Is it a “gravewarming?”

It’s always nice to know a little something about your neighbors when you move into a new place. That’s why, for 30 years now, a Maine cemetery has hosted an annual summer party at the sexton’s home for its plot owners — so each will know with whom they’ll be spending eternity. As they enjoy brie and onion dip, attendees discuss the view from their designated resting places and vote on raising plot prices for new buyers. And don’t think you’ll get into the party just because you’re curious; the invited attendee list is strictly enforced at the door … just in case someone from another cemetery tries to sneak in.

The OG gravestone

After extensive study, researchers have determined that the oldest gravestone in the United States — located in a church in Jamestown, Virginia — actually commemorates a Belgian knight who died in 1627, not an English settler. The stone, which was originally thought to be black marble, has now been proven to be composed of black limestone, which was likely imported from Ireland or Belgium based on a study of the fossils within the stone. The brass inlay depicted symbols commonly used to commemorate knights at the time. They’re still trying to confirm the identity of the deceased knight, but have narrowed it down to one likely culprit. Read more here.

Killer acquisition

A Michigan museum is proudly proclaiming its newest acquisition — a tiny bit of Charles Manson’s cremains. Apparently, most of the cult leader’s ashes were used to create a painting (housed in another museum in Las Vegas), so only two bottles of cremains were left. One is in a private collection, so if you want to actually lay eyes on a tablespoon of Manson’s ashes — which look, coincidentally, like every other set of cremains — you’ll need to go to Michigan. 

New heroes

An upcoming festival set in the mountains of Virginia has some interesting goals. First, attendees will study “murder ballads” — folk songs that tell of someone killing another person — and rewrite them or create new ones where women aren’t the victims, but are instead the “new heroes.” Next, they will have the opportunity to participate in an “immersive meditation on dying and Appalachian death rituals” that “immerses them in the process of physical decay.” Yep. You read that right.