Cemetery Exploration... AT NIGHT

Late at night, in the depths of downtown Charleston, I went to two amazing churchyards; Cathedral Church and St. Patrick. Established in 1816, Cathedral Church is located on the corner of Coming and Vanderhorst Street. This Anglican church was in use during the Civil War and had their bell dismantled and melted down for the Confederates. Established in the mid 1800s, St. Patrick Catholic Church is located on the corner of St. Philip and Radcliffe St. This Catholic church started as just a cemetery and had the first black priest to serve in Charleston. At these Churches, I found some amazing gravestones that demonstrated the diversity of graveyard markers. These ranged from simple slates of wood to dramatic sculptures, boasting intricate details.

Obelisks at Cathedral Church

The tombstone to the left is an example of an obelisk, characterized by its height and length. Obelisks will most likely have a tapered point at the top, as this one does. These obelisks can vary drastically in size. The one pictured was of a modest size, not giant and not little either. Tombstones like these were popular during the resurgence of classical art, specifically Egyptian and other ancient cultures. Obelisks were tasteful due to their simple uplifting lines that portrayed a sense of ancient greatness. Their tall and slender shape made them ideal for small graveyards while being cheaper than the more elaborate monuments found during the time.

Mausoleum at Cathedral Church

The image to the right is an example of a mausoleum. This specific mausoleum houses William Johnston. He was born on September 22, 1776 and died at the age of 63 on August 9, 1840. The main characteristic of a mausoleum is that it's a large, free standing structure built above ground. The interior of the building consists of compartments to hold human remains and usually house six or more tombs. This is an also an example of a private mausoleum, meant to house members of one specific family, in this case the Johnston family.

Bedstead at Cathedral Church

An example of a bedstead, also known as a cradle grave, is shown to the right. The name of this grave marker is very easy to understand. With the center exposed in the rectangular shape of the marker, it resembles a cradle. With adult graves, like the one to the right, they are commonly referred to as bedsteads instead of cradle graves. In these, you can see that the top somewhat resembles a headboard while the bottom resembles a footboard. These markers began appearing in the early 1800s.

Broken Column at Cathedral Church

Don't be fooled! Just because this grave marker is tall and long does not mean it is an obelisk. Instead, the image to the right is another common grave called a broken column grave marker. The main characteristic of this type of marker is that it resembles a column, yet they often consist of a broken off slanted top. In this image, the broken top is surrounded by a wreath. This symbolizes a life cut short, often representing a man who died in his prime, around 20 to 40 years old.

Die on Base at Cathedral Church

The grave marker to the left is called a die on base.  These type of markers are held together with a thick rod called rebar. When grave markers like these fall, you can see the stone itself cracking around the bar inside.

Die on Socket at Cathedral Church

The grave marker to the right may seem familiar. However, it is not the same as the one previously mentioned. The grave marker pictured to the right is a die on socket, very similar to the previous day on base. The main difference is, with the die in socket, the stone sits upon one base. With the die on base, the stone sits on two bases. The grave marker to the right belongs to Ruth Ham Baker. She was born on March 21, 1921 and died on April 9, 2005.

Lawn Marker at Cathedral Church

The image to the left is an example of another modern grave marker. It's called the flush or lawn marker, because they are flush with the ground as if they are part of the lawn. The lawn marker is common in modern cemeteries to allow for easy maintenance. It also helps maximize ground space as these markers are quite small and cannot fit large epitaphs. This specific marker belongs to Matilda Holleman who was born in March, 1911 and died in December, 2004.

Pedestal With Urn at Cathedral Church.

Contrasting the simpleness of the lawn marker is the pedestal tomb with an urn on top. This type of marker consists of a platform, where the epitaph is written, that holds a tall rectangle-like or column-like shape. In some cases, like the one pictured to the right, these pedestals are topped with an urn. Since urns were not actually used to hold remains when many pedestal urns were made, the urns in this case call back to Ancient Roman traditions using the urn.

Tympanum Headstone at Cathedral Church

The grave markers pictured to the right are my personal favorite type. These are a type of headstone called the tympanum headstone. Popular during the 1600s through the 1800s, these markers are a single stone with a distinctive curved top.

Cross Marker at St. Patrick

The last type of marker I found on my trip was this cross on a base marker. The ornate cross had what looked like ivy leaves carved into it, showing just how intricate some grave markers could be. It was also in its own fenced in area. The base of this grave marker depicts the epitaph, but unfortunately, I was not able to read it.