The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Jennie and Dianne share three captivating stories of headstones found in unusual places and how they were restored to the cemeteries where they belong. They begin with the story of a WWII veteran's headstone discovered in a backyard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Next they journey to Pennsylvania to visit the oldest narrow gauge railroad in the U.S.; East Broad Top Railroad's mission to return a Civil War hero's gravestone after 118 years results in a touching family reunion. And finally, they unveil the remarkable restoration of a woman's headstone, once discarded near a dumpster, far from the cemetery where she was laid to rest. Tune in for these Ordinary Extraordinary stories of current generations restoring peace and dignity to those in the past.

CO0067P - Evergreen Cemetery Benevolent Society: Please help us Remember, Honor, and Teach on December 16, 2023 at 10:00 am (Wreath Placement Immediately Following Ceremony) by sponsoring a wreath, volunteering, or inviting friends to help. https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/42498/Overview

To learn more about East Broad Top Railroad, follow this link: https://eastbroadtop.com/

Resources used to research this episode include:
, Trains.Com. "East Broad Top and historians solve mystery of unclaimed Civil War veteran’s headstone ." https://www.trains.com. 13 Nov. 2023. www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/east-broad-top-and-historians-solve-mystery-of-unclaimed-civil-war-veterans-headstone/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

, Times Staff Writer. "Headstone discovered in St. Petersburg yard launches a quest for answers ." https://www.tampabay.com. 31 July 2018. www.tampabay.com/news/Headstone-discovered-in-St-Petersburg-yard-launches-a-quest-for-answers_170462798/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

Lawrence White, D'Ann. "Lost 66-Year-Old Headstone Returned To WWII Veteran's Grave ." https://patch.com. 7 Aug. 2018. patch.com/florida/stpete/lost-66-year-old-headstone-returned-wwii-veterans-grave. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

, R.C. "William Henry Matthews ." https://www.findagrave.com. 20 June 2019. www.findagrave.com/memorial/200325409/william-henry-matthews?_gl=1*h789xf*_gcl_au*MTEwMTM4NDA2Ny4xNjkyODAxNzIy*_ga*MTE3ODc2MTA3MS4xNjYzNjkxMTEx*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*M2I0OWI4OGEtMzE5ZC00YmNmLTljNmEtYjdiYjBlNmYwYTMxLjQuMS4xNzAwMDA2Njg0LjU0LjAuMA..*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*M2I0OWI4OGEtMzE5ZC00YmNmLTljNmEtYjdiYjBlNmYwYTMxLjEuMS4xNzAwMDA2Njg0LjAuMC4w. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

, TonyElvis. "Andrew Jackson Gamble ." https://www.findagrave.com. 15 May 2023. www.findagrave.com/memorial/254010576/andrew-jackson-gamble. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

In this episode Jennie and Dianne honor Veterans Day and celebrate National Native American Heritage Month along with guests Charlie Johnson and Connie Kellwood Pitt. Connie's father, Joe Hosteen Kellwood was one of the renowned Navajo Code Talkers of WWII. Connie has made it her mission to share not only her father's personal story, but the stories of the 420 Ordinary Extraordinary Navajo men who participated in every major Marine operation in the Pacific theater. They translated hundreds of thousands of messages using the Navajo language between 1942 and the end of the conflict in 1945, and not one message was ever decoded by the Japanese. Upon returning home at the end of the war, the men were forbidden to tell of their heroic deeds until the mission was finally declassified by the military in 1968. Connie paints a vivid picture of courage and the strength and determination of true Navajo warriors who fought to protect their fellow Marines, their families and their country. To all of America's veterans, thank you.

To learn more about the Navajo Code Talkers, follow these links graciously shared by Connie Pitt:
Peter MacDonald Video:  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=185510686096640

Library of Congress Video: https://guides.loc.gov/navajo-code-talkers/profiles/joe-kellwood

     Navajo Code Talkers: A Guide to First-Person Narratives in the Veterans History Project

     Biography of Navajo Code Talker Joe Kellwood, together with a video recording of his oral history interview from the Veterans History Project archives

Dad's Passing (Joe Kelleood) - CNN:  https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/07/us/navajo-code-talker-joe-hosteen-kellwood-obit/index.html

Obituary: https://funeralinnovations.com/obituaries/view/365395/2

https://navajocodetalkers.org/ (lots of information)

Additional resources used to research this episode include:

, Intel.Gov. "1942: NAVAJO CODE TALKERS ." https://www.intelligence.gov. www.intelligence.gov/people/barrier-breakers-in-history/453-navajo-code-talkers#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Marines%20knew%20where,key%20phrases%20and%20military%20tactics. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.

