Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween !

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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.
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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!
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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.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a story!!
What a dress ...
I love cemeteries and I am drawn to them I don't know why.
Every stone has a person with a history behind it.Some day will be our turn........
Diane

Unknown said...

That really is a lovely cemetery...as far as graveyard go, LOL!
How nice for you to honor your ancestors.
The dress is lovely!

Draffin Bears said...

What a wonderful story Karen and the dress is so beautiful.
As children we used to like walking around an old cemetry in our town - so interesting albeit a little spooky.
How great to have a Captain Jack theme for your Halloween Party.
I hope that you have a great time.

Hugs
Carolyn

From the Attic said...

That really is an interesting story Karen and thanks for sharing it. Oh, that dress is gorgeous. Sarah Alice certainly had lovely taste in clothes. .

Brenda said...

Hi Karen,
What a cool story - Picton is such a beautiful town. You seem to do well, whenever you go to visit your dad!

Brendie

Inkpot said...

What a lovely dress and what a lovely story to go with it. I'm sure your grandfather did lead you to the grave. They had such style and elegance in their clothes of those days, something we seem to have all but lost in modern garments.

The Rambler said...

WOW! That is a great story! Found your blog through blog of notes! That's crazy that of all the graves hers was that close to your familys...meant to be. I LOVE reading stories like that. Enjoy reading your stuff!

Crystalwolf78 said...

Wow that is amazing things like that have happened to me. My grandma passed on when I was in high school when I was 23 and pregnant I was taking a nap before I had to go to a doctor apointment. I forgot to set my alarm to get up I hear my grandmas voice shout at me to get up and "felt" her cane hit my elbow I saw the time and left just in time to get to the doctor.

DUTA said...

Sometimes the story behind an antique item is more exciting than the item itself. I like stories of this kind.

Tonya said...

I had a similar experience when searching for the grave of my great-great grandmother several years ago. I think it's wonderful that you took the time to try and find the woman behind the dress.

Aniruddhan said...

AWESOME BLOG! GOOD LUCK WITH IT.

Anonymous said...

good blog

Slop -n- Goulash: Dinner of Champions! said...

I agree with everyone - love your blog. Found it in my dashboard in "blogs of note" and am glad I did. I love antiques. Stopping at small antique mall on way home tonight actually to get my Christmas/ B-day present from my mom and dad. (They can't get out so I get to pick it out myself - hey at least I know I'll like it!) :)

JudyBug said...

Kids don't always appreciate what we call our "cemetery trips". My mother shared that, in the 40's, families went to cemetery for picnics, photo ops...because it was one of the few landscaped areas in rural MS.

Anonymous said...

Two words : absolutely gorgeous !!!

Julie