Crying Bride

Feb 08, 2019

Crying Bride

I got my first camera when I was 14. A used Pentax K1000 and was immediately hooked.  I wanted to try my hand at portrait photography but was a very shy teenager.  One day while at a funeral I discovered the tombstone of Flora Kemp, who died in 1909.  Her father, Joseph Kemp created a life-size statue of her for her tombstone.   

I didn't think Flora would mind my taking her photo.  Beginning in 1982 to today, I have taken thousands of photos of her, in all kinds of weather.  

I have watched sadly the damage grow from vandals in the Cemetary.  I don't understand it, they have broken her fingers and knocked over tombstones around her.  To the locals, she is known as the Crying Bride.  It is said she died tripping over her wedding gown and falling down stairs.  But records actually show that she died of typhoid.

I wonder if one day, someone saw her cry at the disrespect the Cemetary receives.  Regardless, she remains one of my favorite photographic haunts.