tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post831153059403724977..comments2024-03-25T12:21:56.752-05:00Comments on Sweethearts Of The West: The Iron Crosses of the PlainsCaroline Clemmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-46286598338543446472017-10-21T09:26:38.638-05:002017-10-21T09:26:38.638-05:00Great post, Celia. I have never heard about the Ir...Great post, Celia. I have never heard about the Iron Crosses, although when we first moved west to Texas back in the 70s, I noticed wooden (many carved) crosses placed where people had died (like in car crashes, etc.) We saw them all along the route -- Ohio, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, etc. I still see them being placed along roads and highways in Texas. Never understood why someone would mark where their loved ones died. They are not buried there and it is sad and unsettling (for me) to see them. Very often flowers are placed on them -- years after they were erected. Maybe the people who do this are carrying on the Iron Cross tradition? Ashley Kath-Bilskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14073164133698225798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-42488454265125218662017-10-11T10:36:25.582-05:002017-10-11T10:36:25.582-05:00How interesting, Celia. I believe I've seen a ...How interesting, Celia. I believe I've seen a few iron crosses but for some reason they didn't impress me at the time. On my next road trip I'll pay more attention. Fascinating post.Linda LaRoquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16672522522233696282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-83605471602169425122017-10-09T19:16:12.967-05:002017-10-09T19:16:12.967-05:00Glad you enjoyed it, Karen. I find cemeteries very...Glad you enjoyed it, Karen. I find cemeteries very interesting...as do my sisters. They got me into it.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-75248929242668833822017-10-09T16:40:08.937-05:002017-10-09T16:40:08.937-05:00Interesting post, Celia. I love learning new info ...Interesting post, Celia. I love learning new info about cemetery markers. This one I hadn't heard of before. Karen Michelle Nutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04083893569523248900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-66401553390596080262017-10-09T15:54:44.395-05:002017-10-09T15:54:44.395-05:00My sisters and I did rubbings, but we used chalk. ...My sisters and I did rubbings, but we used chalk. One sister told me I was doing it wrong--how could it be wrong? There seemed to be only one way. Such is the life of being a middle sister--you're always wrong.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-55403122633169244182017-10-09T15:50:55.829-05:002017-10-09T15:50:55.829-05:00My great grandmother's headstone was a rough p...My great grandmother's headstone was a rough piece of wood with her name carved into it. I have a snapshot, for surely one day it will crumble.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-59161488472024939312017-10-09T15:49:26.390-05:002017-10-09T15:49:26.390-05:00My two sisters and I have tromped through numerous...My two sisters and I have tromped through numerous cemeteries in Palo Pinto and Parker counties, looking for certain relatives. Oh, yes, we had such fun finding certain graves--like a treasure hunt. I agree--they tell a story.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-64055469932587054642017-10-09T12:58:02.253-05:002017-10-09T12:58:02.253-05:00I found photos of some on a Kansas Travel website....I found photos of some on a Kansas Travel website...can't recall where else I looked. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-23633379854555566412017-10-09T11:41:49.626-05:002017-10-09T11:41:49.626-05:00I am quite surprised that I have never seen the ir...I am quite surprised that I have never seen the iron crosses, considering that I was not only born in Kearney, NE and had traveled throughout the plains as a child. I also find old cemeteries interesting and have explored many; in particular, when we lived in Waynesville, NC, since there were many confederate soldiers buried there. I even did a rubbing on paper with a special wax for a friend whose ancestor was buried there.Cheri Kay Cliftonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06035609961825622472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-17125653197429039322017-10-08T23:38:09.268-05:002017-10-08T23:38:09.268-05:00I intend to look for them now, Celia. I love old c...I intend to look for them now, Celia. I love old cemeteries. My grandmother is buried in one near Blue Ridge which the State Historical Society has taken over but her cross was among dozens of wooden ones and we don't know which grave is hers. I wish she'd had an iron cross!Caroline Clemmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14914658854159456335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-61001223427389594372017-10-08T21:28:53.432-05:002017-10-08T21:28:53.432-05:00You hit upon something that is dear to me, cemeter...You hit upon something that is dear to me, cemeteries. The 'headstones' tell such stories. Thank you for sharing these with us. DorisRenaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-43267339956637704712017-10-08T19:28:56.773-05:002017-10-08T19:28:56.773-05:00Interesting how each of us see different things..e...Interesting how each of us see different things..especially on a tour of some kind. Some of the cemeteries were in Kansas, too.<br />Well, you had a great trip, then...we went over those same stops and miles. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-73068979734402736362017-10-08T19:26:34.376-05:002017-10-08T19:26:34.376-05:00In Poland, we walked through a very old cemetery i...In Poland, we walked through a very old cemetery in the middle of a town. Those were interesting, too. You could identify each grave as to it's native country by the materials used and also the design. I can't recall details..but some gravestones were actually replicas of buildings from that country, say, Poland. Another country might use carvings from sandstone or maybe marble to depict some image...and angel, God, Jesus on the cross. No iron crosses in the city cemetery, though. Those seemed to be in the countryside.