Blog on Writing & Life

Check out my brand new book:

Guess what? I’ve got a brand new book about historic cemeteries coming out on Sunday! It’s called Grave Goods. Here’s a one-minute book trailer I made for it:

What are Grave Goods?

Grave goods are items left at a gravesite or buried with the deceased. Flowers are the most common modern-day example. You’ve probably seen a bouquet at a gravesite, but people actually leave a whole bunch of different things on graves. I’ve seen everything from fire hydrants to clown noses! And, yes, I’ve got photos of those things – and more.

50+ Full-page color photos

Grave Goods includes more than 50 full-page color photos showing interesting examples of grave goods I’ve seen all over the world – Texas, Australia, Argentina, England, Alaska, and so on!

Religion, Culture, and even Economics

In Grave Goods, I describe the origin and history behind the many different grave goods that you see in cemeteries, including how the Great Depression impacted this practice. I also touch on cultural and religious origins for different items, and sort out a few “facts versus myths” along the way.

Special Early Bird Pre-order Sale

Do you enjoy exploring cemeteries? Right now, Grave Goods is on a special Early Bird Preorder sale for a mere $1.99. That’s the lowest Amazon would let me price it since the photos make it such a big file. If the topic interests you, I hope you check it out! Once the book launches, I’ll be raising the price to $4.99.

Have you seen or left grave goods in a cemetery?

Have you ever seen grave goods at a gravesite? Have you ever left any at a gravesite?

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.

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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We respect your email privacy

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:

Virtual Cemetery Tour

For the letter V, I thought I’d take us on a Virtual Cemetery Tour here in North Texas! Since we’ve been on lockdown, I’ve started sharing cemetery videos on YouTube. If you enjoy exploring historic cemeteries, then I invite you to join me on these fun adventures. Here’s the link: Exploring Historic Cemeteries.

Maybe you just want to read?

If you are simply in the mood to read, I invite you to browse through my A to Z list of articles about exploring historic cemeteries. Here’s that link: Historic Cemeteries A to Z.

Mounded Graves with Seashells in Jaybird Cemetery

I recently saw some interesting mounded graves that had clam shells embedded in them in historic Jaybird Cemetery here in North Texas. While my description in the video is pretty breezy, I should add that the exact historic origins of this practice are not entirely agreed upon. So enjoy my commentary, but please understand that I’m still researching this!

Tour Jaybird Cemetery with me:

Learn more about Seashells at graves

I should also mention that my book, Grave Goods, goes into much more detail about seashells at gravesites. And what about you: Have you ever seen seashells at a gravesite?

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.

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:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

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 travel guide to haunted places, a book called 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.]

Urban Legends vs Historic Facts

Urban legends are fun stories, I admit. But one of my pet peeves is when people make up fake stories about things they don’t understand rather than try to find the actual truth.

For ex: Smiley’s Grave in Garland, Texas

I come across this ALL the time when researching historic cemeteries. Smiley’s Grave in Garland, Texas is a good example of how a completely fictitious Urban Legend grew out of a tragic incident.

They all died the same day. Why?

As you can see from the photos I’ve shared here, several members of the Smiley family lost their lives on the same day: May 9, 1927. What on earth could have happened to them?

Of course, any time I see a cemetery plot containing several people who died on the same day, I’m intrigued. How could this be? In one instance, I learned that an entire family was wiped out by food poisoning. In another, it was a fire.

This Urban Legend is NOT True

The first time I heard about Smiley’s grave, I read (in a book, no less!) that an evil man by the name of Smiley mercilessly slaughtered the members of his family before killing himself, as well. Yikes! What a horrible guy, right? And how ironic for a monster like that to have such a cheerful sounding surname.

TLDR? Here’s a 5-minute video I created about the truth behind Smiley’s Grave:

The Truth is Still Quite Tragic

Well… when I looked into the matter, I found out that Mr. Smiley most certainly did NOT slaughter his family. Yes, they met their demise through a very tragic incident: a deadly nighttime tornado! Watch my video to see the newspaper clippings and hear more details. And remember to make a distinction between Urban Legends and actual history!

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.

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:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

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 travel guide to haunted places, a book called 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.]

What is a tumulus?

A tumulus is a special kind of burial mound. In ancient times, a tumulus was used to bury either a group of soldiers or perhaps to honor one specific great warrior. After the bodies are covered with a pile of rocks, dirt is heaped up on it to create a rounded hill.

Modern Tumulus

When you see a tumulus in modern American cemeteries, they are usually associated with a fraternal organization or military society. Instead of a pile of rocks, the tumulus in a modern burial is created by heaping dirt over a mausoleum.

