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The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery

The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery

The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery is a podcast for cemetery lovers, preservationists, and even those who've never walked among the graves. Join hosts Jennie and Dianne each week as they explore old cemeteries and learn the stories of those buried within their walls. After all, every death had a life, and every life had a story.

Recent Episodes

Oct. 24, 2024

Episode 206 - Beyond the Grave: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Join Jennie and Dianne for the annual "Beyond the Grave" episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, just in time to put you in a spooky mood for Halloween! Wrap yourself cozy, dim the lights and let Mary Shelley's haunt…
Oct. 17, 2024

Episode 205 - The Art of Victorian Mourning

Beyond the ornate 19th century headstones and crumbling mausoleums lies a world of custom and superstition that dictated death and mourning for more than eighty years. This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast…
Oct. 10, 2024

Episode 204 - From Stage to Spy the Story of Major Pauline Cushman

Step into history with Jennie and Dianne on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast! This week, they uncover the fascinating story of Pauline Cushman, a Union spy and actress who risked it all during the American Civil W…
Oct. 3, 2024

Episode 203 - Mary Shelley the Woman Behind the Monster Part 2

The story continues...Jennie, Dianne and Professor Jared Richman continue their discussion about the life and legacy of Mary Shelley. From the heartache of losing three of her four children in infancy, to the tragic drowning…
Sept. 26, 2024

Episode 202 - Mary Shelley the Woman Behind the Monster Part 1

This year's Beyond the Grave event honors Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but who was the woman behind the iconic novel? Born to radical parents Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin, Mary Shelley navigated a life of intellect…
Sept. 19, 2024

Episode 201 - Hillside Cemetery, Middletown, New York

This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast; while Dianne is away, Jennie welcomes a new guest, JoEllen Hundeland, to share her passion project, "Hillside Cemetery: Middletown, New York: Beyond the Graves". From…

Recent Blog Posts

Digging Deeper: Uncovering the Roots of Death and Burial Terminology

A recent online discussion sparked curiosity about the language surrounding death and burial. The term "planted" surprised some, but its origins imply the term was used with affection, especially among certain populations of farmers across the Unite…

A Smile Frozen in Time

Every time I visit any cemetery I begin to immediately wonder about the people buried in it. What are their stories? Finding headstones that include a photographs is always extra special because now I know what they looked like even if I don't know …

The Forgotten Art of Iron Grave Markers

Over the centuries, humans have marked graves with many things, the most common being stone. However, another material that became popular, especially in Europe for a time, was iron, both cast and wrought. In the case of wrought iron markers, the me…

About the Hosts

Dianne Hartshorn Profile Photo

Dianne Hartshorn

Co-Host

As founder and director of the Evergreen Heritage Dianne Hartshorn is capable, knowledgeable and dedicated as a custodian of Colorado Springs history and in assisting the cemetery with their pioneer heritage. Her knowledge of and dedication to Victorian history and traditions is inspiring and educational. Dianne has two grown children and lives with her husband Tom of 35 years and her awesome cat Loki. She is a 4th generation Colorado native and enjoys nothing more than sharing history especially if cemeteries are involved!

Jennie Johnson Profile Photo

Jennie Johnson

Creator & Host

Jennie has been in love with cemeteries and their stories since she was a teenager. She has taken thousands of photographs of historic headstones and the nature that inhabits cemeteries and graveyards. While she is not a history major, she is a history buff and loves to do research on all kinds of historical people and events. She was once locked into a museum (at the curator's request. He had an urgent coffee matter to attend to) and it was a dream come true! Jennie's dad is a retired Navy Senior Chief which means she spent her childhood living in different parts of the United States and ultimately developed a love of travel. She has also been involved in theater since she was 12 years old. She enjoys being on stage, but in recent years has developed a passion for directing and script writing. She has three awesome kids who are all grown or nearly so and is married to a Radio DJ/music programer who also loves playing pinball. She adores her black cat named Salem after her favorite city in the whole world, Salem, Massachusetts.

 

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Caught up on Episodes of The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery? Looking for something new to listen to until next Thursday? Try one of these (or all of these) fun, informational, and historical podcasts. 

🪦 Tomb with a View Podcast https://linktr.ee/tombwith_aview

🪦New England Legends Podcast https://ournewenglandlegends.com/

🪦Salem the Podcast https://www.salemthepodcast.com/

🪦 Cemetery Podcast http://www.necrotourist.com/

🪦 Historic Headlines https://historicheadlines.podbean.com/