<br />Thanks for visiting and your comment!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-87835342618505612492017-10-08T17:53:33.781-05:002017-10-08T17:53:33.781-05:00Well shoot. I just got back from WY, SD and MT and...Well shoot. I just got back from WY, SD and MT and never saw the crosses. Saw lots of other fascinating things--old towns, lots of nature with awesome mountatins, Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore, a animals galore, but no crsses, stc., etc.. Guess I'll have to to back sometime and I'm sure I'll find them fascinating. I so enjoyed this blog, Celia. Very interesting. Thanks. Beverly Wells authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12248685758575824289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-87164462662654307492017-10-08T15:59:20.371-05:002017-10-08T15:59:20.371-05:00How fascinating! I loved the history behind the ir...How fascinating! I loved the history behind the iron crosses. So many graves in my area of the country are unmarked that it's a shame we didn't have iron crosses around here, but maybe the salt air would rust them out.Maggie Toussainthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12011893139722870283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-89172687015881745552017-10-08T15:44:03.605-05:002017-10-08T15:44:03.605-05:00YOU'VE SEEN THEM? I am so excited, Kirsten. Le...YOU'VE SEEN THEM? I am so excited, Kirsten. Let me know if you ever find some. Thanks for the comment.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-64225263772874461602017-10-08T15:43:15.587-05:002017-10-08T15:43:15.587-05:00You're welcome...Thanks for visiting.You're welcome...Thanks for visiting.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-10434463303336454622017-10-08T15:42:49.091-05:002017-10-08T15:42:49.091-05:00I wouldn't know about the oldest cross I saw--...I wouldn't know about the oldest cross I saw--remember, I saw these from a moving bus. How do they make these with metal? The village smithy did it and he was an immigrant, too, and learned from others. <br />Australia--I never had a yen to visit Australia. My husband did until he learned how long he'd be on a plane. He's slightly claustrophobic and always had a hard time on just a normal flight. He still mentions it once in a while.<br />Thank you for reading and commenting!<br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-45784974009625649162017-10-08T15:38:04.800-05:002017-10-08T15:38:04.800-05:00Gini--hope you see some one day. Thank you for the...Gini--hope you see some one day. Thank you for the visit.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-68445084176747179102017-10-08T15:37:33.183-05:002017-10-08T15:37:33.183-05:00I almost think they're a figment of my imagina...I almost think they're a figment of my imagination. No one else has seen them...at least the people I've asked. Oh, and years later, I watched a tv program about them. Thank you for coming by.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-30868581859738070742017-10-08T13:53:20.171-05:002017-10-08T13:53:20.171-05:00I have seen them, but you know I never gave it muc...I have seen them, but you know I never gave it much thought. Now, I'll be on the lookout. Thanks for such a fascinating post, Celia. Kirsten Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720732595156726142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-57396277081637114352017-10-08T13:23:15.378-05:002017-10-08T13:23:15.378-05:00I never knew that bit of history about the iron cr...I never knew that bit of history about the iron crosses. Thanks for sharing.Morgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-38468646850963186942017-10-08T12:23:14.247-05:002017-10-08T12:23:14.247-05:00In my travels through the Midwest I never saw any ...In my travels through the Midwest I never saw any iron crosses. Your article interested me in that each cross is different and tells a story. Does that mean there are some standard symbolic designs families could choose from to include in their family member's cross? I know there are some standard symbols people use with headstones, but I'm trying to understand how they would do it with metal. <br />I like the idea of how these crosses can withstand fire, flood, and time. What is the oldest cross you saw?<br />My sister is an enthusiastic traveler. Not me. I have not gone beyond the North American continent into Canada and Nova Scotia. The only place I have ever wanted to see, but probably never will is Australia. I'm such a homebody--plus I am afraid of flying. LOL I'm one of those white-knuckle people that sits there stiff and terrified until I get my feet back on solid earth. LOL <br />An excellent blog, Celia.<br />Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-61935836097643335092017-10-08T11:09:02.372-05:002017-10-08T11:09:02.372-05:00Hi Celia: thank you for the interesting post. Some...Hi Celia: thank you for the interesting post. Something to watch for in the future.GiniRifkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09808573690725909979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1822452633282744192.post-77928688736255051232017-10-08T10:21:46.737-05:002017-10-08T10:21:46.737-05:00What an interesting post, Celia. I learned somethi...What an interesting post, Celia. I learned something new today. And yes, we have been to South Dakota on a tour bus just two years ago but I didn't notice any of these iron crosses when crossing the plains. Perhaps they were there and I overlooked them. Linda Swifthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065946221828780728noreply@blogger.com