Legends 16: Unusual Graves (ad-free) (Patreon)

Burial seems like a certainty for most people. But according to the legends that are whispered in graveyards around America, not all burials are created equal.

Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Harry Marks and research by Cassandra de Alba.

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Further Reading:

1. Alex. “The Sunshine Grave of Mrs. Leila Davidson Hansell.” Weird Universe. November 5, 2019. https://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/comments/sunshine_grave
2. “Beating the Grim Reaper.” Vermont Old Cemetery Association. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://voca58.org/Feature_Timothy_Smith.html
3. “A Brief History of the City of Lafayette.” City of Lafayette. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.lafayetteco.gov/DocumentCenter/View/159/History-of-Lafayette?bidId=
4. “Bristol Grave Has Window In It.” The Burlington Free Press and Times. June 30, 1941. https://www.newspapers.com/image/197718945
5. “Death of Timothy Smith.” Burlington Clipper. March 2, 1893. https://www.newspapers.com/image/355355073
6. “Deaths.” The Clarion-Ledger. May 5, 1875. https://www.newspapers.com/image/253141416
7. Denham, Lecta. “Girl Wanted Sun To Shine On Her Even In Death.” The Charlotte Observer. November 28, 1926. https://www.newspapers.com/image/616821756
8. “Dies in Hendersonville.” Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad Hustler. December 16, 1915. https://www.newspapers.com/image/144110922
9. “Dr Timothy Clark Smith.” Find a Grave. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19739131/timothy-clark-smith
10. “Dr Van Hartrog Manning Sr.” Find a Grave. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58593363/van-hartrog-manning
11. Dunn, Julia. “A window to the deceased: Vermont doctor buried with window to his coffin due to phobia.” 6 News: WRGB Albany. October 13, 2021. https://cbs6albany.com/community/positively-upstate/a-window-to-the-deceased-vermont-doctor-buried-with-chisel-in-case-he-was-buried-alive
12. Gibbs, Dan. “Oakdale Cemetery.” Hendersonville Best. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://hendersonvillebest.com/oakdale-cemetery
13. Hicklin, J.B. “The ‘Sunshine Lady.’” Greensboro Daily News. December 6, 1931. https://www.newspapers.com/image/937230200
14. “Hillcrest Cemetery.” Historic Resources of Holly Springs. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.apps.mdah.ms.gov/nom/prop/22331.pdf
15. Jennings, Zoe. “The Myth of the Lafayette Vampire: Stakes and All.” Yellow Scene Magazine. October 7, 2021. https://yellowscene.com/2021/10/07/the-myth-of-the-lafayette-vampire-stakes-and-all
16. Knecht, Phillip. “Hill Crest Cemetery (1845).” Hill Country History. March 29, 2016. https://hillcountryhistory.org/2016/03/29/holly-springs-hill-crest-cemetery-1845
17. Knecht, Phillip Kyle. “The Mittie Manning Restoration Project is now complete!” Historic Holly Springs. September 28, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/groups/282050316364857/posts/336088000961088
18. “The Lafayette Vampire.” Rocky Mountain Paranormal. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.rockymountainparanormal.com/investigationpdfs/LafayetteVampire.pdf
19. “Lelia Maud ‘Sunshine Lady’ Davidson Hansell.” Find a Grave. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88924705/lelia-maud-hansell
20. “Levi Howell Manning.” Find a Grave. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30026314/levi-howell-manning
21. Marquard, B.K. “Grave Offers Eccentric Lasting Window On The World.” The Sunday Rutland Herald and The Sunday Times Argus. June 20, 1982. https://www.newspapers.com/image/658251488
22. McKie, Robin. “Examination of Chopin’s pickled heart solves riddle of his early death.” The Guardian. November 4, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/05/frederic-chopin-pickled-heart-solves-riddle-of-early-death
23. “Mending Mittie’s Tomb.” Hell Creek Productions. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://vimeo.com/558173705/2e27adccfa?fbclid=IwAR1S3W8vzgHasSJTFqEVMyQPW9PnNBtiGxUpoYQJklanqMXXoimu2XOrO0E
24. “Mittie Manning’s Tomb.” Atlas Obscura. December 3, 2020. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mittie-mannings-tomb
25. “Mittie Wilkins Manning.” Find a Grave. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11604526/mittie-wilkins-manning
26. “New Haven Mystery is Why Smith Grave Has a Window.” Bristol Herald. September 29, 1939. https://www.newspapers.com/image/656851624
27. “Oakdale’s Glass Covered Vault Soon Will Be Sealed.” The Times-News. September 25, 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/636001799
28. Powell, Lew. “A Look At The Eccentric Side Of Life.” The Charlotte Observer. July 4, 1985. https://www.newspapers.com/image/624528669/
29. Roos, Dave. “How Safety Coffins Eased Grave Fears of Premature Burial.” HowStuffWorks. June 9, 2023. https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/afterlife/premature-burial-safety-coffins.htm
30. “Safety coffins.” Australian Museum. October 22, 2020. https://australian.museum/about/history/exhibitions/death-the-last-taboo/safety-coffins
31. Tarazano, D. Lawrence. “People Feared Being Buried Alive So Much They Invented These Special Safety Coffins.” Smithsonian Magazine. Accessed May 18, 2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/sponsored/people-feared-being-buried-alive-so-much-they-invented-these-special-safety-coffins-180970627/
32. “Theodore ‘Fodor’ Glava.” Find a Grave. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22218684/theodore-glava
33. “There’s a vampire buried in Lafayette?” 9 News. January 16, 2015. https://www.9news.com/article/news/theres-a-vampire-buried-in-lafayette/73-134429175
34. “Vampire Grave of Lafayette.” Atlas Obscura. June 4, 2020. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vampire-grave-of-lafayette
35. “William R.V. Manning.” Find a Grave. Accessed June 22, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22558277/william-r_v-manning