This cemetery was an amazing find! We only barely scratched the surface documenting this one and we will definitely be back! Compare that stone to Samatha’s Street’s: ua-cam.com/video/c0bEtXAuHbo/v-deo.html Subscribe to the new Vlog: ua-cam.com/channels/56vh2L-M0czmoTRLhSMaxg.html PayPal Tip Jar: www.paypal.me/rwrightphotography Special thanks to gas fund contributors: Colleen David C David G Helen And huge shoutout to Robert for support! Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/SidestepAdventures My flashlights: olight.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=282
I think this has been addressed about the symbol as seen on Ida Thompson and the other graves with same symbols. Here’s an explanation: OK, Grove, Headstone Symbols and Meanings, Mosaic Templars of America MOSAIC TEMPLARS OF AMERICA (MTA) - The Mosaic Templars of America (MTA), an African American fraternal organization offering mutual aid to the black community, was founded in Little Rock Arkansas in 1882 and incorporated in 1883 by two former slaves, John Edward Bush and Chester W. Keatts. Taking its name from the biblical character of Moses, the organization offered illness, death, and burial insurance to African Americans at a time when white insurers refused to treat black customers equally. The name metaphorically linked the organization’s services to African Americans and the oppressive conditions of the Jim Crow South to Moses’s leadership during the Israelites’ Exodus from slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. At its peak in the 1920s, the organization had an estimated membership of over 100,000 members and had chapters in twenty-six states, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Headquartered in Little Rock throughout its existence, the MTA exemplified a successful black-owned business enterprise. It expanded its holdings to include the Mosaic National Building and Loan Association, the Mosaic State Hospital (which also supported a nursing school), and the Mosaic Guide (originally American Guide) newspaper. The founding of the MTA in the late nineteenth century was part of a larger fraternal movement in which thousands of men and women (white and black) joined organizations that offered insurance benefits and camaraderie. However, since white American fraternal organizations refused to issue charters to black groups, African-American branches were forced to obtain a charter from an organization’s European counterpart (like the Prince Hall Masons did in 1784) or create their own organizations. The MTA is an example of the latter-an independent, African-American fraternal organization without a white parallel. The MTA exemplified turn-of the-century fraternal values like mutualism, good moral character, self-reliance, thrift, and business training. John E. Bush’s anecdotal origin of the MTA testifies to some of these values. Bush’s story involved himself, along with a prominent white man and an elderly black woman. Bush described an awkward situation as the elderly woman interrupted the two men’s conversation to ask for a donation to help pay for her husband’s burial, despite that fact that he had held a “good position” in the black community. Bush and Keatts saw the MTA’s burial and illness insurance as a way to help members save money and alleviate poverty in a dignified way. While the origin tale is important, the timing of the MTA’s founding in 1882 was likely linked with the events surrounding an 1881 Prudential study that showed a higher mortality rate for African Americans. The study caused most insurance companies to raise rates or refuse African American customers. The core operations of the Mosaic Templars consisted of several departments: endowment, monument, analysis, uniform rank, recapitulation, records, and a juvenile division. The monument department provided every deceased member with a custom-made “Vermont marble marker” engraved with the MTA symbol. Many of these headstones can still be found in cemeteries across Arkansas and the Southeast.
What a great find! MTA stands for “Mosaic Templars of America.” This was a fraternal group for African Americans that provided its members with grave markers. The loopy outline is actually meant to be an ouroboros, which is a snake eating its tail. That symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and death (as in eternity.) The V refers to Julius Caesar’s famous message: Veni, Vidi, Vici, (Latin for: I came, I saw, I conquered.) This was a motto of the MTA. I've never seen an MTA headstone in person. Very cool! (Thanks to Debbie McWaters for calling this cool symbol to my attention!)
Alice Chamber 3804 Salem Alabama is the Chapter’s name, number and location. So it was the MTA Alice Chamber Chapter, No 3804, located in Salem Alabama. Hope that helps 😊
Alice Choice was the mother of a man who, amongst other things, was a Lay Officer of the AME Church in Nashville. When he lived, there were chapters of the Mosaic Templars of America across the United States. MTA was a black fraternal organization that owned hospital's and supported black businesses. They also sold burial insurance that included a headstone made in Virginia. MTA was forced into bankruptcy in 1934 because of the great depression.
Karie Manton I love how some of Roberts followers add information such as you have done. It's like adding another piece of the puzzle. Well done & thank you Australia Lynne 🇦🇺🐨👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hello guys, I'm from Brazil and I really enjoy your videos! I do appreciate the respectful way that you read the headstones. I get delighted and trying to imagine how was the lives of these people who lived so long ago. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! Take care ; )
The purple pitcher- that is sun-colored amethyst glass, and dates from 1881 to about 1917. The manganese added to the glass caused the clear glass to turn purple.
I'm just puzzled at how all those huge mature trees have overgrown in that cemetery. Thank you for always showing care and concern for ALL the cemeteries you have come across. The ancestors are blessing and honoring each of you!
