🕯️ Occult Philosophy −55%

Philadelphia Area Cemeteries

✍️ Heller, Allan M
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$12.95 $29.00 Save $16.05 (55%)
Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

Savannah's Afterlife III: Even More True Tales of a Paranormal Investigator Dunn, Ryan
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Dunn, Ryan
Savannah's Afterlife III: Even More True Tales of a Paranormal Investigator Dunn, Ryan
$16.99
86
Exploring Dark Short Fiction #7: A Primer to Gemma Files Guignard, Eric J
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Eric J Guignard, Gemma Files, Michael Arnzen
Exploring Dark Short Fiction #7: A Primer to Gemma Files Guignard, Eric J
$14.95
86
Psychic Self-Defense: The Classic Instruction Manual for Protecting Yourself Against Paranormal Attack
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Fortune, Dion
Psychic Self-Defense: The Classic Instruction Manual for Protecting Yourself Against Paranormal Attack
$14.94
86
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Delve into the solemn beauty and haunting narratives held within the historic cemeteries of Pennsylvania's original counties. This comprehensive guide unveils over twenty sacred grounds across Philadelphia, Delaware, and Chester, meticulously charting their locations with detailed maps. From the stark simplicity of 17th-century headstones to the grand opulence of Victorian mausoleums, you'll witness a panorama of funerary art and historical markers. Beyond the physical, it illuminates the captivating folklore: ghostly encounters, ticking tombstones, and the ancient belief in gates to contain wandering spirits, offering a unique journey through America's spiritual past.

🕯️
Occult Philosophy
🏛 Schiffer Publishing 📅 2005 📖 192 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780764322228
Fun Fact
Allan Heller's "Philadelphia Area Cemeteries" masterfully blends historical research with captivating local folklore, offering a unique lens through which to view American history. It excels in its detailed mapping and vibrant imagery, making it an invaluable resource for both armchair explorers and actual visitors. While deeply satisfying for those drawn to the macabre and historically rich, readers solely seeking a dry academic treatise might find its narrative approach and inclusion of ghost stories less conventional. It stands as a vital, accessible contribution to the field of funerary cultural studies.

📝 Description: Philadelphia Area Cemeteries

Tour the cemeteries of Pennsylvania's three original counties (Philadelphia, Delaware, and Chester--"The Birthplace of America"). This fascinating guide includes twenty maps providing locations for twenty burial grounds. Over 145 color images present graveyard monuments, ranging from simple early headstones of the 1600s to imposing Victorian ziggurats. View the penny-strewn grave of Benjamin Franklin, the monumental marker of General "Mad Anthony" Wayne, a granite obelisk commemorating the Revolutionary War's Paoli Massacre, mausoleums of Millionaires' Row at Laurel Hill, simple markers for runaway slaves seeking freedom, and the cast iron gates believed to prevent the wandering of restless souls. Fascinating stories, sure to captivate the reader, include tales of such ghostly doings as ticking tombstones, a long departed general in search of his bones, spectral appearances of soldiers from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and races with the Devil. For those readers with a passion for history, this book will be truly compelling.

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
This guide effectively catalogs the physical and folklore aspects of Pennsylvania’s historic cemeteries, offering detailed maps and insights into funerary art. However, it may disappoint readers seeking rigorous academic genealogy or those uninterested in supernatural themes. The focus on 'spectral secrets' and 'wandering spirits' means it is not a dry historical record but a narrative exploration of the eerie. While valuable for its unique perspective on gates and ghostly encounters, skeptics or pure data-driven researchers might find the emphasis on folklore distracting rather than informative.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers with a deep fascination for the intersection of history and the supernatural will find this guide indispensable. It offers more than just geographical data; it invites you to step into a world where Victorian opulence meets ancient spiritual beliefs. If you are drawn to ghostly encounters, ticking tombstones, or the lore of gates containing wandering spirits, this book provides a rich tapestry of hallowed history. It is perfect for those who wish to understand the spectral secrets of Philadelphia’s ancient burial grounds while appreciating the solemn beauty of funerary art. This volume serves as a unique journey through America's spiritual past, satisfying both the historian and the occult enthusiast.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5
★★★★★
If you're drawn to the intersection of history, art, and the unseen, this book is for you. Seekers of forgotten lore, enthusiasts of funerary symbolism, and those intrigued by local ghost stories will find themselves captivated by the profound narratives etched into the landscape of these venerable…

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
E
Esoterica Books editorial team

This guide effectively catalogs the physical and folklore aspects of Pennsylvania’s historic cemeteries, offering detailed maps and insights into funerary art. However, it may disappoint readers seeking rigorous academic genealogy or those uninterested in supernatural themes. The focus on 'spectral secrets' and 'wandering spirits' means it is not a dry historical record but a narrative exploration of the eerie. While valuable for its unique perspective on gates and ghostly encounters, skeptics or pure data-driven researchers might find the emphasis on folklore distracting rather than informative.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While it highlights prominent historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and General Wayne, the book also delves into broader social history, including the markers of everyday citizens, runaway slaves, and the architectural evolution of memorialization, offering a comprehensive view.
The book adeptly balances historical detail with captivating folklore. It provides deep dives into the historical significance of various sites and monuments, alongside intriguing accounts of spectral sightings and local legends, appealing to both historians and enthusiasts of the paranormal.

