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ohfolkthat.bsky.social
Katie Crane
@ohfolkthat.bsky.social
310 followers 170 following 830 posts
She who hangs out a lot in cemeteries | PhD candidate in Folklore | She/Her
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ohfolkthat.bsky.social
The rainbow if anyone is curious
A rainbow over downtown St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It ends somewhere beyond the harbour over the Southside Hills A rainbow over downtown St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is perfectly arched over a row of houses
November 17, 2025 at 7:06 PM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
One of the men in this picture is my great grandfather James Delaney, part of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. A paper maker from Placentia, he enlisted in 1917, just 20 years old. When he was discharged in 1919 he moved to Grand Falls. I never met him but I remember my great grandmother
A photo of 25 men in 5 rows wearing the military uniform of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. The photo was taken by Holloway studios in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador on July 27, 1917. Some of the men were listed on the back of the photo but not indicated which name represents which man in the picture. The names are as follows: T. [Taylor] Parsons (Regt. # 3916); S. [Samuel] Hollett (Regt. # 3877); J. A. [Joseph Allen] Clarke (Regt. # 3857); M. [Malcolm] J. Bishop (Regt. # 3901); Jack [John] Manuel (Regt. # 3902); J. C. [James C.] Abbott (Regt. # 8414); G. [George] Langer (Regt. # 3805); C. [Cecil] Roberts (Regt. # 3908); L. [Levi] Hussey (Regt.# 0-284 - 3913); William Parsons (Regt. # 3917); A. [Augustus] J. Walsh (Regt. # 3914); Robert Hann (Regt. # 3915); Jas. [James] Delaney (Regt. # 3878); E. Strickland [Ephrain Stickland] (Regt. # 3886); Walter Combden (Regt. # 3909); Michael Marry (Regt. # 3903); Harold Yates (Regt. # 3910); Chesley Reid (Regt. # 3912); T. Power (Regt. # 3850); E. Brown; Robert Peel (Regt. # 3888).
November 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
Went for a walk today to remember there is beauty in the world
A small river flows from a pond with a few small islands in it. There are spruce trees and plants along the river. The sky is bright blue with fluffy white clouds.
November 3, 2025 at 7:15 PM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves
Day 31 - Memento Mori

I can't believe October is over already!

We don't have a lot of typical Memento Mori symbols in Newfoundland, but there are some if you know where to look. This winged skull is in St Luke's Anglican Churchyard, Placentia, NL.
A slate tombstone in the fenced in churchyard at St Luke's Anglican Church in Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador. The top features a winged skull. There is staying on the gravestone which makes it difficult to read, but it says: Here lies buried The body of William Hobson Son of Mr William Hobson & Mrs Elizabeth Hobson who Departed this life July ye 20 1767 Aged 10 months There are guidelines carved into the stone to keep the letters in a straight line. There is also some damage to the lower left side of the gravestone. It doesn't affect the inscription but it does look like a chunk has been chipped off the stone.
October 31, 2025 at 8:53 AM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
That's a flowerbed planted on a grave but there were lots of plants otherwise! Especially marigolds because they are related to Dia de Muertos but we also saw some also poinsettias!
A poinsettia growing in Panteón Xoco, CDMX Marigolds, also known as cempasúchil, in pots on a grave in Panteón Xoco, CDMX during Dia de Muertos
October 30, 2025 at 3:17 PM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 30 - Colour

I think I used this last year but I'll use it again this year. There's no way to describe the colour and sound and life and joy and grief in a Mexican cemetery during Dia de Muertos that will ever do it justice.

Pantéon Xoco, CDMX
A grave in Panteón Xoco, CDMX during Dia de Muertos. This grave has an overgrown flowerbed in front and an awning that has been decorated in a mixture of black and white paper jack o'lanterns and colourful papel picado garlands, as well as paper cempasúchil (marigold) flowers. There is a small altar at the back with a statue of Mary and some small vases holding more flowers
October 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 29 - Occupation

James Chalmers, bookseller in Dundee, Scotland. Also inventor of the adhesive postage stamp.