Perpetual care cemeteries are kinda new down here. A lot of these were abandoned by the folks running them when they sold all the plots. If there is no one with either the abilities or means to keep them up, this is what happens. Even in Macon, Ga where our one and only Medal of Honor winner is buried went like this after the cemetery owner abandoned it. It has since been cleaned out and looks as it should, but it happens way too often.
How very sad. Great pride is taken in keeping our cemeteries and graves decorated and taken care of...makes me so sad these people's lives have evidently been forgotten by pretty much everyone. Thank you for documenting it in this way.
That is so sad when you say indentation. To me that means nothing left and one day that indentation will fill with leaves or whatever. I know that's how it goes, but still sad. So happy that you do such great documentation so these people will never be forgotten. Thanks for a great adventure 😊🚙
It is totally a shame that a cemetery that had graves as early as the 1980's in it but not kept up to honor those buried there ! What is wrong with people or communities that allows this kind of thing to happen to any of the cemeteries any where in this Nation !
It is sad; unfortunately humans have to be taught to care for deceased loved ones graves. I'm one of four male children; if I wasn't around my mom who passed in 2015 would still be in the morgue even though she had insurance. My brother's just weren't up to the task of carrying out our mom's disposition. It took me two years to pay for a headstone. I would not allow my mom to lie in an unmarked grave.
That is a very interesting cemetery. It really strikes me as unusual that it be so hidden and neglected when some of the burials were only 30 yrs ago. Those markers are really interesting. I have never that symbol before. I will share this with Tui and maybe she can shed some light on it. Keep Safe❤Keep Well❤
Thanks guys, it's staggering just how many graves there are in that patch of woodland, with burials carried out in the 80's you would think it would be more cared for. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx💖
I can't get over how big you say it is and left to return to yester-years. So sad. Ive said it before but I'll say it again. Total Respect to you, Cody and your friends for what you all dallThank you Robert. 🌳🌷🌳🍀🌺
Love your videos. History buff myself. I'm from Roanoke Va. There is an old family cemetery in woods near where I grew up. Did some googling on it and discovered it was the Trout/Miller Cemetery. Some of the founding families of our area of western Va. Brick wall with an iron gate. Oldest graves were from early 1800's. Also there is a old colonial mansion in eastern Montgomery county called Fotheringay. Story goes that the owner/master of plantation was buried standing up on side of knob behind the house supposedly to watch over slaves after he died. You can see remnants of the crypt facade in the winter from US 11 when the leaves have fallen, right behind the house. So neat you search these places out and rediscover these forgotten souls resting place. Bless you.
i just came across your videos by chance and glad i did, soooo interesting and the history is amazing thanks to you and the supporters keep up the good work and helping us remember the forgotten xx
Thank you for bringing to our attention these old neglected and forgotten cemeteries. Is it common in parts of the south that you are documenting for persons who have been laid to rest in wooded areas. You are very respectful of these gravesites.
If this is the same as Samantha Street insignia and if it is Masonic Lodge info then there won't be any public records on it as the Lodge keeps extremely tight security on their internal records. You would have to contact an Alabama chapter to see if they would know of any historic records you can access. Maybe the Alabama OES, Order of the Eastern Star, might be able to help.
Can you light the emblem of the Alice Choice Chamber marker & get a good close up of it, so we can look it up on Google Images with a description of the components? I cannot find "Alice Choice Chamber 3804" in any newspapers on Newspapers.com, nor does Google come up with anything about that group. It does sound like a burial insurance plan, though. George W. Coar is listed as a private in the Medical Detachment, 816th Pioneer Infantry, PHASE 6, on board the transport ship Baltic bound for NYC in October 1918. His father's name is given as Zelious Coar of Salem, AL. (Ancestry)
Interesting find. It could quite well be as you propose. However, the emblem seems to show knitting needles, and a named (Alice Choice), numbered (3804), and located (Salem, Alabama) chamber might indicate a local arm of a regional women's organization. I, too, was unable to find information. Good luck! It would be great to know the story!
Since you can't find anything on-line maybe go to the town that is closest and ask around and go to the Library, they might be able to help you. Great video as always!👍😀💖
Thank you for taking your time to go out and document these cemeteries ! Hopefully people in these areas will start taking better care of these cemeteries in their area ! Take care , stay safe and healthy wherever your next adventure takes you ! Doing well here in Kansas .
Wonderful videos. Thanx so much for finding these forgotten cemetaries and making your way through the woods to find them. Your respect for these is much appreciated. It breaks my heart to see a video that has been vandalized.Coffins broken into. Where the dead rests is sacred ground. Be careful and thank you.
What another great find! It is a shame for cemeteries to be lost and forgotten. I watch a guy from the London England area as well. Very interesting and also very calm in walking the grounds. There is a "health & safety" counsel that goes around knocking over headstones purposely, instead of trying to secure them. It looks awful and like a bunch of thugs went through vandalizing. Not sure which is worse - forgotten or legalized vandalism. Again, thank you for what you do.
