Ordione Point Cemetery

[Wicked Dark]

This may be New Hampshire's oldest European cemetery. Documentation has been lost, so it's not certain, however Europeans started fishing this area (Rye/Portsmouth) around 1619 so it's possible these graves date from then. It's impossible to tell since most of the stones are uncarved, unshaped and then there's the strange 200 year gap; the grave stones that are carved with dates start about 1800 even though the family that was given this land grant got it in 1690. Probably people in between were buried in one of the Portsmouth cemeteries as the city was first settled in 1623. I think the area around Ordione Point was an outpost that was used primarily by fishermen when the real town got going only later being more seriously farmed. Anecdotes from that time have the farmers talking about plowing up bits of iron and brick from several locations on the tract.

Anyway...here it is -

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Graves-and-Cemeteries/Graven-Images/P5116805/864216947_3WaGk-XL.jpg

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Graves-and-Cemeteries/Graven-Images/P5116827/864216851_bAuEr-L.jpg

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Graves-and-Cemeteries/Graven-Images/P5116809/864217007_4mGB5-L.jpg

http://wickeddark.smugmug.com/Graves-and-Cemeteries/Graven-Images/P5116813/864216312_jPVay-XL.jpg

[Iguanasan]

Interesting looking place you have there. I like the B&W but I think it would sing more if you boosted the contrast a bit.

[crystalb]

Great story behind the pics...

[Wicked Dark]

Thanks guys. It was a beautiful spot and I was glad to have it all to myself.

[Rinkdaddy]

Cemeteries are a great place to go to practice your photographic skills. It is quiet and peaceful and there is a number of architectural designs of the monuments that are interesting. Can you tell I used to be our Town's Cemetery Manager. Remember - Green side up and I am the last one to let you down.