Revere Cemetery - Richfield, Ohio

So originally, I decided that I was going to scrap my Cemetery Sundays segments for this year, as I thought I just wouldn't have the time to do it. Funny how things change...

This morning I decided to merge 2 tasks into one: get a nice long bike ride in AND make sure I rode past a local cemetery to get a few photos. And just like that, a new version of Cemetery Sundays was born! Grab my bike, head out, and make sure the route takes me past a local cemetery that I haven't photographed yet.

So here we go!

My first cemetery of 2020 was an obvious choice. I have been past this small, unmarked cemetery hundreds of times. And it just so happens to be located directly across the street from my son's elementary school.

Revere Cemetery (also known as Hershey Cemetery or Revere Road Cemetery), was established in 1858 and contains the graves of some of the earliest inhabitants of the town of Richfield, Ohio. Only holding a total of roughly 55 graves, I was able to tour the grounds quickly and get a few cool photos of the wonderful old, ornate tombstones.

So kick back and enjoy a few photos from Revere Cemetery in Richfield, Ohio...

West Richfield Cemetery - Richfield, Ohio

This week's installment of Cemetery Sundays takes me back to my old stomping grounds of Richfield, Ohio and the West Richfield Cemetery. Three years ago, I toured the small city's other cemetery, Fairview Cemetery. And like that cemetery, West Richfield also has a beautiful collection of old tombstones dating back to the early and mid-1800s.

I had a great time meandering through the empty cemetery as the early morning sunrise crested over the frost dotted grounds. I was snapping photos at every turn, and there's quite a few this time. So sit back and enjoy the beautiful old tombstones from the West Richfield Cemetery...

 

I noticed that in the tombstone above, a white substance had been wiped across a portion of the epitaph. I then noticed that it was done on a few of the old tombstones, but couldn't figure out what it was or why it was done. Some sort of preservation technique or something far more nefarious??

The white epitaph filler strikes again. And leaves a pile of residue all over the base...

 

Is the stone on the left telling us that somewhere, Harry P. Welton still walks the earth at 157 years old!?!?

Elijah Welton, former aide to General George Washington and Captain in the Revolutionary War, who died in 1821. I believe this to be the oldest stone in the cemetery, as well as having the distinction of being the only Revolutionary War Officer buried in the county. This was a beautiful stone, detailing his service to the country. And here is a really cool story about Welton's original tombstone and the efforts of a then high school student who mowed the lawn of the grounds to create the new one above.