Yes please do one on Andersonville I had at least one ancestor that was buried there. Very interesting Cemetery. Thank you for posting these and the great care that you take when when you're exploring the cemeteries. I do enjoy your videos thank you and God bless
Dont know if this helps to Identify the Cemetery. If same women; I found a Death record for an Ida Thompson. b.13Jul1896 in Alabama, d.9Aug1928 in Salem, Lee, Alabama. Buried 10Aug1928 in a Cemetery named: John Wesley. She was 31, Black and Married. Her Father: Charlie Gibson. Her Mother: Mariah White and Spouse: Early Thompson.
Got Curious about Ida and the Symbol on Gravestone. Found this "MEANINGS OF THE MOSAIC TEMPLARS OF AMERICA SYMBOL The letters "M", "T", and "A" denote the Mosaic Templars of America. The two crossed shepherd staffs in the center represent Moses and Aaron and the Exodus story from the Bible. The “3V’s” represent John E. Bush’s [one of the MTA founders] triumphant motto, adopted from Julius Caesar, “Veni, Vidi, Veci” (“I came, I saw, I conquered.”). Finally an ouroboros (snake eating its tail), representing the cyclical nature of life surrounds the symbol." The Alice Choice Chamber-3804 Salem, AL might be the chapter
Ida and Early had a son, Early Thompson, Jr. who died in 1929 and was buried in "Wacoochee Valley". Probably the same cemetery since Ida died less than a year earlier.
With every new graveyard you get to show us here the more incredulous it is the shear number that have just been left abandoned . The scale of abandonment is quite staggering. Always good to see Daniel on here, he definitely adds a lot to the channel. Cheers guys, really enjoyed it.👍
I think the same as you T S the unloved cemetery's are indeed staggering. I keep thinking Robert will run out of them but next video is another. I too enjoy Dans input, hehas so much knowledge he shares. Cheers Lynne Australia 🇦🇺🐨👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lynne Bunning Thanks Lynne, I’ve watched about everything there is on Stepside and I must admit it’s my favourite. I enjoy the comments here very much, so many subscribers add fantastic information which enriches the channel so much. Stay safe and have a great summer!!! Best wishes to you from Wales🏴👍
Lynne Bunning Yes I’ve watched the Vlog , SideStep has become my favourite channel to watch it always cheers me up whatever the content. Iv lost quite a lot of sleep as a result!! 😀 Thanks Lynne and take care👍
I saw The purple pitcher glass and then I remembered you saying that was an African American tradition from years ago. Thx for remembering people in all of the videos you put out for everyone. 👍
I used to love doing what you do. Then dad died, and before mom had the gravestone placed, I dreamed every night about walking thru woods and suddenly I'm in the middle of a vast cemetery. Many times there was a person who would try to catch up to me, and I ran...of course in slo-mo. All in the dream. Soon as the stone was placed on dads grave, the dreams stopped. Must have subconsciously thought I would lose his burial site. Anyway, the dreams cured me of going into cemeteries. But I enjoy watching you guys do it.
The cemetery is mostly likely from a black church. I'm thinking since there are no longer any living relatives it usually do not get kept up. This one looks pretty good so I'm assuming it was cleaned up a little while ago. There is a church near me that has two plots. One that's not used anymore and is overrun and not kept up, and the other right next to it that is used and of course kept up pristine. I guess you would have to ask the church's why they do this, but my guess is monetary.
I truly enjoy your videos, you do an amazing job! May I ask you a personal question out of total curiosity? I notice Codey almost all your videos, is he your son or brother? You don’t appear old enough for him as your son. Thanks for your awesome videos and God Bless
The emblem was over the top of a historical marker in Salem, Alabama, marking the first settlers to Salem Alabama. Salem was founded in 1838. I see where you have information on the meaning of the emblem now.
I keep thinking you will run out of old, overgrown, neglected & unloved cemeteries. As I read in one of the comments regarding the "staggering" number of such cemeteries. I really enjoy reading the comments left by others. Which I do before watching your video as they give insite & information on some of the graves, such as the ones with the snake on it. Well done & look forward to you, Dan & Cody returning. Maybe bring a long handles wire broom with you, might be easier to remove the debris. Regards Lynne Australia 🇦🇺🐨👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I know this is a 2 year old video, but I had to write you. Those Alice Choice Chamber headstones indicate that the women buried there were members of the Order of the Eastern Star. An off shoot of the Masonic Lodge. I had to do a Google search and found references to that and to a Chapter in Salem, Alabama. Hope this helps! Thank you for rekindling my interest in history!
Robert how do you learn about these forgotten cemeteries? Makes me wonder how many might be in my state and if anyone is investigating or documenting them.
Hola chicos . Mis respetos por el trabajo que hacen .no entiendo por que esos cementerios no son cuidados por su estado o condado. Veo tumbas de combatientes de las 2 guerras y me lástima por los soldados olvidados. Espero su trabajo logre que estos lugares sean puestos nuevamente en condiciones por respeto a los que ahí están, ya que forman parte de la historia . El símbolo que aparece es masón. Saludos de un argentino desde.
