Once Upon a Tomb: Stories from Canadian Graveyards

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

In cemeteries, history is—literally—carved in stone. Snippets of our
political history, military history, and the history of migrations and
settlements can be read on tombstones. As can the history of individuals
and families. On slabs of granite or marble, on haughty pillars and
humble crosses, Canadians have chiselled their history—their
accomplishments, triumphs, joys and victories; their disasters,
disappointments, tragedies and sorrows.

Millar traveled Canada from coast to coast (west to east), seeking out
unusual, notable, famous, surprising, and simply interesting graves. In
each area of the country, she searched for the “best” graveyards and
transcribed those tombstone messages that caught her interest. The
graves of the famous (politicians, poets, artists) and bravest of
military heroes make the cut, but so do the graves of women who died in
childbirth, of children, of farm hands and sailors, of near-saints and
would-be sinners.

Miller, who styles herself the Tombstone Tourist, always highlights the
possibilities for mystery and novelty hinted at by the epitaphs. While
her tone is light, she is never disrespectful. Nearly 100
black-and-white photos of interesting grave stones add depth to the
text. Local history devotees and genealogists have always appreciated
graveyards as a research resource. Millar’s work will bring many more
to appreciate this intriguing part of our landscape.