Operations, Intelligence And. "Navajo Code Talkers and the Unbreakable Code ." https://www.cia.gov. 6 Nov. 2008. www.cia.gov/stories/story/navajo-code-talkers-and-the-unbreakable-code/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.

Jevec, Adam. "Semper Fidelis, Code Talkers ." https://www.archives.gov. 1 Jan. 2001. www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2001/winter/navajo-code-talkers.html. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.

United States . VA Cemeteries . American Indian Code Talkers, World War ll.

Nez, Chester, and Judith Schiess Avila. Code Talker. 1st ed., New York , Berkley Publishing Group, 2011, pp. 1 - 242.

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Happy belated 3rd anniversary to the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast! In this episode Jennie and Dianne take a stroll down memory lane, celebrating three years of stories and inspiring discussions. They reminisce about how far the podcast has come, discuss some of their favorite episodes and guests from this past year, and share their hopes and ideas for the future of cemetery preservation and the podcast itself, inviting you to be part of this adventure! Here’s to many more years of Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery stories! 

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Join Jennie and Dianne for this very special Halloween edition of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast. Grab your favorite warm beverage, turn the lights down low, and curl up with a cozy blanket as we delve into the enigmatic world of Bram Stoker, the genius behind the legendary novel "Dracula." Prepare to be transported into a chilling atmosphere, embracing the essence of Stoker's timeless legacy. The tale begins with an introduction from Bram Stoker himself before being whisked off to Victorian England and Castle Dracula where Mina, Jonathan, Lucy and Dr. Van Helsing become ensnared in the evil doings of Count Dracula.

Stoker's classic novel was adapted and performed by phenomenally talented actors live at Evergreen Cemetery on October 13th & 14th, 2023 in order to help raise funds for the preservation of  Colorado Spring's historic cemeteries and now we bring it to you for your listening pleasure. Happy halloween!

Script adaptation written by Jennie Johnson & Casper Johnson

Thank you so much to all the actors who lent their time and talent to bring this classic tale to life. The actors are, in order of appearance:

🧛‍♂️Jeremy Moskowitz - Bram Stoker
🧛‍♂️ Kimberly Douglas - Mina Harker
🧛‍♂️Warren Epstein - Jonathan Harker
🧛‍♂️Casper Johnson - Lucy Westenra
🧛‍♂️Ashley Arroyo - Dr. Abrianna Van Helsing

Music: "The Dark Castle" by David Fesliyan courtesy of FesliyanStudios
Sound effects provided by www.pixabay.com
Photography by: Jeffery Heizer & Billy Dias

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

Just in time to help kick off the third annual Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker, Dianne and Jennie engage in a captivating conversation with Stanley Stepanic, an Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Virginia who teaches a VERY popular course called "Dracula". With his vast knowledge of Slavic folklore and the origins and subsequent manifestations of vampirism, Professor Stepanic helps Jennie and Dianne take a deep dive into the world of Bram Stoker and how his iconic novel "Dracula" became his most celebrated work. He sheds light on Stoker's  Ordinary Extraordinary life and how his novel helped to establish the timeless allure of vampires in popular culture.

To purchase tickets to Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker in Colorado Springs, Colorado, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-an-evening-with-bram-stoker-tickets-696195337997?aff=oddtdtcreator

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

It's officially October which means many of us are feeling a bit spookier than usual! In this episode Jennie and Dianne  unravel some of the secrets of omens and taboos lurking in the shadows of our minds. They delve into the Ordinary Extraordinary world of cemetery lore, uncovering eerie omens and ancient taboos that have stood the test of time. They also journey across diverse cultures, shedding light on how death is perceived differently around the globe. From ancient rituals to modern interpretations, they dissect the evolution of the Western world's perspective on mortality. And for a bonus on omens and taboos, be sure to check the link in the show notes to the 'Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast' in which Jennie and Dianne had a lovely time as guests helping to kick off spooky season across podcasts!

To purchase tickets to Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker in Colorado Springs, Colorado, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-an-evening-with-bram-stoker-tickets-696195337997?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast
https://thoushaltnotsuffer.com/2023/09/28/omens-with-the-ordinary-extraordinary-cemetery-podcast/

Resources used to research this episode include:

Munnik, Jo, and Katy Scott. "In Famadihana, Madagascar, a sacred ritual unearths the dead ." https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com. 27 Mar. 2017. www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2016/10/18/travel/madagascar-turning-bones/index.html. Accessed 10 Sep. 2023.