Name: Ida Thompson [Ida Gibson] Birth Date: abt 1897 Birth Place: Alabama Death Date: 9 Aug 1928 Death Place: Salem, Lee, Alabama Burial Date: 10 Aug 1928 Cemetery Name: John Wesley Death Age: 31 Race: Black Marital status: Married Gender: Female Father Name: Charlie Gibson Father Birth Place: Alabama Mother Name: Mariah White Mother Birth Place: Alabama Spouse Name: Early Thompson FHL Film Number: 1908457
I'm not currently finding anything on the "Alice Choice Chamber" but I'm thinking it may have to do with the Women's Suffrage movement of that era and that may have been a chapter in Salem. We may have to do some research of other notable women leaders to see if that insignia is on other headstones around Alabama.
What does it mean when there’s a really significant sunken grave? Also, maybe a local church would take on the project to clean the place up. Nice find Robert!
At one time vaults were not used or only for the wealthy. The people were buried in wooden coffins. When the wood rots it collapses from the weight of the dirt, which in turn it falls in and the dirt on top falls down.
@@jodihepler6202 I understand your thoughts on the older Graves sinking with no vaultz. but my mother was buried in 1972 and there definitely was a vault and her grave sank in few years later her coffin would not have rotted that soon so I don't understand it at all maybe lots of water in the ground perhaps.
Sharon Bartlett Sometimes if the dirt isn’t allowed to set properly they can cave in because the earth isn’t packed correctly. This is one reason they wait 6 mos or so to set a headstone so it doesn’t collapse the grave.
There is a group in AL called the Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance, Inc. They are on Facebook or the website is www.alabama-cemetery-preservation.com.Contact them. They record and preserve "lost" cemeteries.
Places & Faces ... ... Organization called the Mosaic Templars of America or MTA for short. ... has Annie's Choice Chamber 2304 which was a chapter of the MTA in Loachapoka, Alabama
Great video. Such great history. I wonder if the family has moved away I died off. Some of those grades were in the 80s. need to get some group in there to clean that up. And put a fence around it. Such disrespect.
Always enjoy Sidestep Adventures!! But you know, one of these days you might just put your foot in the wrong spot and sink into a grave! Scary thought!!
This cemetery was an amazing find! We only barely scratched the surface documenting this one and we will definitely be back!
Compare that stone to Samatha’s Street’s: ua-cam.com/video/c0bEtXAuHbo/v-deo.html
Subscribe to the new Vlog: ua-cam.com/channels/56vh2L-M0czmoTRLhSMaxg.html
PayPal Tip Jar: www.paypal.me/rwrightphotography
Special thanks to gas fund contributors:
Colleen
David C
David G
Helen
And huge shoutout to Robert for support!
Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/SidestepAdventures
My flashlights:
olight.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=282
Tennessee has this same insignia on stones in black cemeteries.
WOW awesome video Robert. I hope you get to go back. Y'all please be careful on your explorations
I also explained what the Alice Chamber 3804 is under her post 😊
Here’s a good site to help identify and explain all the symbols and such:
www.thecemeteryclub.com/symbols.html
I think this has been addressed about the symbol as seen on Ida Thompson and the other graves with same symbols. Here’s an explanation:
OK, Grove, Headstone Symbols and Meanings, Mosaic Templars of America
MOSAIC TEMPLARS OF AMERICA (MTA) - The Mosaic Templars of America (MTA), an African American fraternal organization offering mutual aid to the black community, was founded in Little Rock Arkansas in 1882 and incorporated in 1883 by two former slaves, John Edward Bush and Chester W. Keatts. Taking its name from the biblical character of Moses, the organization offered illness, death, and burial insurance to African Americans at a time when white insurers refused to treat black customers equally. The name metaphorically linked the organization’s services to African Americans and the oppressive conditions of the Jim Crow South to Moses’s leadership during the Israelites’ Exodus from slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. At its peak in the 1920s, the organization had an estimated membership of over 100,000 members and had chapters in twenty-six states, the Caribbean, and South and Central America. Headquartered in Little Rock throughout its existence, the MTA exemplified a successful black-owned business enterprise. It expanded its holdings to include the Mosaic National Building and Loan Association, the Mosaic State Hospital (which also supported a nursing school), and the Mosaic Guide (originally American Guide) newspaper.
The founding of the MTA in the late nineteenth century was part of a larger fraternal movement in which thousands of men and women (white and black) joined organizations that offered insurance benefits and camaraderie. However, since white American fraternal organizations refused to issue charters to black groups, African-American branches were forced to obtain a charter from an organization’s European counterpart (like the Prince Hall Masons did in 1784) or create their own organizations. The MTA is an example of the latter-an independent, African-American fraternal organization without a white parallel.
The MTA exemplified turn-of the-century fraternal values like mutualism, good moral character, self-reliance, thrift, and business training. John E. Bush’s anecdotal origin of the MTA testifies to some of these values. Bush’s story involved himself, along with a prominent white man and an elderly black woman. Bush described an awkward situation as the elderly woman interrupted the two men’s conversation to ask for a donation to help pay for her husband’s burial, despite that fact that he had held a “good position” in the black community. Bush and Keatts saw the MTA’s burial and illness insurance as a way to help members save money and alleviate poverty in a dignified way. While the origin tale is important, the timing of the MTA’s founding in 1882 was likely linked with the events surrounding an 1881 Prudential study that showed a higher mortality rate for African Americans. The study caused most insurance companies to raise rates or refuse African American customers.
