This is the first installment of the Graveside Stroll. I kinda got the idea from a friend of mine Mark Masek who does something similar on his website which you can visit by clicking HERE . Mark calls it “The Grave Spotlight” and features a celebrity grave site about once a week or month. While I wont be featuring celebrity grave sites unless they’re buried in Michigan or where I happen to visit and photograph the graves my self. Most of the people I’ll feature will be people who are a notable in some way. Also with the new name change “The Graveside Stroll” I might consider doing this once a week.

Anyway without further adieu here is the first installment. The first installment is on one of the most infamous and powerful gangsters of all time none other than Al Capone. Keep in mind that the photos features in the grave site spotlight are from my own personal collection.

To begin Al Capone was born in Brooklyn New York in 1899 and died in Florida in 1947. Rising through the ranks of the criminal underworld in New York with the help of mentor Johnny Torrio he eventually moved to Chicago to escape a criminal charge brought up against him. While in Chicago he again rose through the ranks of the criminal empire. Competing against a multitude of gangs (Irish & Italian) to become the supreme leader of Chicago rackets. The height of his career took off after the infamous St. Valentines Day Massacre on February 14th of 1929.

After things started getting bad from the other gangs. And the impending doom from the IRS. Capone took things slow and eventually went to trial on Tax Evasion. He lost the case and ended up in Alcatraz. Due to health reasons and the onslaught of the STD syphilis. Discharged from prison in the 40s and lived out his years in Florida living in his mansion near Miami, Florida. The syphilis finally took its toll and Capone died from the complications brought on from the horrid disease. He is buried in the Chicago suburb of Hillside. In Mt. Carmel cemetery.

Lastly, if your interested in reading more about Al Capone, his life, and his empire. There are two Capone biographies which are must haves for your library. The first is “Capone: The Life & World of Al Capone” by John Kobler. The second book is “Mr. Capone: The Real & Complete Story of Al Capone” by Robert Schoenberg.  I highly recommend both books. The second book is my personal favorite out of the two but these books tell Capone’s story well and have plenty of photos.

Notice: These photos are available for use on your blog or grave hunting website. All I ask in kindness return that this blog and my self Joshua Perry get the credit for the photo work. Because I put in a lot of hard work hunting these grave sites when I find the time.

I’ve got some new things planned for this blog to spice it up a bit. The first thing I plan on doing (as mentioned before) I’m going to start doing video book reviews via my webcam of grave hunting/celebrity death related books. At the moment I’m reading “Final Resting Places: Orange County’s Dead & Famous” by Michael Barry. I’m about half way through the book and I have a few more chapters to read. Once that’s done and finished I plan on doing both a written, and video review.

Another thing I’m thinking of doing is posting obituaries when celebrities drop dead. I think I mentioned this the other day. And the last thing I’m thinking about doing is a grave site spotlight where I feature one grave site from my collection either per week or per month I haven’t really decided on if I’m gonna do the grave site spotlight once a week or once a month. With the grave site photo, I’ll include some biographical info about the person. With these three new ideas I have it should make the blog a little more interesting instead of getting dull updates every few months.

Another thing I’d like to mention. I’ve been in contact with the volunteer coordinator at Elmwood Cemetery. In regards to me giving tours of the cemetery. I’m just waiting to hear back from the woman who sets up the volunteer stuff. To go over some ideas she had and such. Being that I’m out of work at the moment it would give me something to do over the Summer and it will give me a chance to exercise while taking people on guided tours of the cemetery. I’m really looking forward to this indeed.  Especially since Spring is approaching quickly I’ve been dieing to get to the cemeteries.

And finally I’m still waiting to hear back from Schiffer Publishing. To be honest I’m not expecting a reply for a while because when I originally sent the book proposal in December I didn’t hear from them until February. Not only that I didn’t expect to hear from them at all. So I’m just doing the waiting game.

Josh

Today after paying the monthly bills I have and running some minor errands. I surfed over to Amazon and purchased the book “Final Resting Places: Orange County’s Dead and Famous” its written by a grave hunting friend of mine Michael Berry. The book just came out in January 2010 and Published by Schiffer Publishing.

I’m really looking forward to Michael’s book arriving in the mail. After reading the book I plan on doing a full review. As mentioned a while back I’m going to start doing video book reviews via webcam.  So please stay turned for an update on this developing book review. Keep in mind it may take a while for me to read the book depending on what I have going.

As before mentioned I have a book that is in the process of being considered for publication via Schiffer Publishing. The book is not your typical cemetery or grave hunting style book.  It’s a how-to manual of sorts on the grave hunting subject.

Another book I’m thinking about doing will be on the grave sites of notable Detroiters. I’ve seen plenty of books on cemeteries in California, Chicago, New York, and others geared towards cemeteries all across America. I’ve seen and personally own a few on specific cemeteries in Detroit. There is no book that I’m aware of that talks solely on all the cemeteries where notables rest in eternal harmony .

Being that I have over 10 years experience in the hobby. I feel I could tell a good story. While showcasing the field trained experience and knowledge I’ve gained over the years. To present to the public what I’ve learned in the form of the first book I’m writing. With the second book I’ll be able to showcase the knowledge I’ve gained of Detroit’s history from doing research and visiting the grave sites of many people who shaped Detroit’s history.

As previously noted on December 18th 2009. I sent a proposal to Schiffer Publishing for a book idea I had. Anyway fast forward to this past Friday 2/19/10 I got an email from a representative of Schiffer stating that they will be pitching the book idea I had at the next meeting where they discuss ideas people have for books.

So today I finished up the “Marketing Survey” they requested I fill out. I also worked on and finished the table of contents outline for my book. I then emailed both to my rep at Schiffer Publishing.

So we shall see how this all pans out.  I hope this book is a go but I’m staying neutral in order to not get my hopes up. Heck, I didn’t even expect to hear back from them at all.  Worse come to worse if the book is not approved I’ll probably look into self publishing it. I’ll keep you all posted.

Josh