-- Brookside Sec. D - confusing plots, no map: a Virtual Cemetery

See all by Garth Woodward

A Virtual Cemetery created by Garth Woodward

-- Brookside Sec. D - confusing plots, no map

I have only photographed about half the gravestones in this section, and many of these photos have not been added to Find a Grave yet. This section has a very confusing layout for the plots. There are a few other sections in this cemetery that have confusing layouts, however there are actually signs with maps that show where the plots are. I think these signs were created because there are still a few empty plots in those sections, and the cemetery is still trying to sell them. However in Section D it seems like almost all the plots have been sold, and there is no sign with a map to explain things.Section D was mainly used in about 1906 to 1935, with a small number of other burials after that, as spouses and sometimes children were added afterwards. The approx. first 100 plots run around the outer perimeter of the section, as an outer circle, going clockwise, then the next approx. 100 plots run the perimeter of the section, as a second circle, but going counterclockwise. Then in the northeast area there seem to be a bunch of plots that run diagonally. Then in the main centre part of the section, a grid system does seem to be used, however when you are there in person you expect the plot numbers to run from south to north (left to right), however they actually run from east to west (from bottom to top), which is very counterintuitive. I think such complicated layouts created a very random, garden-like appearance for some sections, instead of a bunch of impersonal row after row after row. However it is just far, far too confusing to find people. These deliberately confusing numbering systems have literally caused generations of aggravation. I am so glad these systems are no longer used. Anyways, because there is no sign with a map, there have been numerous photo requests where it has been very difficult to find the correct burial locations, especially if there is no gravestone. Volunteer photographers sometimes just give up, or they just walk through the entire section looking at every single stone. Therefore I have decided to photograph a large number of the gravestones in this section, especially the two rings of gravestones that encircle the perimeter of the section, because it is so hard to find the graves here.

I have only photographed about half the gravestones in this section, and many of these photos have not been added to Find a Grave yet. This section has a very confusing layout for the plots.  There are a few other sections in this cemetery that have confusing layouts, however there are actually signs with maps that show where the plots are.  I think these signs were created because there are still a few empty plots in those sections, and the cemetery is still trying to sell them.  However in Section D it seems like almost all the plots have been sold, and there is no sign with a map to explain things.Section D was mainly used in about 1906 to 1935, with a small number of other burials after that, as spouses and sometimes children were added afterwards. The approx. first 100 plots run around the outer perimeter of the section, as an outer circle, going clockwise, then the next approx. 100 plots run the perimeter of the section, as a second circle, but going counterclockwise.  Then in the northeast area there seem to be a bunch of plots that run diagonally.  Then in the main centre part of the section, a grid system does seem to be used, however when you are there in person you expect the plot numbers to run from south to north (left to right), however they actually run from east to west (from bottom to top), which is very counterintuitive.   I think such complicated layouts created a very random, garden-like appearance for some sections, instead of a bunch of impersonal row after row after row.  However it is just far, far too confusing to find people.  These deliberately confusing numbering systems have literally caused generations of aggravation.   I am so glad these systems are no longer used.   Anyways, because there is no sign with a map, there have been numerous photo requests where it has been very difficult to find the correct burial locations, especially if there is no gravestone.  Volunteer photographers sometimes just give up, or they just walk through the entire section looking at every single stone.  Therefore I have decided to photograph a large number of the gravestones in this section, especially the two rings of gravestones that encircle the perimeter of the section, because it is so hard to find the graves here.