The core operations of the Mosaic Templars consisted of several departments: endowment, monument, analysis, uniform rank, recapitulation, records, and a juvenile division. The monument department provided every deceased member with a custom-made “Vermont marble marker” engraved with the MTA symbol. Many of these headstones can still be found in cemeteries across Arkansas and the Southeast.
What a great find! MTA stands for “Mosaic Templars of America.” This was a fraternal group for African Americans that provided its members with grave markers. The loopy outline is actually meant to be an ouroboros, which is a snake eating its tail. That symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and death (as in eternity.) The V refers to Julius Caesar’s famous message: Veni, Vidi, Vici, (Latin for: I came, I saw, I conquered.) This was a motto of the MTA. I've never seen an MTA headstone in person. Very cool! (Thanks to Debbie McWaters for calling this cool symbol to my attention!)
Also, the "3" above the V and "s" to the right side of the V represents the 3V's in the motto: Veni, Vidi, Vici.
@@P.B.Theriver Thanks for pointing that out!
That is way cool! Thank you both for sharing that with us!
I've contacted the MTA to see if they can shed some light on this or add to the conversation.
Alice Chamber 3804 Salem Alabama is the Chapter’s name, number and location. So it was the MTA Alice Chamber Chapter, No 3804, located in Salem Alabama. Hope that helps 😊
Alice Choice was the mother of a man who, amongst other things, was a Lay Officer of the AME Church in Nashville. When he lived, there were chapters of the Mosaic Templars of America across the United States. MTA was a black fraternal organization that owned hospital's and supported black businesses. They also sold burial insurance that included a headstone made in Virginia. MTA was forced into bankruptcy in 1934 because of the great depression.
Karie Manton I love how some of Roberts followers add information such as you have done. It's like adding another piece of the puzzle. Well done & thank you Australia Lynne 🇦🇺🐨👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hello guys, I'm from Brazil and I really enjoy your videos! I do appreciate the respectful way that you read the headstones. I get delighted and trying to imagine how was the lives of these people who lived so long ago. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! Take care ; )
The purple pitcher- that is sun-colored amethyst glass, and dates from 1881 to about 1917. The manganese added to the glass caused the clear glass to turn purple.
The purple glass was water glass that was blessed and broken over an African American grave. Its actually a crime to remove that.
There had to be a church and a black community around there. Wonderful find! Thank you for caring for their memory!
I'm just puzzled at how all those huge mature trees have overgrown in that cemetery. Thank you for always showing care and concern for ALL the cemeteries you have come across. The ancestors are blessing and honoring each of you!
Sad. People like you and me. They got up for work everyday, loved, cried. Just like us all. Don't forget our history
I can't wait to get back out there and get a more accurate count. This place is amazing
I like the fact that you guys treat the graves with such respect and clear the headstones with a brush rather than your feet. Great find guys.
I have watched, and each time I'm amazed that there are more left behind cemeteries. I always ♥ what you do. Thank you for another adventure ✨ 💕
I don’t understand why these cemeteries are so new, yet so forgotten.😢
Tamara Figge city funds run out and ppl die off that were caring for it.
Perpetual care cemeteries are kinda new down here. A lot of these were abandoned by the folks running them when they sold all the plots. If there is no one with either the abilities or means to keep them up, this is what happens. Even in Macon, Ga where our one and only Medal of Honor winner is buried went like this after the cemetery owner abandoned it. It has since been cleaned out and looks as it should, but it happens way too often.
How very sad. Great pride is taken in keeping our cemeteries and graves decorated and taken care of...makes me so sad these people's lives have evidently been forgotten by pretty much everyone. Thank you for documenting it in this way.
No plots left = no income and 50 years later ya got this.
Great job guys. Pretty run down for the age of the plots, some only 35 years ago. Thanks for video. Be safe.
Some of those graves were fairly recent. Breaks my heart that they are forgotten.
The magic blue brush is always a winner.
Oh my word , veterans cematery and people who were early cetlers , please be safe out there and God bless you and your family and friends
That is so sad when you say indentation. To me that means nothing left and one day that indentation will fill with leaves or whatever. I know that's how it goes, but still sad. So happy that you do such great documentation so these people will never be forgotten. Thanks for a great adventure 😊🚙
It is totally a shame that a cemetery that had graves as early as the 1980's in it but not kept up to honor those buried there ! What is wrong with people or communities that allows this kind of thing to happen to any of the cemeteries any where in this Nation !
It is sad; unfortunately humans have to be taught to care for deceased loved ones graves. I'm one of four male children; if I wasn't around my mom who passed in 2015 would still be in the morgue even though she had insurance. My brother's just weren't up to the task of carrying out our mom's disposition. It took me two years to pay for a headstone. I would not allow my mom to lie in an unmarked grave.
