Cemeteries
Witch's Grave, Aurora NE
(Anecdotal):
Story 1: In the 1800's, a woman was accused of being a witch. It was readily believed to be true, and she was burned at the stake or hanged. Before she died, she swore to get revenge on those responsible for her demise. She said nobody would be able to keep her in the grave and she would come back and haunt all of the townspeople. After she died, she was buried at the far corner of the cemetery with a big headstone to remind everyone about the dangers of witchcraft. Four iron poles were put at the corners of her grave. Chains were strung between and across them. The next day, someone noticed that the chains were broken. Everyone felt a little uneasy now. The chains were fixed. A few days later they were broken again. Today, they just hang there, not connected across the top of the grave anymore.
Story 2: Same lady-same accusations, however in this version she was teased, tormented, and then killed by some young hoods in the town. As in the first version, she threatened to get even with those calling her a witch and she is said to have told three young hoodlums how they would die. One was to be stabbed with her hat pin. Another was to be strangled with a particular necklace and the third was to be stabbed by a favorite letter-opener of hers. Shortly after this, she died and was buried with all of the objects. The items she was buried with were very distinctly hers - having either her initials or an expensive brand name made exclusively for her. And sure enough, each one of the hoodlums was killed in exactly the way she said they would be. Today, no grass grows on her grave and on one occasion some teenagers thought they would drive over the grave to irritate the witch… the tires to their car all blew out. This second version is also to have come from a television special about paranormal topics made back in the early 1970s.
Directions:
At the intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 34 in Aurora, the cemetery lies to the north of the park... Go north past the park and turn left on the gravel road next to the cemetery. Witch's grave is in the far northwest corner.
*From what I have been able to research, photos of the site show that it is isolated from the rest of the stones, but nothing written on the stone suggests anything out of the ordinary. There are chains, and they are broken. It is listed as a geocaching site, and so gets a bit of traffic. Satellite map shows the cemetery, but nothing concrete as far as the site's location.
Story 1: In the 1800's, a woman was accused of being a witch. It was readily believed to be true, and she was burned at the stake or hanged. Before she died, she swore to get revenge on those responsible for her demise. She said nobody would be able to keep her in the grave and she would come back and haunt all of the townspeople. After she died, she was buried at the far corner of the cemetery with a big headstone to remind everyone about the dangers of witchcraft. Four iron poles were put at the corners of her grave. Chains were strung between and across them. The next day, someone noticed that the chains were broken. Everyone felt a little uneasy now. The chains were fixed. A few days later they were broken again. Today, they just hang there, not connected across the top of the grave anymore.
Story 2: Same lady-same accusations, however in this version she was teased, tormented, and then killed by some young hoods in the town. As in the first version, she threatened to get even with those calling her a witch and she is said to have told three young hoodlums how they would die. One was to be stabbed with her hat pin. Another was to be strangled with a particular necklace and the third was to be stabbed by a favorite letter-opener of hers. Shortly after this, she died and was buried with all of the objects. The items she was buried with were very distinctly hers - having either her initials or an expensive brand name made exclusively for her. And sure enough, each one of the hoodlums was killed in exactly the way she said they would be. Today, no grass grows on her grave and on one occasion some teenagers thought they would drive over the grave to irritate the witch… the tires to their car all blew out. This second version is also to have come from a television special about paranormal topics made back in the early 1970s.
Directions:
At the intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 34 in Aurora, the cemetery lies to the north of the park... Go north past the park and turn left on the gravel road next to the cemetery. Witch's grave is in the far northwest corner.
*From what I have been able to research, photos of the site show that it is isolated from the rest of the stones, but nothing written on the stone suggests anything out of the ordinary. There are chains, and they are broken. It is listed as a geocaching site, and so gets a bit of traffic. Satellite map shows the cemetery, but nothing concrete as far as the site's location.
Halloran Cemetery
“Old Inland” 1871-1878
Halloran Cemetery
First town site established in Adams County, platted by the South Platte Land Company. Located ½ mile north of this marker in section 12, Blaine TWP. In 1878 the BCM Railroad moved its station 3 miles east to the present town of Inland, in Clay County. In 8 few years, only a grain elevator remained on the site, operated by pioneer settler Michael Halloran. The original “old” Inland or Halloran cemetery remains today unmarked on the west edge of Blaine TWP. Two who remain in the cemetery are Mrs. Louis Bassett and Mrs. Elizabeth Paris.
A. Co. H.S. 1988
Halloran Cemetery
First town site established in Adams County, platted by the South Platte Land Company. Located ½ mile north of this marker in section 12, Blaine TWP. In 1878 the BCM Railroad moved its station 3 miles east to the present town of Inland, in Clay County. In 8 few years, only a grain elevator remained on the site, operated by pioneer settler Michael Halloran. The original “old” Inland or Halloran cemetery remains today unmarked on the west edge of Blaine TWP. Two who remain in the cemetery are Mrs. Louis Bassett and Mrs. Elizabeth Paris.
A. Co. H.S. 1988