myhauntedsalem:

Thunderstorm Grave

In 1871 Ten year old Florence Irene Ford passed away, after contracting Yellow Fever.

Her mother, stricken with grief, did not opt for a typical burial, but went one step further so she could comfort her daughter in death, as she would in life.

In life, Florence was absolutely terrified of storms. Whenever the thunder rolled in, she would take refuge at her mother’s side.

Mrs Ford must have felt that Florence’s fear of storms would still be with her spirit in death, and so had a rather unique grave made.

At the head of the grave two metal hinged doors can be found in the ground. When opened, a flight of steps can be seen, leading into the earth. When you reach the bottom of these steps you are at the same depth as the final resting place of Florence Ford.

It was here that Mrs Ford would come during stormy weather, in order to continue comforting her deceased child. Originally a window was present at the head of the coffin, so Mrs Ford could look upon her daughter during these times; the metal doors above could be closed to protect her from the weather.

Mrs Ford herself is long gone, and the window at the bottom of the steps has now been concreted over to prevent vandalism of Florence’s coffin. However, the steps are still present. A small concrete cherub now looks over Florence’s grave.

So the question stands. Would ten year old Florence Ford have taken her fear of thunder with her, to her death??

Would her mother’s presence, during these times, have been of comfort to her?