That is a very interesting cemetery. It really strikes me as unusual that it be so hidden and neglected when some of the burials were only 30 yrs ago. Those markers are really interesting. I have never that symbol before. I will share this with Tui and maybe she can shed some light on it. Keep Safe❤Keep Well❤
Many thanks, Debbie! I love it when you share interesting cemetery symbols with me. :)
Thanks guys, it's staggering just how many graves there are in that patch of woodland, with burials carried out in the 80's you would think it would be more cared for. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx💖
I loved the cemetery, very surprised with those reasonable new graves. Really enjoyed that. Thanks for taking me along. Please stay safe
Oh I hope you back soon. Looks like a very interesting cemetery. Good video. Thanks, Robert, Daniel, and Cody
I can't get over how big you say it is and left to return to yester-years. So sad. Ive said it before but I'll say it again. Total Respect to you, Cody and your friends for what you all dallThank you Robert. 🌳🌷🌳🍀🌺
Amazing how big this place is and yet so forgotten. Very sad but great video hope you pass it on so someone might notice
Love your videos. History buff myself. I'm from Roanoke Va. There is an old family cemetery in woods near where I grew up. Did some googling on it and discovered it was the Trout/Miller Cemetery. Some of the founding families of our area of western Va. Brick wall with an iron gate. Oldest graves were from early 1800's. Also there is a old colonial mansion in eastern Montgomery county called Fotheringay. Story goes that the owner/master of plantation was buried standing up on side of knob behind the house supposedly to watch over slaves after he died. You can see remnants of the crypt facade in the winter from US 11 when the leaves have fallen, right behind the house. So neat you search these places out and rediscover these forgotten souls resting place. Bless you.
i just came across your videos by chance and glad i did, soooo interesting and the history is amazing thanks to you and the supporters keep up the good work and helping us remember the forgotten xx
That brush is working out pretty good. Amazing cemetery.
Thank you for sharing what you do. I wish someone would do this in England as well.
Another great video. Please keep safe. Love you all. From Australia. Xx
Nice to see another Aussie. Im in southeastern NSW. Blessings, Dot
Thank you for bringing to our attention these old neglected and forgotten cemeteries. Is it common in parts of the south that you are documenting for persons who have been laid to rest in wooded areas. You are very respectful of these gravesites.
Very interesting headstones. Especially the narrow ones.
Thanks for sharing this💙 Definitely odd that some of the burials are so recent!
If this is the same as Samantha Street insignia and if it is Masonic Lodge info then there won't be any public records on it as the Lodge keeps extremely tight security on their internal records. You would have to contact an Alabama chapter to see if they would know of any historic records you can access. Maybe the Alabama OES, Order of the Eastern Star, might be able to help.
Can you light the emblem of the Alice Choice Chamber marker & get a good close up of it, so we can look it up on Google Images with a description of the components? I cannot find "Alice Choice Chamber 3804" in any newspapers on Newspapers.com, nor does Google come up with anything about that group. It does sound like a burial insurance plan, though.
George W. Coar is listed as a private in the Medical Detachment, 816th Pioneer Infantry, PHASE 6, on board the transport ship Baltic bound for NYC in October 1918. His father's name is given as Zelious Coar of Salem, AL. (Ancestry)
Eve... check out this video... ua-cam.com/video/c0bEtXAuHbo/v-deo.html 100% sure Samantha’s stone was made by the same order.
Interesting find. It could quite well be as you propose. However, the emblem seems to show knitting needles, and a named (Alice Choice), numbered (3804), and located (Salem, Alabama) chamber might indicate a local arm of a regional women's organization. I, too, was unable to find information. Good luck! It would be great to know the story!
Since you can't find anything on-line maybe go to the town that is closest and ask around and go to the Library, they might be able to help you.
Great video as always!👍😀💖
Thank you for taking your time to go out and document these cemeteries ! Hopefully people in these areas will start taking better care of these cemeteries in their area ! Take care , stay safe and healthy wherever your next adventure takes you ! Doing well here in Kansas .
Second.you and Cody are awesome.keep it up and stay safe please
Wonderful videos. Thanx so much for finding these forgotten cemetaries and making your way through the woods to find them. Your respect for these is much appreciated. It breaks my heart to see a video that has been vandalized.Coffins broken into. Where the dead rests is sacred ground. Be careful and thank you.
What another great find! It is a shame for cemeteries to be lost and forgotten. I watch a guy from the London England area as well. Very interesting and also very calm in walking the grounds. There is a "health & safety" counsel that goes around knocking over headstones purposely, instead of trying to secure them. It looks awful and like a bunch of thugs went through vandalizing. Not sure which is worse - forgotten or legalized vandalism. Again, thank you for what you do.
THIS an amazing place . Just fantastic
As always, excellent work, in a dry, dusty, isolated place. Thank you so much!
What a magnificent find!
You need to do a video at Andersonville Cemetery. Over 13,000 buried there.
Yes please do one on Andersonville I had at least one ancestor that was buried there. Very interesting Cemetery. Thank you for posting these and the great care that you take when when you're exploring the cemeteries. I do enjoy your videos thank you and God bless
Robert I was scrolling through UA-cam little while ago and I came across the history Traveler did a video on Andersonville.