Fraternal or Military

I saw this tumulus in New Orleans’ Greenwood Cemetery. It’s a burial site for members of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (BPOE.) And I must confess, I really hoped to see someone mow that well-kept grass on it while I was there! (No luck.)

Why is the Elks’ clock set for 11?

The Elks’ emblem features an elk superimposed over the face of a clock with a single star at the top and the letters BPOE around the edge. The antlers symbolize protection, and the star stands for fidelity. On the Elks Club emblem, the hands of the clock are always set at 11:00, because at this time of night, members drink a special toast to members who have passed away.

Symbols for Secret Societies & Fraternal Orders

One of my upcoming guide book projects is all about cemetery symbols for secret societies and fraternal orders. I think it’s fascinating! Are there any symbols for clubs or fraternal orders in the burial grounds near you?

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.

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:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

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 travel guide to haunted places, a book called 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.]

This monster definitely existed!

Yesterday, I told you a wild tale about an alleged space alien’s grave. Today, I’m gonna talk about another infamous character in Aurora Cemetery. However, unlike the little martian, no one doubts that this monster actually existed!

TLDR? Here’s a 5-minute video I created about this serial killer’s grave:

North Texas serial killer

Ricky Lee Green was a North Texas serial killer who sexually mutilated both men and women during the 1990s. It’s such a creepy story that I had a hard time researching it.

Too creepy for me!

Truth be told, I didn’t read much of the details about his acts, either. Some of his crimes were committed right here in my little town. Yikes! I didn’t want nightmares!

A Scary Child

I was at a Christmas party once, and for whatever reason a few people in attendance had been this serial killer’s schoolteachers! I don’t remember how the subject came up. Maybe it’s because they knew I’m a writer? In any case, they told me that even as a child there was a “messed up vibe” to Ricky. One woman told me that even as a 12-year-old he gave her the creeps and that she was afraid to be alone with him.

What about you?

Are there any notorious criminals buried in cemeteries near you?

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.

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:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

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 Unexpected Texas – my best-selling travel guide to quirky, offbeat and overlooked places near Dallas and Fort Worth. 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.]

Did a UFO Crash in Texas in 1897?

Back in 2012, I learned of a strange incident that allegedly occurred in Aurora, Texas. According to a newspaper article published by the Dallas News in April of 1897, a cigar-shaped object crashed in a farmer’s field, an alien body was found in the debris, and this little humanoid was buried in the local cemetery.

There’s even a Texas State Historical Marker at the site describing the strange event!

TLDR? Watch a 5-minute video I created about this incident:

Texas Space Alien Headstone Missing

When I first visited Aurora Cemetery in June of 2012, it was easy to find where the Texas settlers buried the body of the alleged space alien, as you can see in the photo at the top of this post.

When I returned in March of 2013, however, the headstone was missing! All I found in its place was a rock the size of a baseball and some plastic flowers, as you can see in the photo above. (To see the new “stone” at the gravesite, watch the video above.)

Weird, eh?

But wait…there’s more:

This UFO Crash Pre-dates the Roswell Incident

You’ve probably heard of, The Roswell Incident, an alleged spaceship crash in the desert of New Mexico in 1947. (Speaking of Roswell, New Mexico, I recently posted about the spaceship-shaped fast food restaurant there in UFO Shapted McDonald’s in Roswell, New Mexico.)

The Roswell incident is arguably the most well-known case in UFO history, yet here in Texas, there exists an alleged spaceship crash – complete with an alien body – which took place 50 years earlier! I was pretty excited to find out that I live a hop, skip and jump from Roswell’s Texan equivalent.

A spaceship crash with an alien body in north Texas?

As the story goes, in the early morning hours of April 17, 1897 something crash-landed in the north Texas town of Aurora. According to a newspaper article which appeared in the April 19th edition of the Dallas News, a mysterious cigar-shaped airship ran into a windmill, spread debris across several acres and – strangest of all – a small humanoid body was discovered in the wreck. According to the reporter, although the petite alien was, “not an inhabitant of this world,” his or her body was later buried at the local cemetery.

The Dallas News Article about the Mysterious Airship Crash in Aurora, Texas

Here’s a link to a scan of the original article, and here’s what the reporter claims:
“About 6 o’clock this morning the early risers of Aurora were astonished at the sudden appearance of the airship which has been sailing around the country. It was traveling due north and much nearer the earth than before.

Evidently some of the machinery was out-of-order, for it was making a speed of only ten or twelve miles an hour, and gradually settling toward the earth. It sailed over the public square and when it reached the north part of town it collided with the tower of Judge Proctor’s windmill and went into pieces with a terrific explosion, scattering debris over several acres of ground, wrecking the windmill and water tank and destroying the judge’s flower garden.