📖 Who should read this

If you're drawn to the intersection of history, art, and the unseen, this book is for you. Seekers of forgotten lore, enthusiasts of funerary symbolism, and those intrigued by local ghost stories will find themselves captivated by the profound narratives etched into the landscape of these venerable burial sites.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Echoes of American History

This volume meticulously links the physical landscape of these burial grounds to pivotal moments in American history. Readers will trace the lives of founding figures, Revolutionary War heroes, and even the untold stories of enslaved individuals, understanding how these silent cities preserve the unfolding narrative of a nation from its earliest days.

Symbolism in Stone

Explore the rich visual language etched into gravestones and monuments across centuries. From the unadorned markers of the colonial era to the elaborate, symbolic designs of Victorian ziggurats and mausoleums, the book reveals how funerary art reflects evolving beliefs about death, memory, and the afterlife through intricate carvings and grand structures.

Spectral Legends & Lore

Beyond mere history, this guide ventures into the supernatural undercurrents of these ancient sites. It recounts chilling tales of spectral apparitions, unexplained phenomena like ticking tombstones, and local legends concerning restless spirits and the perceived power of iron gates to contain them, offering a glimpse into regional ghost stories and beliefs.

📜 Historical context

This guide situates itself within the rich tradition of exploring sacred spaces and ancestral lands. Cemeteries, historically seen as liminal realms, serve not only as repositories of the departed but also as cultural archives. This work contributes to a lineage of scholarship that recognizes these sites as vital for understanding societal attitudes towards death, memory, and the spiritual dimensions of collective identity through their enduring markers.

📚 Glossary

Ziggurat
Liminal Space
Mausoleum

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. Considering the various types of memorials described, what do you believe the different eras intended to communicate about death and remembrance through their chosen monuments?
  2. How might visiting historical cemeteries, and engaging with their accompanying folklore, deepen your understanding of the past beyond conventional historical texts?
  3. Reflect on the concept of 'restless souls' and 'containing spirits' mentioned in the book. What does this suggest about historical beliefs regarding the afterlife and the power of physical boundaries?

🏛 Books from this publisher Schiffer Publishing

All books from this publisher →
Glass Elephants Coe-Hixson, Myra -16%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Coe-Hixson, Myra
Glass Elephants Coe-Hixson, Myra
$24.95 $30.00
86
Himmler's Cavalry: The Equestrian Ss, 1930-1945 Wilson, Paul J 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Wilson, Paul J
Himmler's Cavalry: The Equestrian Ss, 1930-1945 Wilson, Paul J
$29.95
86
Midget Exhibit: Images from the Heyday of Dwarf Display -21%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Mary L Martin, Tina Skinner
Midget Exhibit: Images from the Heyday of Dwarf Display
$15.00 $19.00
81
The Mystery of Mary Surratt: The Plot to Kill President Lincoln -44%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jones, Rebecca C
The Mystery of Mary Surratt: The Plot to Kill President Lincoln
$9.95 $18.00
81
Haunted Historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia: With Breakthrough Ghost Photography -16%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Scullion, Tim
Haunted Historic Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia: With Breakthrough Ghost Photography
$24.99 $30.00
81
Alien Abduction: The Control Factor -19%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
James Bouck, Robert Long
Alien Abduction: The Control Factor
$16.99 $21.00
78
Higgins: Poetry in Glass
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Donald-Brian Johnson, Leslie Pina
Higgins: Poetry in Glass
$60.00
86

You might also like

See more →
Song of the Broad-Axe (Facsimile) -22%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
1
Whitman, Walt
Song of the Broad-Axe (Facsimile)
$350.00 $449.00
92
The "Bird Girl": The Story of a Sculpture by Sylvia Shaw Judson -18%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
6
Underwood, Sandra L
The "Bird Girl": The Story of a Sculpture by Sylvia Shaw Judson
$12.99 $16.00
86
Ghosts of Portland, Oregon 🏆 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Cobb, Todd
Ghosts of Portland, Oregon
$13.00
86
Native American Fetishes (Revised & Expanded)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Whittle, Kay
Native American Fetishes (Revised & Expanded)
$14.95
86
Gartel: The Art of Fetish: The Art of Fetish -25%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
4
Gartel, Laurence M
Gartel: The Art of Fetish: The Art of Fetish
$14.95 $20.00
86
Principles of Color: A Review of Past Traditions and Modern Theories of Color Harmony (Revised) -25% 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.7
7
Birren, Faber
Principles of Color: A Review of Past Traditions and Modern Theories of Color Harmony (Revised)
$14.99 $20.00
86
Under Spiritual Siege: How Ghosts and Demons Affect Us and How to Combat Them -25%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.8
5
Stillman, William
Under Spiritual Siege: How Ghosts and Demons Affect Us and How to Combat Them
$14.99 $20.00
86
Berkshire Ghosts, Legends, and Lore
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Rooney, E Ashley
Berkshire Ghosts, Legends, and Lore
$15.00
86
Dark Woods: Cults, Crime, and the Paranormal in the Freetown State Forest, Massachusetts -11%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Balzano, Christopher
Dark Woods: Cults, Crime, and the Paranormal in the Freetown State Forest, Massachusetts
$15.00 $17.00
86
The Navajo Art of Sandpainting (Expanded)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Congdon-Martin, Douglas
The Navajo Art of Sandpainting (Expanded)
$9.95
86

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist