Dead Poets Society of America

Sleeping Next To John Boyle O'Reilly

Someone left the gates open at Holyhood Cemetery, in Brookline, MA, to I was able to spend the night next one of the top 15 US Poets' Graves in the US last Saturday: John Boyle O'Reilly.

Sleeping in the Shadow of Sarah Jewett

Dedgar and I found ourselves tired after a two-week filming spree, so I took a short detour to South Berwick, ME.. where we parked right next to the beautiful Sarah Orne Jewett House, and slept for 4 hours.

Then I gathered a lovely bouquet of small flowers from her garden and used them to make tombstone art at her grave nearbye. Had an amazing 3 hour photo shoot with Sarah and fam and flowers. Some of the best photos I've taken on my journeys.

226th Poets' Grave Reached!

Hooray for Poets' Graves! On a lovely, dark September night Dedgar and crew spent almost 2 hours combing Rutland, Vermont's Evergreen cemetery and while she gave us a run for our money, we found grave number 226! (On the way to the second 250)

Julia Ripley Dorr.

We nearly got stuck in a 3-foot rut and nearly gave up, but persistence paid off and we rounded one dark corner into a secluded tree-filled, hill-top section of the cemetery, and Alice McGown had the first sighting of grave #226! Dedgar was thrilled as well, and provided some lighting for the occasion.

We Found Frost! 225th Poets' Grave!

Dedgar and crew drove over 10 hours in our quest to "Find Frost!" My 225th grave!!!! On the way we stopped at the Stone House in Shaftsbury, VT., and the Frost family gravesite in Bennington, and then proceeded West to find Frost!

You'll have to wait for the movie to be released to see what and who we found! It was grave 225 on this 3-year journey!

List of 15 Top Poets' Graves Released

The long-awaited release of the Top 15 US Poets' Graves is here! The Associated Press ran a national story of this milestone in literary history, as 225 Poets' Graves were reached.

#224 : Updike ashes in Manchester-By-The-Sea

Had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in September with Prof. Mark Stevick (Gordon College) as we found the small Episcopalian summer chapel where some of John Updike's ashes have been placed in a lovely cremation garden.

Frost "Stone House" Visit with Curator

Dedgar and crew had a fun visit with Carole Thompson, the founder and curator of the wonderful Stone House Museum, in Shaftsbury. Carole very graciously allowed us to interview her for the film, and viewers will not be disappointed. She pointed out a marvelous apple tree in the back yard which researchers think Frost planted.

I am not yet tired of poets' homes and grave picking yet! From Stone House website:

Built c. 1769, the house was considered historic before the Frost period. It is a rare example of colonial architecture made of native stone and timber. It has changed little since Frost's time and remains in excellent condition. The house sits on 7 acres and features many Frostian associations including stone walls, birch trees, a timbered barn and some of Frost's original apple trees. Many poignant episodes in Frost's life happened in this house.

2 AM on Vermont Mountain with Robert Penn Warren

Dedgar and crew arrived tonight on Stratton Mountain around 1:30 AM after a treacherous journey through a forest detour, where we could see deep, dark gulleys all around us. Floods have washed away whole sections of land.

While the crew slept I went out under the glorious stars and visited the secluded gravesite of Robert Penn Warren and his wife. Took a torch and was able to get some photos.

The silence was heavy and the darkness was light. All in all was a very good night! (I came back with crew around 8 AM to take pictures in the daylight)

The Final Quest for Frost Begins

Dedgar and crew headed out today on our final (we hope) quest for the grave of Frost. She evaded detection before, but now we are armed with more people, flashlights, and determination.