, Myend.com. "Madagascar Dancing with the Dead - Famadihana ." https://myend.com. myend.com/country/madagascar/. Accessed 10 Sep. 2023.

, TalkDeath. "Omens of Death Around the World ." https://www.talkdeath.com. 18 Sep. 2017. www.talkdeath.com/omens-death-around-world/. Accessed 10 Sep. 2023.

Hudson, Beth. "64 Death Omens: Real or Folklore? ." www.getcurrant.org. 14 Aug. 2020. www.google.com/amp/s/www.getcurrant.org/amp/death-omens. Accessed 10 Sep. 2023.

Wright, Jeremiah . "The 10 Most Common Animals That Represent Death ." https://a-z-animals.com. 31 July 2023. a-z-animals.com/blog/the-most-common-animals-that-represent-death/. Accessed 10 Sep. 2023.

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

"Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die."
The murder ballad, 'Tom Dooley', made famous by the Kingston Trio in 1958, is the tale of a twisted love triangle that culminated in two sensational trials that both captivated and disgusted the people of North Carolina in the years following the American civil war.

Dianne and Jennie also delve into the song 'Swannanoa Tunnel', a work song that was sung by African American prison laborers who were tasked with the arduous job of building the railroad tracks and tunnels through North Carolina. An estimated 125 – 300 convicts died during the construction of these tunnels.

Join Jennie and Dianne on this Ordinary Extraordinary musical journey through the hidden histories and the real-life dramas that inspired these songs.

To purchase tickets to Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker in Colorado Springs, Colorado, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-an-evening-with-bram-stoker-tickets-696195337997?aff=oddtdtcreator

Resources used to research this episode include:
Baker, Bruce E., et al. "Folk Music." https://www.ncpedia.org. 20 Sep. 2006. www.ncpedia.org/folk-music. Accessed 17 Sep. 2023.

Kemp, Mark. "An Our State Playlist: North Carolina Folk Music ." https://www.ourstate.com. 31 Aug. 2023. www.ourstate.com/an-our-state-playlist-north-carolina-folk-music/. Accessed 17 Sep. 2023.

, North Carolina Arts Council . "The Legend Behind North Carolina’s Most Famous Murder Ballad ." https://www.ncarts.org. 29 Oct. 2019. www.ncarts.org/blog/2019/10/29/legend-behind-north-carolinas-most-famous-murder-ballad#:~:text=In%201868%20a%20man%20named,the%20crime%20and%20its%20fallout. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

Martin, Christy. "The Story Behind the Ballad and Legend of Tom Dooley ." https://thesouthernvoice.com. 7 Oct. 2022. thesouthernvoice.com/the-story-behind-the-ballad-and-legend-tom-dooley/. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

, North Carolina Ghosts . "The Scary Truth: The Legend of Tom Dooley ." https://northcarolinaghosts.com. northcarolinaghosts.com/mountains/tom-dooley/scary-truth/. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

McKown, Harry. "May 1868: The Death of Tom Dooley ." https://blogs.lib.unc.edu. 1 May 2008. blogs.lib.unc.edu/ncm/2008/05/01/this_month_may_1868-2/. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

"Tom Dooley Gravesite ." https://www.findagrave.com. 22 July 2001. www.findagrave.com/cemetery/641036/tom-dooley-gravesite. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

Sabatella, Matthew. "Swannanoa Tunnel: About the Song ." https://balladofamerica.org. balladofamerica.org/swannanoa-tunnel/. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

, WLOS Staff. "New memorial & exhibit recognize incarcerated laborers' contribution to WNC railroads ." https://wlos.com. 24 Oct. 2021. wlos.com/news/local/new-memorial-exhibit-recognize-incarcerated-laborers-contribution-to-wnc-railroads. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

"The Rail Project." https://therailproject.org. therailproject.org/. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

"Come all good people, I’d have you draw near,
A sorrowful story you quickly shall hear;
A story I’ll tell you about Omie Wise,
How she was deluded by Lewis’s lies." From the ballad Omie Wise. This week Jennie and Dianne begin a two part series exploring three folk songs that originated out of North Carolina. Each song relates a tragic narrative that has been spun out of real life events. In this first episode they will delve into the Ballad of Omi (Naomi) Wise; Omie’s ballad is especially tragic as she was a woman who really lived and lost her life to a man who promised to make an honest woman of her, but in the end chose to take her life instead. Join us on this poignant journey through North Carolina's haunting folk songs as we unravel the Ordinary Extraordinary tale of Omie Wise.

