Michigan Couple Finds 1850s Tombstone in Yard
By: CNN
Updated: October 6, 2011
A Michigan couple's attempt to update their front lawn leads to an eerie discovery.
Terry and Judy Truesdell have lived in their house in Niles for more than 40 years.
Over that time, they unknowingly were stepping over a little piece of history every day.
"In the front sidewalk there's always been this slab of white marble that we thought was very unique and wonderful," Judy Truesdell says.
But when they decided to redo their entryway, that piece of marble gave them quite the surprise.
"Is this a Halloween story or what?," Truesdell asks.
It was her husband Terry who made the discovery.
"When it came time to move it, we turned it over and discovered that it was a tombstone," he says.
Not just any tombstone either, one from 1858 that reads, "Jane, wife of T. McKibbins."
"She has surfaced for one reason or another and we're happy to have her. We welcome Jane," Truesdell jokes.
Now, the couple may have had a close encounter with Jane in the past.
Just under where the tombstone had been, Terry had put in a cistern in 1976. Coincidentally, the brick on it marks the Bicentennial, 1776, the year that Jane was born.
"If she were six feet under, it would've been right at eye level of where I was excavating," Terry says.
But, no remains have been found, and there's no McKibbins records at the local cemeteries.
Tombstone past tombstone, the name McKibbins, nowhere in sight. Just one slab of marble heavy with mysterious history, and an unexpected encounter for the Truesdells.
"I think Jane is going to go back to where she was, only right side up," they say.
Terry and Judy Truesdell have lived in their house in Niles for more than 40 years.
Over that time, they unknowingly were stepping over a little piece of history every day.
"In the front sidewalk there's always been this slab of white marble that we thought was very unique and wonderful," Judy Truesdell says.
But when they decided to redo their entryway, that piece of marble gave them quite the surprise.
"Is this a Halloween story or what?," Truesdell asks.
It was her husband Terry who made the discovery.
"When it came time to move it, we turned it over and discovered that it was a tombstone," he says.
Not just any tombstone either, one from 1858 that reads, "Jane, wife of T. McKibbins."
"She has surfaced for one reason or another and we're happy to have her. We welcome Jane," Truesdell jokes.
Now, the couple may have had a close encounter with Jane in the past.
Just under where the tombstone had been, Terry had put in a cistern in 1976. Coincidentally, the brick on it marks the Bicentennial, 1776, the year that Jane was born.
"If she were six feet under, it would've been right at eye level of where I was excavating," Terry says.
But, no remains have been found, and there's no McKibbins records at the local cemeteries.
Tombstone past tombstone, the name McKibbins, nowhere in sight. Just one slab of marble heavy with mysterious history, and an unexpected encounter for the Truesdells.
"I think Jane is going to go back to where she was, only right side up," they say.
