Dark Ambiance 9
November 8th, 2009 by John Wolfe
I found this spooky looking mausoleum photo yesterday while browsing the Halloween section at Softly Spoken Magic Spells. I love the look of creepy crypts and above ground-type burial chambers. Here, in New Mexico, mausoleums and crypts aren’t common in cemeteries. Once in a while you’ll find one, but on the whole they’re pretty rare. Another element that’s always added to the creep factor (for me) is seeing moss dangling from trees in the south — especially in cemeteries and old plantation photos.
Along with this image, Softly Spoken has several other creepy photos, Halloween links, and haunt updates.
Hope you have a great Sunday — I’m working on my new “Angel” prop’s support structure today.
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November 8th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
I guess that’s a more southern thing: the moss on the crypt? The mausoleums around here look nothing like that and have no moss on them, which you ARE about to find out for yourself next week sometime
Yes, I know, unbelievable but it’s true, at last the box is complete and perfected to my insatiable level satisfaction. I even found a cemetery where a few of the mausoleums had stained glass sunroofs inside of them. Just astounding. It will get out of here tomorrow so should be there by the end of the week. Yaaaaaa!!
November 8th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Thanks for the site info. I take pictures of mausoleums and crypts everywhere I go and I have to admit, we have a few really awesome ones in AZ. There’s something so home-like about them. Here in Az, they do something I’ve never seen before. In graveyards they often times build metal cribs around children’s graves. The family drop toys in there and birthday cake. It’s extremely creepy. I used to miss the old-fashioned cemeteries that were ancient back east, but I have to say western cemeteries are just very unsettling and there are no rules which makes them chaotic and creepy.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:42 am
We have some nice above ground crypts here. I love to visit the local graveyards for ideas and some cool photos. I have posted a few on my Deviantart page.
November 9th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Goldie,
I’m not sure, I guess that’s moss on the walls, but I was really checking out the Spanish moss hanging from the trees. But yeah, our climate is way too dry to have green, slimy moss growing on tombstones and crypts in New Mexico cemeteries.
I’m looking forward to seeing all your findings and the great landscaping of the location! Thanks again for putting it together and sending it.
autumnforest,
They have similar traditions in the cemeteries in New Mexico as well. We used to live in Maine, so I’m somewhat familiar with New England and the east coast’s graveyards. There’s definitely a different feel to the way they’re treated out here. I think what gets me about New Mexico cemeteries is how stark and desolate they can be. Most are truly like an old “Boot Hill” setting.
Ethan,
I didn’t know you had those. I’ll have to check them out.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Reminds me of photos and movies with New Orleans funerals. It suggests voodoo origins to me. Very creepy.
Wish I’d known about your place when we lived in ABQ–would have loved to see it in person!
November 11th, 2009 at 1:59 am
How long ago did you live in Albuquerque, Stephanie?
November 14th, 2009 at 2:19 am
Lived there from 1984 to 2003. Daughter went to Sandia High School. I worked at Presbyterian, Northside (when it was still a hospital), and Lovelace, as well as several nursing homes through agency work.
Never got many ToTs, as they always went to the malls, schools and church festivals, so I didn’t even know what was possible. It wasn’t til we moved out here a week before Halloween 2003, that I got excited all over again. Here in the Bible belt–go figure! lol
November 14th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Was Pres Northside the old Anna Caseman (sp?) hospital? I was born at Lovelace. I spent most of my childhood out of the state, however, since my dad was military. It wasn’t until ‘91 that I moved back here for good.
Way to go Bible belt! Glad to hear they’re doing Halloween proud!
November 16th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
No, Northside was north of town, north of Spain but south of Paseo del Norte. Not too far from Tanoan.
I think it may be just a psych hospital now, but I’m not sure. I worked there from 88-90. Is Kaseman not there now?
November 17th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I’m not familiar with that facility near Tanoan. Kaseman remained a hospital, but changed names a few years back. I’m not sure if they became part of Pres, but I don’t think it’s even open anymore.