Happy Halloween !

~~~

Happy Halloween everyone ! We had a Pirate ~ Captain Jack ~ theme going on at our house this year. I think the pumpkin looks pretty good, if I do say so myself.

I will share a spooky and true story with you, since it is Halloween. Last summer I was in Picton visiting my Dad at his home in Picton, Ontario. It is a very pretty historic town and one of the oldest in Canada. The local cemetery dates well back into the 1800s. The phrase "History lives here" appears under the sign at the entrance to the Glenwood Cemetery.

~~~

For those of you that follow my blog you will remember a wonderful auction I attended last spring. I bought many boxes full of antique clothing. I found out that the owner of the clothing was a woman by the name of Sarah Alice Jackson. The family mentioned that she was born in 1854, but did not know when she passed away. Many of my customers like to know the provenance of a textile or clothing item, if available, so I thought my curiosity about when she passed away might be addressed at the local heritage cemetery.

I was quickly advised that there are over 11,600 graves at this particular cemetery. It is described as the final resting place for many Canadian settlers and their descendants. A quick walk around the property was not likely to lead to the discovery of specific family names, dates and details (without a lot of administrative/local support).

I was with my Father and husband (the kids were too creeped out to join us). We decided to just visit my Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother's resting place. Please note the fallen headstone about 4 to the right of my Great Grampa Hawker.

FYI ~ My father has a very active Retirement. He helps to raise funds for numerous charities and causes in Picton. One such fundraiser (a hard sell though it may be) is to raise money for the ongoing maintenance of this historically important area. Many of the headstones have fallen over due to time, weather and age. My Dad noticed the Fallen headstone and walked over to the location and . . . . there it was ! The answer to what I hoped to find ~ Jackson Family members and dates all provided.

It certainly seemed to me that my Great Grampa and my Father lead me right to it, out of 11,600 possible locations!

~~~

Here is just one of the many beautiful garments I purchased last May from the Jackson Estate.

So . . . my kids still think we are all nuts, but as the sign says, "History lives here." It is all in how you look at it.