photo (c) Tui Snider
Bricklayers Row in Oakwood Cemetery. photo (c) Tui Snider

So many fraternal organizations!

In the 1800s there were over 2000 different fraternal organizations and clubs across the USA. Back then, you wanted to belong to as many as you could. Why? Many of them provided social services to their members. Some of them had death benefits that included cemetery plots and headstones.

Bartenders Row in Oakwood Cemetery. photo (c) Tui Snider
Bartenders Row in Oakwood Cemetery. photo (c) Tui Snider

Bricklayers Row

In Fort Worth, for instance, members fo the Bricklayers International League of America were entitled to a burial plot and headstone in the prestigious Oakwood Cemetery. I was so puzzled the first time I saw their emblem. It was a new one to me!

Bartenders International League of America emblem in Oakwood Cemetery. photo (c) Tui Snider
Bartenders International League of America emblem in Oakwood Cemetery. photo (c) Tui Snider

Bartenders Row

As you can see, one year the local historic group (NFWHS) included Bartenders Row in their annual Saints and Sinners Tour. It was fascinating to hear him tell us what life was like serving up drinks down in the rowdy Hell’s Half Acre section of Fort Worth.

An actor brings Bartenders Row to life. photo (c) Tui Snider
An actor brings Bartenders Row to life. photo (c) Tui Snider

Does your cemetery feature any professions?

Even so, bartending was considered a respectable profession in those days. Oakwood Cemetery also has a section known as Bricklayers Row. As you can see from the photo, this area features some fancy brickwork.

Take a Virtual Cemetery Tour with Me:

I recently paid a visit to Euday Bowman’s mausoleum, Bricklayers Row, and Bartenders Row in Fort Worth’s historic Oakwood Cemetery. Would you like to come along? If so, click here to see the video.

Does your local cemetery include any areas dedicated to specific professions?

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & 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 copy of my book:






Sign up below for your FREE book:

We respect your email privacy

Exploring Historic Cemeteries: The Lost Cemetery of Infants

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April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Paranormal Texas. 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.]

Lost Cemetery of Infants – A Surprisingly Cheery Tale

While single mothers are common in today’s world, and it’s often an intentional life choice, back in 1894, single mothers were shunned by society and had few options.

And it wasn’t just unwed mothers; the world of 1894 didn’t include many choices for girls who were runaways, addicts, widows, or in other unfortunate situations. Many otherwise charitable institutions, including churches, routinely turned their backs on women facing hard times.

To see a 5-minute info-video I made to accompany this story (with photos of Rev. Upchurch and his wife) watch this:

Forward Thinking for 1894

So when Reverend James Tony Upchurch created the Berachah Industrial Home for the Redemption and Protection of Erring Girls, it was a daring move for 1894. His idea that these women could be taught a viable trade and reintegrated as independent members of society was edgy and controversial by the standards of his day.

Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

3 Simple Rules

There were only three rules at the Berachah Industrial Home. First off, you must never talk about the Berachah … Wait, no, that’s something else! Seriously, though, the first two rules were that each woman must do her chores and attend church each Sunday. The third rule required each unwed mother to care for her newborn for one full year before being allowed to give the child up for adoption.

Employable Skills for Women

For work, the women were taught a variety of employable skills for that era such as becoming a laundress, making handkerchiefs, typesetting, and printing. For the latter, the home published its own magazine called the Purity Journal. (I would love to read a copy of that, wouldn’t you?)

Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Spread Over 40 Acres

Over the years, the Berachah Institute spread over 40 acres and became a self-sustaining village. They even had a 1000-seat auditorium for meetings, plays, and concerts. In 1935, Reverend Upchurch’s daughter took the reigns and turned the place into an orphanage. Things went downhill, however, after his death in 1950, and by the late 60’s all the buildings were torn down, the land parceled up, and sold off.

Lost Cemetery of Infants

Today, all that remains of the Rev. Upchurch’s life’s work is a well-hidden graveyard. While it’s come to be known as the “lost cemetery of infants,” there’s no indication that anything nefarious occurred. Considering that it was a home for unwed mothers, there were bound to be some still births and other complications.

Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

First Names or Numbers Only

Most of the grave markers are flat stones rather than standing markers, so they are easy to miss. For the babies too young to have been named, the markers bear only a number, such as “Infant 46.” Other markers simply display a first name. Omitting the last name was a courtesy meant to protect the unwed mother’s anonymity.

Surprisingly Uplifting Story

As I researched this story, I kept waiting for it to turn sinister, to find out that Rev. Upchurch was abusive, or sold the children into slavery or some other awful thing. Instead I came away with an admiration for his lifelong dedication to empowering those who society had turned its back on. (In fact, this is one of those intriguing Texas tales that makes me want to write historical fiction!)

Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Is Arlington’s Lost Cemetery of Infants Haunted?

Reported activity at this site includes shadowy figures seen darting between the trees, the sensation of being watched, the sounds of children’s voices, and small toys appearing (and disappearing) on graves. Some paranormal investigators have even reported feeling as if their hair was being stroked by invisible hands.

If you are interested in ghost hunting, this would be a good place to bring small toys as trigger items for EVP’s and other paranormal activity. If you do, let me know!

Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)
Lost Cemetery of Infants in Arlington, Texas (photo by Tui Snider)

Plan your trip to Lost Cemetery of Infants

Address:
Lost Cemetery of Infants
Doug Russell Park
801 West Mitchell St.
Arlington, TX 76013

Please note: The cemetery is located in the northwest corner of Doug Russell Park. It has a chainlink fence around it, but the entry gate is unlocked. Like so many things in life, if you don’t know it’s there, it’s easy to overlook. If you’re looking for it, however, it is easy to find.

WANT TO READ THE REST OF THE BOOK? This post is an adapted excerpt from my travel guide to haunted places, a book called Paranormal Texas.

If you enjoy exploring historic graveyards, you might also enjoy reading my book: Understanding Cemetery Symbols.

Leave a comment:

If you enjoyed this story, leave a comment below! I look forward to hearing from you!

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & 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 copy of my book:






Sign up below for your FREE book:

We respect your email privacy

Exploring Historic Cemeteries: His Grave Taunts the KKK!

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April A to Z Challenge 2020: It’s that time of year! Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to make friends online. Here’s my post for today:

[The following is an adapted excerpt from my book, Understanding Cemetery Symbols. 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.]

Trinity Cemetery gates. photo (c) Tui Snider
Trinity Cemetery gates. photo (c) Tui Snider

First Black Millionaire in Texas

William “Gooseneck” McDonald was born in 1866 to parents who had both been slaves. Yet in his lifetime, he became a successful businessman and politician. McDonald was so successful, in fact, that he became the first black millionaire in Texas!

Obelisk erected for Gooseneck Bill McDonald. photo (c) Tui SniderObelisk erected for Gooseneck Bill McDonald. photo (c) Tui Snider
Obelisk erected for Gooseneck Bill McDonald. photo (c) Tui Snider

Opulent Obelisk in Trinity Cemetery

Gooseneck McDonald is buried in Trinity Cemetery, which is the black section of Fort Worth’s Oakwood Cemetery. As you can see, his 38-foot-tall obelisk towers over the other monuments in the burial ground.

Obelisk erected for Gooseneck Bill McDonald. photo (c) Tui Snider
Obelisk erected for Gooseneck Bill McDonald. photo (c) Tui Snider, inset photo via Wiki Commons

Full View of the Local KKK Building

This pricey monument was placed in a very particular spot, however. McDonald made sure that his monument stood in full view of the building where the local faction of the KKK met!

Learn More & Take a Virtual Cemetery Tour with Me:

I recently paid a visit to Gooseneck McDonald’s magnificent monument and shared a video to YouTube. Come along with me to learn:

  • What do obelisks symbolize?
  • How did William Gooseneck McDonald use his grave to taunt the KKK in Fort Worth, Texas?
  • What does it mean when Christians use ancient Egyptian symbols in graveyards?
  • And more!

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & 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 copy of my book:






Sign up below for your FREE book:

We respect your email privacy

Historic Cemeteries A to Z

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Historic Cemeteries A to Z. (photos (c) Tui Snider)
Historic Cemeteries A to Z. (photos (c) Tui Snider)

April A to Z Challenge 2020:

Every April, bloggers around the world make posts for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to find new blogs to read.

Historic Cemetery Theme

Most bloggers choose a theme for their A to Z posts, and I’m no exception. I chose “historic cemeteries” as my theme, and most of my posts are adapted excerpts from my book Understanding Cemetery Symbols. I added a LOT more photos, though!  [ 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.]

My Master List of Cemeteries from A to Z:

Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with all the ones you want to read, though. So here’s a Master List with all my A to Z   :

A- What do Anchors Symbolize? (It’s probably NOT what you think!)
B- Why are Benches so Common in Historic Cemeteries?
C- So Many Different Types of Crosses! 
D- Double-Headed Eagles
E- Let’s Talk about Epitaphs
F- Why Do Saints & Angels Go Bare Foot? 
G- What do Grottos Symbolize?
H- Grave Houses, Shelters,  & Other Covers
I- What does IHS actually stand for?
J- Jewish Acronym for “here lies”
K- His Grave Taunts the KKK! (Also: What do Obelisks Mean?)
L- Lost Cemetery of Infants (A Surprisingly Cheery Tale!)
M- Musicmakers, Bartenders & Bricklayers from Hell’s Half Acre
N- New Testament Symbols, Christianity & the Zodiac
O- Oakwood is the John Smith of Cemetery names
P- Paranormal Texas: The Tragic Tale of Sally Bowman
Q-
R- Roswell of Texas: Space Alien Grave
S- Serial Killer Grave
T- What’s a Tumulus?
U- Urban Legends in Historic Cemeteries
V- Virtual Cemetery Tour: Mounded Seashell Graves
…and more on the way!
W- What are Grave Goods?
X- X Marks the Spot!
Y-
Z- Zinc Monuments a.k.a. “White Bronze”

Tombstone Tuesday = a monthly cemetery podcast

Since you’re here, I’d like to invite you to tune into my podcast. On the first Tuesday of the month, I host Tombstone Tuesday, a 30-minute podcast about exploring historic cemeteries. To listen live or catch the replay: Click here

Learn more at my Historic Cemetery Podcast & Facebook Page:

Do you have questions about symbols you’ve seen on headstones? Drop by Exploring Historic Cemeteries on Facebook and let me know! And 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 copy of my book:






Sign up below for your FREE book:

We respect your email privacy