Customer Reviews

New Jersey Cemeteries and Tombstones: History in the Landscape

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The early chapters deal with headstones and the people who made them. Veit and Nonestied discuss the materials the headstones were made of and the symbolism behind the artwork on the early headstones. Cherubs, urns, trees, angels, lambs etc. all had specific meanings and the authors sort them all out for us. Subsequent chapters track the movement from church graveyards, to cemeteries, to today's memorial parks, with a chapter devoted to alternative grave markings and mausoleums.

Rather than being a dry, morbid work, the writing style is breezy and at times humorous.

Though the book centers on NJ cemeteries, much of what can be gleaned from within can be applied to old cemeteries throughout the US. This is an outstanding book for those who are interested in cemeteries, regardless of their location, as well as anybody with an interest in history.

If you have family buried in New Jersey, this book is an excellent source of history in NJ cemeteries. It includes some black and white photos, which help to understand styes of burials in the past. This book also includes information on ethnic groups which are usually ignored in any history, but especially in cemetery history.