I’ve often wondered about the timing, costs, and work involved with many of the carved stones, iron work, and memorial statues in these old Charleston cemeteries.

The first cemeteries opened in Charleston 1850. Church yards were the traditional burial place, across the US. At first cemeteries were not used often. Here memorials, from wealthy families were built but burials remained by the church, until there was no room.

Things changed in 1861, Charleston began the Civil War. The most wealthy US city was in ruins by 1865. Money didn’t return here for decades.

And yet, cemetery works like below are all through the upper peninsula burial lands. Just an observation that even with war taking a toll there must have been plenty of money hidden away.