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Storm Cellar for the Dead



On September 3, 1861, a daughter they christened Florence Irene, was born to Washington Ford and his wife Ellen of Natchez, Mississippi. As she grew older, for some reason the little girl was terribly frightened of stormy weather and when there was thunder and lightning, Florence ran to her mother for comfort.



Not quite two months after her 10th birthday, Florence died of Yellow Fever and was laid to rest in Natchez City Cemetery. The marble flower-bed-type tombstone features a wreath, symbolic of saintliness, glory and victory in death and the epitaph reads:



Sacred

To the memory of

Florence Irene

Daughter of

Washington & Ellen H.

Ford

Born Sept. 3rd 1861

Died Oct. 30th 1871

As bright and affectionate a Daughter

as ever God with his Image blest.



(Photo by Shanna Riley)

But this wasn’t enough for her grieving mother who wasn’t comfortable leaving her child alone in the dark cemetery, particularly when there was thunder and lightning, a frequent occurrence in Mississippi. Thus, workmen were hired to install an opening at the head of the child's grave with concrete steps leading down to the vault which contained a glass window so that Mrs. Ford could look directly into her little girl’s tomb. The stairway was covered by a heavy, hinged metal trapdoor like those that leading to storm cellars. After the project was completed, when there was a thunderstorm, day or night, Ellen hurried to the graveyard and sat with her young daughter until the weather calmed.



It is unknown how long Ellen Ford continued comforting her dead child because the parents eventually moved from Natchez and neither is buried in the cemetery with their daughter.



Over the years, Florence Ford’s grave drew many teenage thrill-seekers, some of whom attempted to break the glass and gain access to the sepulcher. Finally, in the mid-1950s, the glass was covered with concrete to prevent vandalism.



Today, the grave guarded by a watchful cherub sitting atop the concrete wall surrounding the Ford plot is one of the most popular destinations in the cemetery. The stairway is still accessible and many visitors leave coins on the cold cement steps.



Author: Graveyardbride.

Sources: Natchez City Cemetery, Find-a-Grave and Anna Hilder, Roadtrippers.