The Howff, Dundee, Scotland
A gravestone in the Howff in Dundee, Scotland. It reads: To The memory Of James Chalmers Bookseller Dundee Born 1782 died 1853 _ Originator of the adhesive postage stamp Which saved the penny postage scheme of 1840 From collapse Rendering it an unqualified success And which has since been adopted Throughout the postal systems of the World _ This memorial is erected by his son Patrick Chalmers Wimbledon 1888.
October 29, 2025 at 11:30 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 28 - Column

This broken column is for Patrick Tasker, an influential man who died just short of his 37th birthday. An educational fund in his honour started by the Masons continues today, 164 years later.
A gravestone in the shape of a broken column, symbolizing a life cut short. This gravestone is for Patrick Tasker, a Freemason and businessman originally from Scotland but who lived and died in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador just short of his 37th birthday in 1860. The inscription is diffucult to read due to missing letters and weathering.
October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 27 - Tree

I'm not sure what trees these are surrounding the Ayre vault in the General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, NL but they are stunning and stand out among the other old growth trees in the cemetery
Two tall, deep green, fluffy trees flank the Ayre family vault in the General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Both trees and the vault are surrounded by a decorative iron fence
October 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
Today was the @talkdeath.bsky.social Cemetery Scavenger Hunt and I had a lot of fun running around in the cemetery (but I don't think I won)
The General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in autumn. There are several large trees some of which have yellow leaves and some of which have bare branches. There is a sea of yellow and orange leaves on the ground around the graves. The General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in autumn. There are several large trees including one with beautiful yellow leaves which is sheltering several graves The General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in autumn. There are several large trees some of which have yellow leaves and some of which have bare branches. There is a sea of yellow and orange leaves on the ground around the graves.
October 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 26 - Figure

I've always loved this angel with a star on her head in the General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, NL
The figure of an angle on top of a gravestone in the General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. She holds on broken hand in the air, her wings behind her, and a star on her head. The gravestone inscription reads: Mother In memory of Emily Milley Wife of W. J. Bartlett Died Dec 29, 1931 Aged 62 Years The epitaph is diffucult to read due to some of the leaded letters being missing A close up of the angel
October 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
Year 11! We had one newbie and many familiar faces. My mom wanted to make a cake for the party for the first time, too!
12 carved pumpkins on a stair case. From top to bottom, left to right: Classic Jack o'lantern face, K-Pop Demon Hunter cat, K-Pop Demon Hunter bird (forgive me I don't know their names) Cthulhu, another K-Pop Demon Hunter cat that is slightly different from the first in a hard to explain way Tiny classic Jack o'lantern face, Calcifer from the cover of the book Howl's Moving Castle, a horse A skeleton cameo with a ponytail, a fish bowl Dr Doom, a Jack o'lantern face with crocheted pieces over the eyes 3 pumpkins on a table. One is carved to look like One Punch Man, and the other two have plastic eyes and mouths stuck into the pumpkins giving them wild and crazy faces A cake made to look like a ouija board with a tiny cookie planchette
October 26, 2025 at 1:41 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves

Speaking of graveside ornaments, Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol, England had a wonderful and thoughtful exhibit in one of their two chapels when I was there last year about all the things that get left behind in cemeteries
Leftover cemetery decorations behind a fence in the crypt of one of the chapels in Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol, England One of the signs at the exhibit in Arnos Vale. It says: People visiting cemeteries are often traumatized following the death of a loved one. This message is simple but getting it out there is challenging to say the least. Do we choose fake because they last forever? If so, at what cost? And where do exactly do they 'last forever'? Maybe because they are cheap? But it's cheap the best for our environment? Will fake, plastic, forever Flowers have meant more to your loved one than a natural, biodegradable arrangement? By making beautiful decorations, using natural materials we enhance the grave without damage 2-hour surroundings. By introducing ways to minimize negative environmental effect, rejecting plastic flowers, containers and balloons, we can choose a natural, biodegradable, 'kind to the planet' alternative. By joining one of our seasonal workshops people of all ages and abilities can join us in creating beautiful, natural, memorials not only for a loved ones but for our planet One of the signs at the exhibit in Arnos Vale. It says: A sensitive topic which is often avoided. Our cemeteries are constantly littered with plastic waste. Over the year we have been monitoring the waste from our graveyards to see just how much of this can be avoided and to inform visitors of the sheer volume of waste which is negatively impacting our environment. There is a lack of education surrounding the use of objects used to commemorate the dead leaving our burial ground some of the most littered spaces to which we continue contributing. Without a thought for the environment, people are causing damage to our surroundings. Green floral foam, fake flowers and balloons will sit in landfill for hundreds of years. What is the alternative? Fresh flower bouquets without the plastic wrapping and flower food sachets, handmade arrangements which will not last as long but will be much more meaningful. Handmade wreaths, garlands and Bunting can be a joyous way to decorate a grave as an alternative to balloons with weights.
October 25, 2025 at 8:59 PM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
I made some pompom pumpkins for my pumpkin carving party tonight
10 pumpkins made of orange yarn with cinnamon stick stems are on a table. The pumpkins are connected by a string of twine 12 pumpkins made of orange yarn with cinnamon stick stems connected by a string of twine and hung in a doorway like a garland A close up of 5 of the pumpkins
October 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 25 - Graveside Ornament

