Wikipages Blog

I enjoy a bit of spookiness and the macabre. That’s probably why I like to explore graveyards.

I find them fascinating. I like to see how long ago people lived and how old they were when they died. If they’re buried with family, the lavishness of the gravestone. It just paints a story of one life that’s now… over.

I wandered around in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Astoria, with my boyfriend Ben. Quite a cool place. It’s right near a highway, but it’s huge. And has some very old graves.We went through a few winds of the path, where the graveyard borders on a forested area. And we heard an odd sound in the underbrush. I jumped! We edged nearer to the forest and heard it again. A faint, but distinct… clucking!

We peered into the woods and saw the creatures making the sound. A whole herd of chickens! Feral, it seemed. Hens, roosters. Dozens of them! We also saw a pheasant with them! Feeding peacefully among them like one of the herd.

There was some feed on the ground, as if someone regularly feeds them. A chicken-loving gravedigger, or the ghost of a farmer. It was just the oddest thing to see this big group of chickens, clucking away in the middle of a graveyard. Pretty spooky stuff!

I love this time of year. The leaves changing, the pumpkins glowing, all the scary movies on television. So I’ve decided to do a series of posts to commemorate the most holy of holidays: Halloween.

Trinity Church is located right at Wall Street and Broadway, in the heart of the Financial District. This beautiful, historic building stands out amidst all the looming skyscapers. Right next to the church is Trinity Cemetery, one of the oldest graveyards in the city. It boasts famous inhabitants, including Alexander Hamilton, William Bradford, Robert Fulton, and Albert Gallatin.

Despite the location, the cemetery is a peaceful place. Well-tended flowers line the pathways, with beautiful old trees throughout the yard. The graves are worn and appear to be sinking back into the earth. Some of the stones themselves are very interesting. Many are from the 1700’s. William Bradford’s states that “Life is pain”. A true notion, which I will always associate with The Princess Bride.

I’ll be adding more Halloween posts. If you know any ghost stories associated with Trinity Cemetery, please add your comments and let me know!