Dont know if this helps to Identify the Cemetery. If same women; I found a Death record for an Ida Thompson. b.13Jul1896 in Alabama, d.9Aug1928 in Salem, Lee, Alabama. Buried 10Aug1928 in a Cemetery named: John Wesley. She was 31, Black and Married. Her Father: Charlie Gibson. Her Mother: Mariah White and Spouse: Early Thompson.
Got Curious about Ida and the Symbol on Gravestone. Found this "MEANINGS OF THE MOSAIC TEMPLARS OF AMERICA SYMBOL
The letters "M", "T", and "A" denote the Mosaic Templars of America. The two crossed shepherd staffs in the center represent Moses and Aaron and the Exodus story from the Bible. The “3V’s” represent John E. Bush’s [one of the MTA founders] triumphant motto, adopted from Julius Caesar, “Veni, Vidi, Veci” (“I came, I saw, I conquered.”). Finally an ouroboros (snake eating its tail), representing the cyclical nature of life surrounds the symbol." The Alice Choice Chamber-3804 Salem, AL might be the chapter
Ida and Early had a son, Early Thompson, Jr. who died in 1929 and was buried in "Wacoochee Valley". Probably the same cemetery since Ida died less than a year earlier.
@@sandrawood-dunlap5839 Thanks! Great Info!
Very interesting.
Sandra Wood-Dunlap find a grave search for one of the stones lists John Wesley Cemetery, Lee County, Alabama. It lists the cemetery as abandoned
Another Awesome Adventure thank you so much for taking us along take care my friend's
They you for preserving a bit of history! ❤
ANOTHER AWSOME ADVENTURE.
Wow you have so many abandoned cemetery's
Awesome find Robert. Looking forward to the next visit to it. I pray you find out some history on this cementary
Absolutely Fascinating just amazing.
Great bunch. They are my eyes and legs.
With every new graveyard you get to show us here the more incredulous it is
the shear number that have just been left abandoned .
The scale of abandonment is quite staggering.
Always good to see Daniel on here, he definitely adds a lot to the channel.
Cheers guys, really enjoyed it.👍
Thank you very much.
I think the same as you T S the unloved cemetery's are indeed staggering. I keep thinking Robert will run out of them but next video is another. I too enjoy Dans input, hehas so much knowledge he shares. Cheers Lynne Australia 🇦🇺🐨👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lynne Bunning Thanks Lynne, I’ve watched about everything there is on Stepside
and I must admit it’s my favourite.
I enjoy the comments here very much, so many subscribers add fantastic information
which enriches the channel so much.
Stay safe and have a great summer!!! Best wishes to you from Wales🏴👍
T S have you watched his vlog I've only just found it. I too have watched all of hisas well. 🇦🇺🐨😆
Lynne Bunning Yes I’ve watched the Vlog , SideStep has become my favourite channel to watch
it always cheers me up whatever the content.
Iv lost quite a lot of sleep as a result!! 😀
Thanks Lynne and take care👍
Love the videos keep up the great job. It makes me feel good that at least someone is keeping their memories alive.
Robert, I think people must like you, your subs are growing! Thanks! Rox from Cali
Wauw just wauw! Love to see more, Very intresting. Thanks Robert and crew
Brilliant discovery well done great history you guys are A+
I think this is the coolest one yet! I hope you come back and uncover some more
I saw The purple pitcher glass and then I remembered you saying that was an African American tradition from years ago. Thx for remembering people in all of the videos you put out for everyone. 👍
Absolutely Incredible cemetery.
An Amazing Adventure and Find
Thank you. Will be watching for the next one. Hugs from Oklahoma
Thank you ❤️
Thank you
I've added all of the people to FamilySearch. They are in FindAGrave under John Wesley Cemetery.
Can you share the link to find a grave?
@@terrirobinson3876 Can do. ;) www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2715378/memorial-search
Just fascinating. Can’t wait for the revisit.
I used to love doing what you do. Then dad died, and before mom had the gravestone placed, I dreamed every night about walking thru woods and suddenly I'm in the middle of a vast cemetery. Many times there was a person who would try to catch up to me, and I ran...of course in slo-mo. All in the dream. Soon as the stone was placed on dads grave, the dreams stopped. Must have subconsciously thought I would lose his burial site. Anyway, the dreams cured me of going into cemeteries. But I enjoy watching you guys do it.
Really enjoy your videos , so interesting . thank you for sharing .
The cemetery is mostly likely from a black church. I'm thinking since there are no longer any living relatives it usually do not get kept up. This one looks pretty good so I'm assuming it was cleaned up a little while ago. There is a church near me that has two plots. One that's not used anymore and is overrun and not kept up, and the other right next to it that is used and of course kept up pristine. I guess you would have to ask the church's why they do this, but my guess is monetary.
Thank you for your service 🙏🇺🇲
I truly enjoy your videos, you do an amazing job! May I ask you a personal question out of total curiosity? I notice Codey almost all your videos, is he your son or brother? You don’t appear old enough for him as your son.
