Tammy Schane of Doylestown told the members of the Palmerton Area Historical Society about how to read a tombstone. She said understanding the symbolism is only a different way of reading.

She has visited cemeteries in Stroudsburg, Hellertown, the Little White Church in Palmerton, Easton, Scranton, Doylestown and more.Her talk began inside the church with a PowerPoint presentation and moved outside to see the stones in the cemetery.Schane's interest began when she was 5 and visited the National Polish Catholic Cemetery in Scranton with her great-great-grandfather. In the back of the cemetery there were no lights and some of the stones were clearly handmade. She said that was her favorite part of a visit.In the 19th century she liked the death heads. At that time you were old at 35. Sometimes the skulls would have wings. One of the wordings on the stones with death heads was "Passers-by look at me. As I am so you will be."Gradually the skulls took on some flesh until they became soul effigies. In Stockerton she found them with wigs and a crown made by a primitive carver.Time went on to the 1800s and a second religious revival, which included a temperance influence, and the tombstones showed it.Before 1860 all work was with a hammer and chisel. Many people couldn't read but they understood the symbols.A phrase popular at that time was "We are not dead. We'll see you again."Weeping willows were a symbol of the Resurrection. Sometimes branches were included in the coffin.With a Greek Revival, the entire country showed the results of the classical movement with urns on many tombstones. An urn could be on top of the stone with only a slim section connecting it to the bottom - the narrow portion separated heaven and earth.Earlier ones were made of marble, which was easier to work than granite. The granite was hard to work by hand.Some columns were made to appear broken to indicate a life not fully lived.Children often died young from diseases or getting hurt by horses or other animals. During the Civil War era many people died in factories and on the farms.Flowers (floriography) were used as buds for infant deaths, partial blooms for children and blooms for young adults. Roses were the most popular flower.A family that lost five children who are in the Doylestown cemetery had a broken flower on the tombstones.Shaking hands was a final farewell, but Shane pointed out that the fingers were always on top. A finger pointing up showed the path to heaven.The eternal flame was to indicate God's eternal light, which will never go out. The deceased was now in God's grace.Passion flowers were a reminder of the crucifixion of Christ. Poppy buds meant the person was in an eternal sleep. Lilies of the valley were for the purity and grace of children. Oak leaves on a tombstone were often used for men and their longevity. Doves told of purity and peace. Eagles and hawks were for important people.A sheaf of wheat with the grain was for farmers of fraternal organizations such as the Grange. The sheaf may or may not have a sickle on top. There were hundreds of these organizations, and many of them were involved in politics. Some also had auxiliaries for the women. They often provided insurance and benefits.A crown with the letters F-L-T used by the Odd Fellows was for friendship, love and truth."At one time if you weren't an Odd Fellow you were odd," Schane said.The Order of United American Mechanics did not want the Irish taking their jobs. Their symbol was an arm bent at the elbow with a hammer.The Patriotic Order Sons of America claimed descent from the Sons of Liberty.Treestones were carved like a tree and belonged with a lumberman's organization. When the "tree" had a small circular shield on front, it was for a woman.A lamb meant a child and Jesus, the Lamb of God, took the child.A girl died and was buried in the Easton Cemetery. A person came and left flowers once a month for years.A wreath or garland symbolized achievement and victory. It was the Christian symbol of triumph over death.Schane wrote a book about the tombstones which can be ordered at

tschane2@verizon.net.The meeting moved to the cemetery, where some of the symbols talked about were found. She said burials faced the east so it was easier to go with Christ. Many graves had not only a headstone but a small footstone at the foot level of the grave. They are now a nuisance to keep the cemetery clean and at times are stacked to the side.To clean old stones, the only thing to use is a very soft brush and mildly warm water because they are easily damaged.Schane calls cemeteries her "outdoor art museum." Zinc markers are blue-gray in color and are found in the cemetery in Lehighton. They were made at the Monumental Bronze Company, but it was called white bronze and acid rain did not affect them.