Tui Snider - author & speaker

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2018 Historic Cemetery Symbols Tour in Granbury, Texas – Info & Tickets!

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Cemetery Tour: back by popular demand!

How would you like to explore a historic cemetery in Granbury, Texas with author, Tui Snider, as your guide? Tui (that’s me!) will explain the meanings behind the architecture and symbols found in this fascinating burial ground.

Last year’s cemetery tour was so much fun and so many people have asked about it, that I decided to do it again!

The cemetery tour is fun to do after the speakers and booths close up for the night (8pm, Saturday, Sept 29th, 2018) during the fabulous Granbury Paranormal Expo.  However:While the tour is family-friendly, it’s probably not suitable for children under the age of 12. It’s your call!

To buy a ticket:

To buy your ticket, drop by my booth at the Granbury Paranormal Expo on Saturday, Sept 29th OR come to the cemetery that evening around 7:45 p.m. (see map and more info below.)

 

 

What day & time is the tour?

The tour will take place at 8pm, Saturday, Sept 29th, 2018. Please get to the cemetery by 7:45 so you can show us your ticket or purchase one at the last minute. The tour lasts roughly 45 minutes to an hour.

The tour will start promptly at 8pm.

Vendors for the Granbury Paranormal Expo are required to stay at their booths ’til 7pm. That’s why the tour is at 8pm. It will take me a few minutes to get up to the cemetery. I’ll probably be there by 7:30.

Please keep in mind:

What to bring: Please dress for the weather, and wear sensible shoes. Hopefully, we will not need umbrellas!

It will get dark: It will be dark by the time the tour is finished, so if you have a flashlight, please bring it with you. We will be walking along the main roads inside the cemetery.

Where to meet?

The tour takes place in Granbury Cemetery. The address I use is 252 E Moore St, Granbury, TX 76048. If you have never been there, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the location either online. (You could even do a drive-by earlier in the day.)

Take a look at the map below. We will meet up right about where it says “Granbury Cemetery” in red, or at least quite close to it.

Map of Granbury Cemetery in Granbury, TX
Map of Granbury Cemetery in Granbury, TX

 

Any questions?

If you have any questions drop by my booth at the Granbury Paranormal Expo on Saturday, Sept 29th. I will be busy at my booth for the Granbury Paranormal Expo! So rather than  call or email me, please stop by my booth. 

Want to keep up with me?

BLOG POSTS: I’ve got 650+ articles here and I’m constantly adding more!

READ MY BOOKS: Check out my books, including Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

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Historic Cemeteries: Cast Iron Graves by J.R. Abrams #GraveHour

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Cast iron grave covering – not mere decoration

The photo below shows a child’s grave with a cast iron covering. This type of cast iron grave covering was patented in 1873 by Joseph R. Abrams, and there’s a lot more to it than mere decoration!  It was intended to be better than simply mounding dirt at a gravesite.

 

Cast iron grave patented by J.R. Abrams in 1873
Cast iron grave patented by J.R. Abrams in 1873

Invented by J.R. Abrams in 1873

As J.R. Abrams explains in his patent: “By this construction the sinking of the loose earth in the grave has no effect upon the superposed and hardened artificial mound formed by the cement.”

Click here to read Abrams’ patent in which he gives a full description for this grave covering, along with an illustration of it. It’s a very well thought out construction!

 

Abrams mentions mounding the grave with seashells

I think it’s interesting that he mentions adding seashells or other decorations to the cement layer beneath the cast iron! Hmmm!

Have you seen cast iron grave coverings in your area?

Although the patent mentions that he lived in Alabama, off the top of my head, I’ve seen a few of Mr Abrams’ cast iron grave throughout Texas, including the towns of Jefferson and Keller. One thing, though: I’ve only ever seen them used for the graves of children, although I didn’t notice anything in his patent saying that these grave covers were meant only for children. Also, this is the first time I’ve seen one that was painted silver like this. (This one is located in Old Alton Cemetery near Denton, Texas.) All the others ones I’ve see were plain rusted iron.

Research continues!

I will continue to research J.R. Abrams and his invention. I’d especially love to find an old catalogue with these for sale. I’m curious why they only ever seem to be on the graves of children, too. If I find out more, I will share it here! And if you know anything, I hope you’ll clue me in.

Want to keep up with me?

BLOG POSTS: I’ve got 650+ articles here and I’m constantly adding more!

READ MY BOOKS: Check out my books, including Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Want a FREE Guide to Historic Cemeteries?






