A step into a Grave, is a step into the past: Ruth Miller's Experience and Knowledge

Mrs.Ruth Miller (left) and Professor Harwood
as he gives a copy of his book to Mrs.Miller

Ruth Miller began her journey into becoming a phophile, after an unexpected tour through a graveyard. She was leading a group of tourist through downtown Charleston, when one of the tourist asked if they could get a tour of a graveyard. Ever since, Mrs. Miller became interested in the hidden beauty of graveyards.

Mrs.Miller is a local expert and an author, who spoke about the history behind many graveyards in Charleston. Which holds a lot of interesting characters and their tombstone is a reflection of their life. Now what makes old Charleston so interesting?  She tells us that in 1776, Charleston had more money than New York, and Boston. This is very fascinating because that was the same year that the United states was created.

A book that Mrs.Miller brought in that goes into
details of early gravestones. written by
Diana Williams combs

St. Mary Church’s graveyard is filled with headstones with the ending year 1838. This is due to the outbreak of yellow fever and it killed thousands during this time. A pastor held a sermon saying that the source of the yellow fever came from the drinking and sharing of alcohol (Ruth Miller).  People migrated from place to place during this time to avoid the deadly illness. Mrs.Miller stated “One of the clues that it was time to move north when the frogs started croaking.” The frogs would indicate that it was the beginning of summer, and time to migrate again.

Peale's painting "Rachel Weeping" shows his wife
mourning over her deceased daughter. 

“1/3 by 8 years old, a third is dead by 18 and after 18 you live forever” stated Mrs. Miller as she tried to explain the short life expectancy of the people of the 18^th century. So many graves from that time are little babies due to their poor immune systems to fight off the illness that plagued this time. The daughter of famous portrait painter Charles Wilson Peale died in 1772 of smallpox. Peale painted a portrait of his wife crying over the dead body of her daughter.
Although graveyards hold a somber atmosphere, people like Mrs. Miller find the beauty and historic meaning behind them. “Churches everywhere show the value of the architect” says Mrs. Miller. Churches of the 18th century reflects the culture of the time, and it shows how much time and dedication they put into building not only the church but the tombstones themselves. Many of the unpopular religions of the time, leaves little traces of them being here. 

For example, 17th century Judaism at the time was not as large as it is today, so many of their grave sites are modern day parking lots. "the unheard and unpopular gets plowed and covered up" said Mrs. Miller as she talked about how other religions such as the Quakers, suffered the same way.Mrs. Miller opened her mind and heart to the history of Charleston's graveyards.

She spoke about the famous and about the average men and women who lives all mattered in the end, regardless of how short it was. Her love for the architect is strong, and it shown across her face as she introduced me into a new way of looking at a sad place that is really a beautiful