The Ordinary, Extraordinary Cemetery

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https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-presents-gothic-tragedies-of-the-gilded-age-tickets-1997269261125?aff=oddtdtcreator
October 2nd and 3rd at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Tours depart every 30 minutes. Follow the link above for times and full details. 
For generations, people have gathered after dark to tell stories of restless spirits, mysterious houses, promises that reach beyond death, and guilty hearts that refuse to remain silent. This year, we bring that tradition to the historic grounds of Evergreen Cemetery with four unforgettable tales of the strange and supernatural.
Throughout the evening, guests will encounter:
John Charrington’s Wedding by Edith Nesbit: A wedding day approaches, and John Charrington has made one thing very clear: nothing will keep him from meeting his bride at the altar. Nothing.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Behind the locked doors of a quiet room, a woman becomes increasingly fascinated by the strange yellow wallpaper surrounding her—and by what she believes may be moving behind it.
In the Confessional by Amelia B. Edwards: A mysterious encounter, a dark secret, and a confession lead us into one of Victorian literature’s wonderfully unsettling supernatural tales.
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe: A man insists that he is perfectly sane. But beneath the floorboards, something refuses to remain silent.
And no visit Beyond the Grave would be complete without a stop at Evergreen’s historic chapel, where Queen Palmer will be waiting to receive her guests.
Come experience an evening where literature, history, and the atmosphere of Evergreen Cemetery meet.
Bring your curiosity. Bring your courage.
And remember—some stories were never meant to stay buried. 

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72 years ago, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League played its final game. Yesterday, women's professional baseball returned with the inaugural game of the Women's Pro Baseball League. On this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, you'll meet Margaret "Marge" and Helen Callaghan: Vancouver sisters, Boeing war workers, and the first sisters to play in the AAGPBL. Their story inspired the 1987 documentary that inspired Penny Marshall's 1992 epic film A League of Their Own.
Jennie and Dianne trace their Ordinary Extraordinary lives from the diamond to charm school to Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery in California. These women and the nearly 600 others who played in AAGPBL between 1943 and 1954 not only made history, but have inspired generations of girls to follow their dreams!
Purchase your tickets for the 37th annual Central City Cemetery Crawl on August 22, 2026, here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-37th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-1992231897234?aff=oddtdtcreator
Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com
Family Tales: A free printable is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharing
Resources used to research this episode include: 
De Nicola, Christina . "The real women who inspired ‘A League of Their Own’ ." https://www.mlb.com/. 1 July 2022. www.mlb.com/news/featured/a-league-of-their-own-based-on-true-story. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Somers, Jeff. "The Real Women Who Inspired A League Of Their Own." https://www.grunge.com/. 23 Aug. 2022. www.grunge.com/976674/the-real-women-who-inspired-a-league-of-their-own/. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

, Associated Press. "Lavonne 'Pepper' Paire-Davis dies ." https://www.espn.com/. 3 Feb. 2013. www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/8911670/former-women-baseball-star-lavonne-pepper-paire-davis-dies. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Hawthorn , Tom. "Diamond days gone, she's still in a league of her own ." https://tomhawthorn.blogspot.com/. 7 Nov. 2007. tomhawthorn.blogspot.com/2007/11/diamond-days-gone-shes-still-in-league.html?m=1. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

, Multiple Contributions . "All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ." https://en.wikipedia.org/. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-American_Girls_Professional_Baseball_League. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Sargent , Jim. "Marge and Helen Callaghan ." https://sabr.org/. sabr.org/bioproj/person/marge-and-helen-callaghan/. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

, Multiple Contributors. "Marge Callaghan ." https://en.wikipedia.org/. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_Callaghan. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

, Multiple Contributors. "Helen Callaghan ." https://en.wikipedia.org/. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Callaghan. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Happy Colorado Day! On August 1, 1876, Colorado became the 38th state admitted to the Union, thereby becoming the Centennial State. On this episode of the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, Dianne and Jennie celebrate Colorado's 150th birthday with some state trivia, chat about the upcoming annual Central City Cemetery Crawl, explore the story of a pioneer woman who made Colorado her home, and Dianne shares an exciting Ordinary Extraordinary historical discovery she recently unearthed while going through her own family's documents and photographs. As one of our state songs says,                                                              
"Tis the land where the columbines grow,
Overlooking the plains far below,
While the cool summer breeze in the evergreen trees,
Softly sings where the columbines grow."
Purchase your tickets for the 37th annual Central City Cemetery Crawl on August 22, 2026, here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-37th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-1992231897234?aff=oddtdtcreator
Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com
Family Tales: A free printable is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharing

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Howdy! This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast, Jennie and Dianne are joined by award-winning author and historian Mary Ellen Pethel, who shares the Ordinary Extraordinary story of Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, or as most of the world knows her, Minnie Pearl! Born in 1912 in Centerville, Tennessee, Sarah often recalled how her upbringing in a small town shaped her outlook on life. After moving to Nashville during the Great Depression to study theater, she joined a touring company and developed the iconic country girl persona we know today, inspired by her friend Mattie Burden. Her big break came in 1940 when she debuted at the Grand Ole Opry, making audiences laugh with her signature greeting and comedic style. Over her fifty-plus year career, she shared the stage with country music legends like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams, while also mentoring young artists like Elvis Presley and Garth Brooks, new to the industry. As Dolly Parton said, "Minnie Pearl became my friend in 1964. I was 18, new in town, and Minnie Pearl took me under her wing. She gave me good advice, the how to’s, the how not to’s, the when to’s, and the when not to’s. I learned a lot from her as a woman and as a professional entertainer but above all that, as a good, solid human being. Minnie was more than a big laugh. She was a big heart, and I will always love her."
Image Credit: By Denny-Moeller Talent, Inc. (management company) - eBay itemphoto frontphoto back, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16626755
You can read all about Minnie Pearl in "Howdy! The Minnie Pearl Story' by Mary Ellen Pethel and Don Cusic. https://utpress.org/9798895270585/howdy/
You can watch the PBS documentary, 'Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl" directed by Barbara J. Hall, here: https://www.pbs.org/show/facing-the-laughter-minnie-pearl/
Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com
Family Tales: A free printable is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharing
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On this episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast, Jennie and Dianne wander back in time to the wild west days of Old Colorado City, Colorado, to share the story of how "the dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard" played a small part in that city's politics in 1891. Resting in a tidy grave at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs is Mr. John Henry Holt, who was once marshal of Old Colorado City and was presented with a very special badge by one Bob Ford, an infamous outlaw during the heyday of the western frontier. 
Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com
Family Tales: A free printable is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharing
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