To purchase tickets to Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker in Colorado Springs, Colorado, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-an-evening-with-bram-stoker-tickets-696195337997?aff=oddtdtcreator

Videos of the Ballad of Omie Wise:
Doc Watson: https://youtu.be/C-CGqAdW2vE?feature=shared

Clifton Hicks: https://youtu.be/OkytFy9rW1U?feature=shared

Zac Zokolow:
https://youtu.be/ANRwZHQmLM0?feature=shared

Resources used to research this episode include:

Baker, Bruce E., et al. "Folk Music." https://www.ncpedia.org. 20 Sep. 2006. www.ncpedia.org/folk-music. Accessed 17 Sep. 2023.

, Secretary Of State Knowledge Base. "North Carolina History." https://www.sosnc.gov. www.sosnc.gov/divisions/publications/kids_page_history#:~:text=In%20the%201600s%20permanent%20settlers,declare%20independence%20from%20Great%20Britain. Accessed 17 Sep. 2023.

, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area . "Music Heritage ." https://www.blueridgeheritage.com. www.blueridgeheritage.com/heritage/music/. Accessed 17 Sep. 2023.

Kemp, Mark. "An Our State Playlist: North Carolina Folk Music ." https://www.ourstate.com. 31 Aug. 2023. www.ourstate.com/an-our-state-playlist-north-carolina-folk-music/. Accessed 17 Sep. 2023.

Pugh, Hal E., and Eleanor Minnock-Pugh. Naomi "Omie" Wise: Her Life, Death and Legend. E-book, McFarland and Company, Inc., 2022, pp. 1-219.

, SleepingDog. "Naomi Wise." https://www.findagrave.com. 21 Sep. 2006. www.findagrave.com/memorial/15846775/naomi-wise. Accessed 17 Sep. 2023.

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

In this episode Jennie and Dianne are joined by the delightful Kathleen Maca who shares the stories of the Broadway District cemeteries on the island of Galveston off the gulf coast of Texas. Kathleen is a member of the Association for Gravestone Studies, a cemetery historian, cemetery restorationist, Certified Tourism Ambassador, genealogist and just completed a two-year project for ancestry.com involving photographing approximately 250,000 vital records! Kathleen shares the Ordinary Extraordinary story of a woman whose grave is covered in Mardi Gras beads each year, how decades of hurricanes have affected the cemeteries in the island, and how at the Battle of Galveston the fighting was paused so that a father could bury his son; one was a Confederate soldier and the other fought for the Union. She also shares stories of some of the adventures that have happened while giving tours in the cemeteries and through historic and reportedly haunted sections of Galveston itself.

Photos of Galveston's Broadway Cemetery District provided by Kathleen Maca and shared with permission.

To purchase tickets to Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker in Colorado Springs, Colorado, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-an-evening-with-bram-stoker-tickets-696195337997?aff=oddtdtcreator

To learn more about the history of Galveston, Texas, book a tour with Kathleen, or order any of her books, please visit her website: http://kathleenmaca.com/

Support the show

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.

In this episode, Jennie and Dianne are joined by Annalisa Heppner, Cemetery Director of North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. North Burial Ground was officially recognized as a burial ground in 1700 and is the largest municipal cemetery in the region at around 110 acres and with more than 40,000 gravestones.  From its inception North Burial Ground has welcomed all people of the Providence area regardless of race, religion or creed. Annalisa shares some of the Ordinary Extraordinary stories of those buried there including: Edward and Christina Bannister prominent members of Providence's African-American society who were major contributors to the arts and the abolitionist movement before and during the American Civil War; Stephen Hopkins, colonial governor, founding father, signatory of the Declaration of Independence; and Sarah Helen Whitman, poet, essayist, and a romantic interest of Edgar Allan Poe. Annalisa also, shares news of the many upcoming events hosted within or near the cemetery that continue to make North burial ground a vibrant center of cultural life for all to enjoy.

To purchase tickets to Beyond the Grave: An Evening with Bram Stoker in Colorado Springs, Colorado, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-an-evening-with-bram-stoker-tickets-696195337997?aff=oddtdtcreator

To learn even more about North Burial Ground, visit their website: https://www.providenceri.gov/parks/north-burial-ground/

Check out North Burial Ground Events and Merchandise here: https://www.providenceri.gov/parks/nbg-tickets/

Support the show