Mourners grieve by an open grave

Posted 12 June 2014 at 12:00 am

By Bill Lattin
Orleans County Historian

In the mid-1890s mourners assembled at a cemetery by an open grave. A woman dressed all in black stands at the head of the grave.

On Friday, June 13 from 12 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. a display of funeral-related photos and artifacts will be shown at the Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Home in Albion.

Many of these items are from the personal collection of County Historian Bill lattin, including the above photo.

A replica of Lincoln’s coffin made by Batesville Casket Co. will also be on loan from that business and will be displayed at Merrill-Grinnell’s.