Cemeteries are such quiet places, but imagine the stories their inhabitants could tell if they could share them with those who are still living.
As I roam through the rows of tombstones - some deteriorating with age, some displaying touching epitaphs, some elaborately designed - I find myself wondering about the lives represented there.
The stories buried with those who are resting in the cemetery are as ancient, as diverse, and as beautiful as the seemingly endless rows of headstones.
I am not a Somerset native, but since becoming a reporter for the city's daily newspaper in 1999, I have had many opportunities to learn about the rich history of Somerset and Pulaski County. The stories I have heard have intrigued me - and it is fascinating to me that some of the "greats" of our town, our state, and even of our nation, are buried right within the boundaries of what used to be simply known as "the city cemetery."
In the newspaper business, it is often said that every life has a story. Whether a great statesman, a hard working nurse, a farmer, or a mother - each life has a special story of happiness and sadness, victory and defeat, love and loneliness, lessons and inspiration.
With that in mind, I am attempting to gather information about the thousands of incredible "stories" buried in Somerset, Kentucky's city cemetery.
The stories I have collected so far have only confirmed my belief that the information will be well worth sharing someday. (Click on the link on this page to see a sampling the information I have collected so far.)
I hope to eventually publish a book about the beauty of the Somerset Cemetery - and about as many of the approximately 10,000 life stories represented there as possible.
If I am successful in my endeavors, I plan on donating a portion of profits from the sale of the book to the cemetery's preservation and upkeep efforts.
However, I have a long road ahead of me before I can reach that goal. I am spending many hours researching names online, browsing through yellowing back issues of our local newspaper, and taking notes during my visits to the cemetery - but my work would certainly be expedited with the help of the public.
If you have an ancestor, a loved one, or a friend buried in the Somerset Cemetery, please consider sharing some brief information about him or her with me. I would love to have the opportunity to help preserve these individuals' stories for future generations.
You can contact me at the e-mail address provided on this page. If you need to send any information via "snail mail" (postal service), I can provide you with an address when you e-mail me.
Thank you for your interest in my project. Please consider visiting this site in the future, as I plan to update it often.