I'm assuming the bingo dabber, the tea cup, and the pack of playing cards in front of this grave are for Minnie who seems like she really knew how to have a good time!
A gravestone with a large floral arrangement on top, a smaller floral arrangement in front, a tea cup, a bingo dabber, a small angel figurine, and a pack of playing cards
October 25, 2025 at 12:18 PM
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#31DaysOfGraves
The interesting thing is that William C. Norman was never in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. He had been living in Toronto at the time and was enlisted as part of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force and only served 3 weeks in the trenches before dying in a grenade accident
A newspaper article from the Toronto Star - January 20th, 1917. It reads: Pte. W. C. Norman killed. Pte. Wm. C. Norman, who formerly lived at 1466 Dufferin street, is officially reported killed in action. He was a native of Newfoundland the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Norman, of Clark's Beach, Nfld. He was 25 years of age and unmarried, and was by trade a carpenter. He went overseas last May with a draft of the 83rd, and was only in the trenches about three weeks when killed.
October 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves
The official version looks more like this one on the grave of Sergeant Sidney George Burry in Greenspond, NL.
The gravestone of Sergeant Sidney George Burry in Greenspond, NL. At the top of the grave is the symbol of the Newfoundland Regiment which is a caribou. Below that the inscription reads: In fond Remembrance Of Sergt. Sidney George Burry Who was killed At Beaumont Hamel France July 1, 1916 Aged 32 years He is gone, but not Forgotten Never shall his Memory fade Oh how we would love To linger Around the place where he is laid. Erected by his family
October 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 24 - Unique Animal

The caribou is the symbol of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. This is the only one I've seen that is clearly replicating the official emblem. I think it looks a bit like a sock puppet version.

Clarke's Beach, NL
The gravestone of Robert J Norman and Private William C. Norman in Clarke's Beach, Newfoundland and Labrador. At the top is a hand pointing to a book. On the left page it says Asleep in Jesus. On the right page is a carved caribou replicating the official Newfoundland Regiment emblem. Below that it it reads: In Loving memory Of And then the grave is divided in half. The left half is for Robert J Norman and the right half is for Private William C Norman who was killed "in the Great War" in 1917. The rest of the gravestone is a bit difficult to read due to the angle
October 24, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 23 - Cross

It looks like a cross at the top but with the alpha and omega symbols I think the cross might actually be a Chi Ro, the first two letters of Christ in Greek.

Buried here are Joseph Bonomi (Egyptologist and sculptor), four of his children, his wife, and wife's mother
A gravestone in Brompton Cemetery, London. The top of the gravestone has a Chi Ro symbol which looks a cross on top of an x which is flanked by the symbols for alpha and omega. Below that the inscription reads: In memorybof Four children who were called out of this life Into a better in the Easter week of 1852 Joseph Menes Bonomi on April 12th aged 5 y 10 m Cautley Frederick 15th 4 y 5 m Jessie 17th 2 y 8 m John Ignatius 11th 8 m "The Lord gaveth and the Lord hath taketh away" Blessed be in the name of the Lord Their grandmother Susan widow of John Martin born Jly 27 1780 died Decb 30 1858 Their mother Jessie Bonomi born April 6 1825 died Sepb 10 1859 And of their father Joseph Bonomi Sculptor, traveller and archeologist Born 9th of October 1796 Appointed curator of Sir John Soane's museum 1861 Died 3rd March 1878. At the bottom is an image of the Egyptian God Anubis sitting on an altar
October 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 22 - Landscape

Here's a little portion of the landscape of the General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, NL. With some of the oldest growth trees in the downtown area, it's always beautiful come autumn. This is an apple tree that has small yellow apples!
An autumn day in the General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. There are several trees with leaves in varying shades of green, yellow, and orange surrounding gravestones. There is a large quantity of fallen leaves on the left side. The tree in the centre of the image is an apple tree with small yellow apples still on its branches.
October 22, 2025 at 9:38 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 21 - Bronze

Two of the white bronze/zinc monuments in Newfoundland. We don't have too many of them here but I love them!

