Fieldtrip Journals-Day 1

Trip #1: Shawnee Mission Indian Mission Cemetery and the Fuller Family Cemetery

March 13, 2007
Reporting: Andy H. and Ashlee C.

Note: Click on images for a bigger view

The bus picked us up at 8:45 and everybody was pretty excited to get going.  The weather was beautiful. We started our day at the Shawnee Indian Mission Cemetery where we learned a lot about the cemetery and its history.  Our guide was Mr. Howard Ziegenhorn, a retiree with an interest in local history, and he gave us a lot of information. You can see the information he gave us here. We have compiled this information into an orderly timeline.

We spent an hour and a half in the cemetery and then ate lunch in the Mission’s museum.  After lunch, we rode the bus for forty minutes and arrived at the Fuller Family Cemetery in Gardner, Kansas. We were met by Mr. Fuller who joined us in our examination of his family's cemetery.

We interviewed several investigators so you could get a better idea of what the day was like. Meghan W. had a pretty full day. She was in charge of the video camera. She and the two other videographers who were faced with a serious dilemma: the battery was dead. How did they solve it? Meghan said she used the video space on one of the digital cameras to video some of the highlights of the day, such as the “yucca stone” at the Fuller Family Cemetery. This stone was hidden in the middle of a huge yucca plant. Annie C. helped Meghan to uncover this wonder and document this strange grave marker. Annie also did some rubbings. Along with Meghan she found an interesting Bible verse imprinted on a grave stone: “`Weep not, for she is not dead, but sleepeth.’ Luke 8: 52”.

Jordan J. was one of the main investigators on the case of deciphering a peculiar inscription mystery at the Fuller Family Cemetery. She was intrigued when she discovered a strange inscription on the base of a small gravestone. She recognized the first two letters: “HA”. She believed that the last two letters were “MM”, but Linda Lewis, an amateur historian and genealogist, felt it said something different, and other investigators agreed. Jordan didn’t figure out the mysterious inscription until recently. Ms. Lewis sent an email to Mrs. Bosch, explaining her new hypothesis and finally closing the case. The inscription was actually “HAR/N”, or Harrison, as she believes. Jordan also recorded informational entries on the handheld computers.

As you know, the video camera’s batteries died before reaching the Indian Mission Cemetery. Michelle S. made up the time with photography and rubbings. She felt that the Fuller Family Cemetery was more interesting and had some very fascinating history. Erica H. also documented some facts about the cemeteries on the handhelds. She also contributed her skill to help solve the HAR/N mystery.

Russell G. and Andy S. mapped out the graves and perimeters of the cemeteries using the GPS, or “Global Positioning System.”  They were the best at using the GPS and were quite compatible, so they worked wonders on said equipment.

The handheld computers were used to take notes by Mac C, Andy H, and those who were mentioned above.  All together, the notes’ information probably would fill at least two pages.  The camera was operated by Tim D. who took a few pictures, all of them excellent.  The rubbings were done by Tim, Camen S, and Mac.

All in all, everyone enjoyed the day and are looking forward to our next field trip on April 10.