Well, returning after the brief break to give you an update on more cemeteries hit during our Topolicious weekend, let me just give a few words of introduction before getting started. I will confess being very excited about this, because as much as we owe Beth over at GraveAddiction, and as grateful as I am for her ongoing support and interest, I have wanted to make sure our blog didn’t just become an echo of her website. “Oh, yes, she’s right–there is a cemetery here with a tombstone in it!” And, though granted it’s nice to get different perspectives on the same place and there are a limited number of cemeteries, I was looking forward to when we could spice up our blog with a little variety and “where no man has gone before” action. So I now present to you . . .

Northwood Cemetery--A Headstoner's Original!

Northwood Cemetery, first of all, is huge, and it is located in the north part of Cambridge, go figure. It made the “Hidden Ohio” map and ForgottenOhio website for, if I may quote ForgottenOH briefly, “A lady in a 1920s-style white gown is seen roaming between the tombstones here on certain summer nights, only to disappear shortly thereafter.” However, the Hidden Ohio directions are poor beyond reason, and so I shall try to provide you with some. I’m not very good at directions, so perhaps my fellow Headstoner would like to update this portion of the post at some point! Anyway, here are my simplistic directions: once in Cambridge, begin by going east on Wheeling Ave., which also just happens to be Route 40. Turn left onto 10th street, which will eventually dead end into the entrace you see before you. That seems too easy, but I leave it to MFH to correct me if I’m wrong . . . or elaborate if I’m simple. Or sing if I will dance. Or . . . wait.

One of the many (closed) entrances!

Okay, so, welcome to Northwood Cemetery, a truly massive and impressive specimen, containing a wide variety of sights and sites that range from the bizarrely ecclectic to the modern. Indeed, there is enough here to tantalize any taphophile to return. (Forgive me–I’ve spent the morning doing a Marvin Mudrick book for work and he’s infected my speech patterns with alliteration. I’ll try to tone it down.) Beyond the fact that Northwood is completely huge, with at least six entrances (please note that only the one I’ve directed you to is open–or was at our visit, it also seems to be a popular hangout for locals to either walk or jog. This may have to do with its sharing one border with the city park. Although it was too cold to get out and look around, I did note that there seem to be a variety of walking trails, and plenty of civilization close by for a not-so-dedicated explorer.

Although I’m not sure what the predominant religious persuasion of Northwood’s interrments were or are, we saw a great deal of Masonic references and styles that I have noticed are generally popular in Presbyterian cemeteries. I’ll emphasize again that it is really a decidedly attractive, large, woodsy, and well-maintained cemetery with a lot to see. Here are some of my favorites.

A dead ringer!

Strange but aesthetically pleasing?

And yet, naturally, in a cemetery this size, there are bound to be a few things that give you pause . . . that make you exclaim, in the cherished Internet jargon of our time, “WTF?!” Here are my two favorite examples from Northwood!

“Well, we just found out that he wanted to be buried in a crypt, but we already had the monument and everything . . . and there’s no money left for a crypt.”

“No prob, Bob! Let’s just buy that old toolshed in the middle of the cemetery and we’ll cement that headstone right in! Nobody will ever know the difference!”

A bizarre, doorless crypt

And from the back

Closer of the headstone--or whatever

And the next example is from a family who knows what they like and won’t apologize for it. After all, if the setup was neat one time . . .

What a nice little setup!

Logic dictates that it must be neat a second time!

Let's just repeat it! But in a different color

Ah, well, people–what can you do? And yes, those two are right next to each other. About eight or ten feet apart, I would hazard.

Northwood is a lot like the weirdly charming-creepy town it inhabits and I would be delighted to go back sometime when it isn’t 19 degrees out. It was also quite notable to us for allowing us our first look at a black squirrel! That was exciting but of course I didn’t get a picture. Sad day. Well, in closing, I would like to leave you with a headstone that breaks all the Headstoners’ Rules (but you can use your imagination as to what those rules are):

No, no, no, and also, no.

 More Topolicious Weekend Cemetery pictures to follow (eventually)–I promise!