2.20.2011

Sunday Stills ~ old churches and gravesites

Hydes Chapel, built in 1861(originally known as Mill Creek Church)
There is a graveyard behind it.


hydeschapel_good
Hyde's Chapel

oldgravesite
Westport's historic gravesite of the first woman settler, dated 1859

electa_stone
Small Marble Monument marking the historic grave of the first white woman settler.
Inscription on one side: "Electa, wife of Louis Montondon died 1859." Inscription on another side: "Daughter of John Lane, Ulster county, N. Y. First white woman in Westport and Vienna. Resident of Wisconsin 22 years."  The head of the lamb mounted on top is missing, the result of an accident from hired men handling horses and machinery.

othergravestone
The other stone has an untold story.
Simply marked by initials "E. M."


View other Sunday Stills.

19 comments:

gtyyup said...

Wonderful photos with interesting history!!

robin said...

That first shot is really exquisite.

MTWaggin said...

I noticed that many of the small initialed markers were originally part of family plots - one big headstone with smaller ones just with initials. Interesting isn't it? So many stories in these graveyards. I adore the church shot.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. Nicely done, very interesting. :)

Anonymous said...

I love the first photo. very picturesque! the small church among the hills.

Dreaming said...

Love the chapel, especially nestled between the hills on a winter day. It is so pretty.
The marker is haunting. What must Electa's life have been like back then? Probably pretty darn hard.

Shirley said...

The little stone has the same initials, maybe it is for the same person or perhaps her baby.

Ed said...

Interesting, great shots..:-)

aurora said...

Thanks everyone! I took the chapel shots last month during a road trip with a camera group I belong to.

Graveyards make me uneasy, so I opted not to go to any. Then I remembered the all but forgotten historic grave site, and went to see it again yesterday. It was really sunny, not ideal for taking pics of something white.

I wish the village would put an appropriate and permanent marker around the perimeter of the site, and also post something about the settlers. I got my information from one short archived article dated 1932. It is very interesting.

Looking forward to seeing other entries!

Oak Creek Ranch said...

Great photos! Thanks for following my blog!!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

so now you are a good rider with your own horse? ( I was reading your profile.) I had two encounters when I rode other people's horses. The horses didn't like me and refused to move. I paid $60 for 3 hours' ride. I ended up riding in a vehicle because I didn't like the experience.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Those first shots are really pretty. Wonderful job!

~Lisa

Achieve1dream said...

Oh wow those are great shots. I love the first one.

Lori Skoog said...

The setting for this church could not be more quaint or beautiful. Nice shots.

5 Starr's Farm said...

Lovely Church and interesting history. Thank s for stopping by my site.

Jeni said...

great photo's Aurora =) Hope you're not too snowed in again.

aurora said...

Ann, owning my own horse has given me cherished experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. You just haven't met the right horse :)

Not much snow these days, some ice. Hoping to have a Koda update one of these days?!!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Really nice. Love the first shot. Wonderful composition and color.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I really liked the first shot..very picturesque and thanks for telling us what the whole headstone said:)