The pilot of the ship is supposed to have been the only one aboard and, while his remains were badly disfigured, enough of the original has been picked up to show that he was not an inhabitant of this world.”

What happened after the Spaceship Crash in Aurora Texas?

These days, with over 1800 graves, the Aurora Cemetery claims more inhabitants than the little town itself, with its current population of 376. In the late 1800’s, however, Aurora was poised to make it big. Its population boomed to nearly 3000 residents, making it one of the largest cities in Wise County. Sadly, a spotted fever epidemic killed hundreds of residents, the cotton crop failed and the railroad decided to pass the town by.

Given the mindset of the era and the challenges they faced, it’s not surprising that instead of studying the alien’s body for science, the town buried the creature and moved on with their lives.

No reportage exists regarding the actual funeral ceremony, although a headstone was placed at the gravesite. According to photos and verbal accounts, this headstone depicted a crudely carved cigar-shaped object with portholes in the side.

As for the townsfolk of Aurora, they had enough going on with epidemics, crop failure and being slighted by the railroad to worry about the mysterious alien’s origins.

Can you blame them?

Renewed Interest in the Aurora Texas Spaceship Crash

The entire incident faded into the background as the once-booming town of Aurora withered into near oblivion. Then, in 1973, a United Press International blurb mentioned that incident.

I find this part of the story quite strange, personally. Why did the story suddenly resurface?

Why 1973?

I have no idea! Whatever the reason, this little article created so much interest in the old story that local police guarded the alien grave day and night. Sadly, the night they quit this vigil, someone stole the original headstone for the space creature. There was even a push to exhume the alien’s body, but the cemetery association declined.

I should add that the original tombstone was stolen in 1973. The grave marker that I saw back in June of 2012, which you see a photo of here, was added sometime in the the 2000’s, and stolen in 2013.

What Aurora, Texas alien crash site debunkers say

Many people believe the Aurora alien spaceship crash to be a complete hoax.
Their main complaints with the scenario are:

1. There was no windmill on Judge Proctor’s land.

2. There is no well.

3. There is no grave.

4. There is no mysterious metal near the crash site.

5. The reporter made the story up hoping to make the town a tourist attraction.

What Aurora, Texas alien crash site believers say

1. The History Channel found evidence of a windmill (actually a “windlass” that was mis-reported as a windmill) on Judge Proctor’s land.

2. They found a well at this site, too. The well was capped in the 1950’s because the owner thought it was contaminated by the alien debris. the History Channel convinced the current owner to let them uncap it and test the water.

3. Melted metal has been found in the alleged crash site area. This metal is not some unearthly element. It’s aluminum. While aluminum seems commonplace to us now, it was actually quite rare in the late 1800’s.

4. The History Channel also found, via ground-penetrating radar, a casket-shaped item in the exact spot where the alien is allegedly buried.

5. The Roswell crash debris was taken to Fort Worth, which is quite near Aurora.

6. The town of Aurora is set up like a military base. (I’m not sure what people mean by this, but I did notice a street called, “Base,” or something like that. I will have to look into this claim more.)

Visiting Aurora Cemetery:

There isn’t an official street address for Aurora Cemetery, but it’s not hard to find. If you have a GPS, set it for: Cemetery Rd, Aurora, TX 76078. If not, head towards Rhome, Texas on US 81/287. Exit onto Highway 114, drive roughly 1.5 miles then turn onto Cemetery Road. The cemetery will be on your lefthand side.

My thoughts on the Aurora, Texas Alien crash site

While I don’t think there is conclusive proof that an alien being crashed a UFO in north Texas, I do think something unusual happened in Aurora back in April of 1897.

Sadly, it is such a cold case that we may never know the truth.

I wish the Aurora Cemetery would let a respected investigation group exhume the alien’s coffin and see what is in there. The cemetery board very nearly dug up the mysterious grave back in 1973, but since Texas State law requires the next of kin to be notified before an exhumation, they ran into a brick wall.

Other Cigar Shaped UFOs Reported in 1896 and 1897

While researching this strange story, I came across a rash of, “mysterious cigar-shaped airship” sightings in 1896 and 1897. These UFOs were spotted all over the USA, but especially in Texas. Some of the accounts are downright ridiculous. (In one, the aliens reportedly sang religious hymns and had a barbecue.) Many others, however, are much more believable.

Perhaps what makes the Aurora incident so enduring is that – even if it is just a tall Texan tale – its details dance along the edge of possibility without plunging overboard into the utterly implausible. While frustrating from a scientific perspective, it’s good advice for storytellers.

Then again, to paraphrase Freud, “Sometimes a cigar-shaped object is just a cigar-shaped object.”

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.

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:

Email:

We respect your email privacy