Thanks for your awesome videos and God Bless
The emblem was over the top of a historical marker in Salem, Alabama, marking the first settlers to Salem Alabama. Salem was founded in 1838. I see where you have information on the meaning of the emblem now.
My McKinley ancestors were the first for Southern Alabama. Moved there from north Carolina after the revolutionary war
Amazing and as always intetesting!
Looking forward to you guys returning
Robert amazing as always hope you find some information Love to hear what you find👍
You videos are so interesting, you finds are very interesting. It is sad that most people of today did not take care of these grave sites.
I'm going through all of these, watching them all.
I Love watching your discovery's! How did you find out about this one?
Really looking forward to the follow up.
I keep thinking you will run out of old, overgrown, neglected & unloved cemeteries. As I read in one of the comments regarding the "staggering" number of such cemeteries. I really enjoy reading the comments left by others. Which I do before watching your video as they give insite & information on some of the graves, such as the ones with the snake on it. Well done & look forward to you, Dan & Cody returning. Maybe bring a long handles wire broom with you, might be easier to remove the debris. Regards Lynne Australia 🇦🇺🐨👍🏻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My mother is related to the Madden family through her aunt, her mothers sister, my great aunt who's name was Dorice Madden
Amazing old tombstones.
I know this is a 2 year old video, but I had to write you. Those Alice Choice Chamber headstones indicate that the women buried there were members of the Order of the Eastern Star. An off shoot of the Masonic Lodge. I had to do a Google search and found references to that and to a Chapter in Salem, Alabama. Hope this helps! Thank you for rekindling my interest in history!
Robert how do you learn about these forgotten cemeteries? Makes me wonder how many might be in my state and if anyone is investigating or documenting them.
Hola chicos . Mis respetos por el trabajo que hacen .no entiendo por que esos cementerios no son cuidados por su estado o condado. Veo tumbas de combatientes de las 2 guerras y me lástima por los soldados olvidados. Espero su trabajo logre que estos lugares sean puestos nuevamente en condiciones por respeto a los que ahí están, ya que forman parte de la historia . El símbolo que aparece es masón. Saludos de un argentino desde.
A burial in 1987 and the place looks like it's been overgrown since 1947.
Amazing how nature takes over.
A most interesting cemetery.
Must've been a church there at one time.
God bless 🙏🙏
Wow, I can’t believe it’s not that old. It’s a shame that it’s been forgotten.
Name: Ida Thompson
[Ida Gibson]
Birth Date: abt 1897
Birth Place: Alabama
Death Date: 9 Aug 1928
Death Place: Salem, Lee, Alabama
Burial Date: 10 Aug 1928
Cemetery Name: John Wesley
Death Age: 31
Race: Black
Marital status: Married
Gender: Female
Father Name: Charlie Gibson
Father Birth Place: Alabama
Mother Name: Mariah White
Mother Birth Place: Alabama
Spouse Name: Early Thompson
FHL Film Number: 1908457
Can’t wait... so interesting!
I wonder if those 2 men with the last name Coar were brothers, they died the same year? 1981
I'm not currently finding anything on the "Alice Choice Chamber" but I'm thinking it may have to do with the Women's Suffrage movement of that era and that may have been a chapter in Salem. We may have to do some research of other notable women leaders to see if that insignia is on other headstones around Alabama.
What does it mean when there’s a really significant sunken grave? Also, maybe a local church would take on the project to clean the place up. Nice find Robert!
At one time vaults were not used or only for the wealthy. The people were buried in wooden coffins. When the wood rots it collapses from the weight of the dirt, which in turn it falls in and the dirt on top falls down.
@@jodihepler6202 I understand your thoughts on the older Graves sinking with no vaultz. but my mother was buried in 1972 and there definitely was a vault and her grave sank in few years later her coffin would not have rotted that soon so I don't understand it at all maybe lots of water in the ground perhaps.
Sharon Bartlett Sometimes if the dirt isn’t allowed to set properly they can cave in because the earth isn’t packed correctly. This is one reason they wait 6 mos or so to set a headstone so it doesn’t collapse the grave.
Tamara Figge Interesting thanks
There is a group in AL called the Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance, Inc. They are on Facebook or the website is www.alabama-cemetery-preservation.com.Contact them. They record and preserve "lost" cemeteries.
Places & Faces ...
... Organization called the Mosaic Templars of America or MTA for short. ... has Annie's Choice Chamber 2304 which was a chapter of the MTA in Loachapoka, Alabama
Find a grave search for TOVER Williams lists this as John Wesley Cemetery, Lee County, Alabama. Abandoned cemetery.
Great video. Such great history. I wonder if the family has moved away I died off. Some of those grades were in the 80s. need to get some group in there to clean that up. And put a fence around it. Such disrespect.
Always enjoy Sidestep Adventures!! But you know, one of these days you might just put your foot in the wrong spot and sink into a grave! Scary thought!!
So sad to see these graves left to the elements and not being looked after
Truly shocking!
Have you ever found a cemetery where a tree has fallen over & revealed a grave that it grew up in/around? Any bones exposed in any of your wanderings?