FOLK GRAVE MARKER SURVEY: Unique Double Marker Unearthed in Fords, NJ

There are many folk markers along the fence-lines at Our Lady of Hungary Cemetery in Fords, NJ. Many in this particular section were laid down flat. Grass and dirt often encroaches over the edges and we have to pull it back with a trowel. In this case, however, we noted that the base tablet seemed off-center from the cross. It soon became apparent that we were dealing with a "double" marker! The whole other half was totally buried!

Using the trowel, brushes and standard archeology techniques (Stephanie is seen here taking a turn digging), we slowly unearthed the second half. It is possible that this was the first sunlight to shine on it in many years. Once free from the muddy soil, we carefully turned it over in the hopes of finding an inscription, but there was none. In the vast majority of cases, when we do any digging, we are careful to put things back to cause as little disturbance as possible. In this case, however, it seemed reburying the other half would have been more disrespectful. So we raised the marker back to its uprighted position.We have seen similar "double" markers among 18th c. brownstones, usually associated with multiple deaths of children, mother and child during childbirth, etc. Without an inscription, of course, we can't say with certainty, but we suspect this unique marker reflects a similarly sad story.