The Parsons memorial in the General Protestant Cemetery needs repair, but the Cook monument in the Forest Road Anglican Cemetery is in better condition
A broken white bronze monument in the General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador on an autumn day. The monument is called white bronze but it is actually made of zinc and was meant to be a more robust material for gravestones. It was raining when the photo was taken so the characteristic white colour of the monument is more of a full grey. This one is broken. There is a tree pushing it over at an angle and the urn on top has broken off. This is for the wife Newfoundland photographer S. H. Parsons, Isabella Parsons, though her name is spelled wrong on the stone. The inscription reads: In loving Remembrance Of Isabell, Wife of S. H. Parsons, Died Feb 10 1901, Aged 67 years. Blessed are the Pure in heart for they Shall see God A white bronze monument in the Forest Road Anglican Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador on an autumn day. The monument is called white bronze but it is actually made of zinc and was meant to be a more robust material for gravestones. There is a white bronze bird on the top of this rather blocky stone which sits on top of a concrete base. The inscription reads: In loving memory Of Douglas S. Cook Died Oct. 3, 1909 Aged 32 years.
October 21, 2025 at 10:45 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 20 - Wreath

Had to go out and take a photo because wreaths are another one I don't seem to have any of!

Lovely little carved wreath around the world Mother on this stone

General Protestant Cemetery, St John's, NL
A gravestone in the General Protestant Cemetery in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. There are autumn leaves on the ground around the stone. On the stone is an image of a broken column, symbolizing a life cut short, and the word Mother inside a carved wreath. The rest of the stone is difficult to read as the inscription has faded.
October 20, 2025 at 11:38 AM
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#31DaysOfGraves
Day 19 - Social Group

The 2½ on this grave is a symbol of the Loyal Orange Lodge/Orange Order. This Protestant fraternal organization was common in many towns around Newfoundland.

I think this is from a cemetery in Port de Grave, NL based on other photos I took at the same time
A marble headstone in some overgrown grass. There is a Orange Order symbol at the top which looks like and arch with the numbers 2 ½ inside it. Below that is a pair of grasping hands. The bottom of the inscription is difficult to read because of the grass but the top says: Gone but not forgotten In loving memory Of Thomas Efford Beloved son of Thomas & Rebecca Efford Died Sept 8, 1912 Aged 37 years.
October 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
As far as I can tell, the conclusion to the case is that Joseph Byrne who turned on the plow was let go after the jury came back with a decision of "no bill" as there wasn't enough evidence to indict.
A screenshot of a newspaper article from the Evening Chronicle on April 12, 1912. It reads: Supreme Court (Before Chief Justice Horwood and Justice Johnson) The Grand Jury attended at 11 a.m. and reported thru their foreman, Mr. T. M. White. that they had found "No Bill" in the indictment against Joseph Byrne. For the man slaughter, owing to the killing of James Eales by the rotary plow in the Reid railway yard last month. We learn that the jury occupied all yesterday and almost until last midnight considering the matter before reaching this decision. The Chief Justice, after recording the finding, intimated that the Attorney-Geberal would doubtless have to consider whether or not he would send the indictment to another Grand Jury in October.
October 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
ohfolkthat.bsky.social
Here is the newspaper article about James Eales' tragic death.

Evening Telegram - March 9th, 1912.

This is another one of the gravestones I visit frequently to let him know he isn't forgotten.
A screenshot of an article in the Evening Telegram newspaper. It reads: Terrible Accident. James Eales cut in Pieces by the Rotary Engine Near the Round House. At 12:15 p.m. two-day James Eales, a workman in the machine shops of the Reid NFLD Co., met with a horrible death near the round house. The victim is 42 years of age, married, and has a wife and six children residing on Alexander Street in the West End. For several years he has worked in the employ. The story as told by an eye-witness was most harrowing. Eales was engaged working on top of the rotary plow on some of the last nuts before she went over the road. The man's position in working was in close proximity to the revolving fans abreast of the plow, but everything was stationary until some on gave the order to back up the engine for water. At the same time the rotary was started as well, and the rapidly revolving fans, which are sharp as knives, struck the man, whirled him around, and cut his body into pieces, fragments of which were thrown out through the apertures on the top of the rotary and strewn around the yard. When the mechanism was stopped pieces of the man's flesh were picked up several yards away, and parts of the organs of the body were scattered about. It was a most gruesome sight to the hundreds of people who were on the scene. The remains were gathered together as best as possible and brought to the morgue in a sleigh. Dr. Paterson was present at the time of the awful happening as well as a clergyman, who broke the sad news to the poor fellow's widow and orphans. Engineer Byrne was taken into police custody at 12:45 by officers Noseworthy and Lawlor. It is claimed that he was under the influence of drink and started the engine. The charge laid against him is manslaughter. The affair has cast a gloom over the West End, and we extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family in their awful affliction.
October 18, 2025 at 11:47 AM