Sign up below to grab your FREE Cemetery Symbolism Guide:

We respect your email privacy

Mysterious Knights of Elberta, Alabama’s Piney Woods

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Join me for an A to Z Road Trip!

I’m taking you on a road trip with me by sharing travel photos for this year’s A to Z Blog Challenge. So come along as we explore some of my favorite offbeat, overlooked and just plain interesting places in Texas… and beyond!

 

Today is letter K:
Knights of Elberta, Alabama’s Piney Woods

Knight statue of Elberta, AL (photo by Tui Snider)
Knight statue of Elberta, AL (photo by Tui Snider)

Remember Elberta’s Dinosaurs?

If you read my post for the letter D, then you may remember me mentioning the whimsical fiberglass artwork of sculptor Mark Cline. (If not, click here: Quirky Dinosaur Sculptures in Elberta, Alabama.)
My husband, Larry, and I were actually looking for another one of Cline’s offbeat masterpieces called “The Lady in the Lake” when something else caught our attention in an oak grove.
Knight statue of Elberta, AL (photo by Tui Snider)
Knight statue of Elberta, AL (photo by Larry Snider)

Knights in an Oak Grove

As you can see from Larry’s photo, I hopped out to investigate close-up. What I found were four bronze statues. If any of you are well-versed in Medieval history and clothing, perhaps you can shed some light on these mysterious knights. I’d love to know! They look like knights to me, but perhaps they are merely pages, or…

Even though I research and plan our road trip itineraries in advance, it’s always fun to find something more than what we were actually looking for! Has that ever happened to you?
Knight statue of Elberta, AL (photo by Tui Snider)
Knight statue of Elberta, AL (photo by Tui Snider)

Selfie with a Knight

And, of course, thanks to my friend and fellow quirky road trip aficionado, David Sumoflam Kravetz, I had to take a selfie with one these chivalrous bronze men before we left. (If you haven’t checked out David’s A to Z Road Trip posts, pop over to his wonderful blog Less Beaten Paths. You will love it!)

Knight statue of Elberta, AL (photo by Tui Snider)
Knight statue of Elberta, AL (photo by Tui Snider)

See for yourself:

I don’t have a precise address to see the Elberta Knights,  but finding them is part of the fun. To see them yourself, drive to Barber Marina (26986 Fish Trap Rd, Elberta, AL 36530) and keep your eye out for a group of knights standing guard beneath the oak trees as you drive along the marina’s main road.

 

*****I hope you enjoyed today’s post. Come back tomorrow for the next letter in the alphabet!*****

 

Psst! Instagram, anyone?

If you are on Instagram, I’d be delighted to follow you! Simply follow my photo feed (@TuiSnider) on Instagram and I’ll follow you back!

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

 

Each April, bloggers from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers.

To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then use the blog hop linky to visit as many other bloggers as you can. In addition to my personal blog here, I’m also writing A to Z posts for the the Story Dam writing community. You can check those out by clicking here: Story Dam’s Writing Quotes & Encouragement

Check out more April A to Z Blog Challenge Participants by clicking the link below:

Find out more about the April A to Z blog challenge, and check out the other participants!

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Curious about my books? I’ve got 3, so far…


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide: 
UNEXPECTED TEXAS: Your Guide to Offbeat & Overlooked History, Day Trips & Fun Things to do near Dallas & Fort Worth.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places: 
PARANORMAL TEXAS: Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places near Dallas & Fort Worth.

For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history: 
The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber

 


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Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Thank you! See you soon at Granbury Cemetery

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Thank you!

Thanks for purchasing a ticket (or tickets) to the Granbury Cemetery Symbols tour on 8pm, Saturday, Sept 29th, 2018.

Email me to get your $3 coupon code

To receive your $3 coupon, or if you have any questions that were not covered here or on the earlier page, email me at TuiSnider@gmail.com with “Cemetery Tour” in the subject line. Thanks again, and see you soon! PLEASE NOTE: If you email me on Sept 29, I may not see it quickly, if at all. I will be busy at my booth for the Granbury Paranormal Expo! So rather than email me, stop by my booth. 

Want to keep up with me?

BLOG POSTS: I’ve got 650+ articles here and I’m constantly adding more!

READ MY BOOKS: Check out my books, including Understanding Cemetery Symbols. It’s available on Amazon in paperback and ebook form.

Want a FREE Guide to Historic Cemeteries?






Sign up below to grab your FREE Cemetery Symbolism Guide:

We respect your email privacy