This past weekend I went to a cemetery. Not just any old cemetery, but one in the heart of downtown Memphis. Elmwood Cemetery, eighty acres of beautiful old trees, and isn’t that a beautiful old white oak? It’s the oldest active cemetery in Memphis and was the burial place of over 1400 people who died in the Yellow Fever epidemic in the 1870s. It’s also the setting for the funeral scene in The Firm.
See the photo to the right.
And why might I go to Elmwood? I’m so glad you asked. In the book I just finished, which I just learned will be titled Justice Betrayed, Elmwood Cemetery is the setting for several scenes. And I wrote the scenes having only visited Elmwood through Google Earth. And before edits begin, I wanted to get a feel for the place. It’s what writers do when they can. For instance, now I know that when I talk about my heroine visiting her mother’s grave, she will go to the right rather than the left. The left is where all the old historic graves are.
Elmwood was established as part of the Rural Cemetery Movement which swept the nation in the early to mid 1800s. It is a classic example of a garden cemetery with its park-like setting, sweeping vistas, shady knolls, large stands of ancient trees, and magnificent monuments–from the Elmwood website.
People used to take picnic baskets when they went to visit the grave sites of their loved ones. That practice is still around in some of the small church communities in my area–we call it Decoration Day and it lasts all day long with preaching, singing and dinner on the grounds.
And now for last week’s Mystery Question. Here are the four options:
- 12:42 a.m. 200 block of Howard Street. A man reported someone used his password and hacked into his Farmville account on Facebook and as a result, he lost a year’s worth of work and all his crops.
- A resident of the 100 block of Beck Mill Road reported her car was stolen. The car was found on her lot, but she hadn’t recognized it with snow on it.
- A man called the police to report that he suspected the marijuana his friend sold him was “laced with something” and he had felt crazy ever since smoking it. He wanted to see a doctor.
- A man called to report that someone had stolen the saddle on his horse while he was inside a bar drinking. The horse was not stolen.
And the answer is…#4. But all of them are hilarious. Congrats Sandra, Lis, and Charolette on getting it right! But everyone will be entered in the drawing for a book!
Now for this week’s Mystery Question. There are four accident reports and six choices. Your assignment if you choose to take it is to choose the correct answer:
- “A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.”
- “An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle, and vanished.”
- A truck backed through my windshield and into my wife’s face.”
- “I thought my window was down; but found it was up when I put my hand through it.”
- They are all correct.
- They are all incorrect.
- One is False and it is __.
Okay, Mystery Sleuths, what is the correct answer? Leave your guess in the comment section.
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none” inject=”#giveaway”]Mystery Challenge of the week. Was it an invisible car that caused the wreck?[/tweet_box] [tweet_box design=”default” float=”none” inject=”#mysteryquestion”]What cemetery was featured in The Firm? Check out my blog on a famous cemetery.[/tweet_box]
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Comments 20
#5
Author
Thanks so much for stopping by Lisa! We’ll see if you’re right next week. 🙂
Patricia, I wish I knew you were in Memphis. We could have gotten lunch or a coke or something. I’m excited about this new series you have set in Memphis. My book club is excited too. I’m gonna say the answer is 5.
Author
Dana, I’ll probably be at the ACFW meeting in Memphis Saturday if you want to join us! We meet right across from Landers Ford at 10. Then we have lunch afterward.
I’m going with #7- I say 2 is false. We’ll see. Sad to say I can see all these happening lol. The visit to the cemetary looks like fun. I’ve wanted to go back to PA and visit where my dad’s family is buried. Just to see it.
Author
I love visiting cemeteries! Is that creepy, or what. lol And we’ll see next week what the correct answer is.
Is it creepy to admit to enjoying wandering through old cemeteries? In the daylight, of course. 🙂
Author
Probably, Sandra, but I can’t resist stopping at old cemeteries! lol
I going to say #7, with #3 being the false one.
Such Memphis history at Elmwood. I also like to visit old cemeteries. Lots of history. Happy writing Pat!!
Author
Thanks, Rhonda. Yes, Elmwood has so much history in it.
I’ll say seven and three is the false one! Cemeteries can be such interesting places. I love history.
Author
Yes, Paula, cemeteries are very interesting places! Thanks for stopping by.
I typically choose an answer and then scroll through the other replies before typing mine. I selected 7 with 3 being the incorrect one this time and noted that two or three others gave the same response. I hope we will have the correct answer this time.
Author
Hi Edward. I always love seeing you here. And we’ll see next week about the correct answer. 🙂
I’ll say 7 and 3 being false. Your post is timely…was thinking last week how I would love to visit cemetery of my grandparents! It is too far away though
Author
Go, Jackie! You’ll have so much fun and it’s so rewarding touching base with our families. Well, not exactly touching base, but you know what I mean. :=)
Ooh! Different sort of question this week! Umm, I think I’ll go with they’re all incorrect for fun (#6). I like the title, btw–Justice Betrayed. Nice!
Author
Glad you like it, Jerusha. So glad you like the title!
Wow, 1400 victims of the yellow fever? I didn’t realize it was that bad! I, too, love visiting old cemetaries to see the oldest tombstones. The saddest ones are for babies or small children. I’m guessing either stillborn or some childhood disease. Mortality rates back then were very high. Funny story, my high school sweetheart joined the Navy right after graduation. When he came home from leave, we drove to the cememtary near his home at night, crawled in the back of the car….and ended up falling asleep…lol! I’m sure we had other ideas but that’s for another day…lol!
I want to say it’s #7 with #3 being false. You really have me stumped this week 🙂 I loved seeing the cemetary picutures, I’d love to visit that one someday 🙂
Author
Oh, Trixi, if you ever get the chance to visit Elmwood, do it! It is such an interesting cemetery. Thanks for stopping by and loved your story about you and your high school sweetheart!