The Cemetery on Rathbone
Gary the Gravedigger and Greyson
Fall brings vibrant shades of orange and yellow to the dense canopy above Rathbone Road, accentuating the warmth and charm of the century homes that line its long, gently sloped hill. It’s along this idyllic street that - in the final weeks of October - the ominous structures of Wrathbone Cemetery emerge to signal Halloween’s approach…
Six years ago, while living in our first home near Randolph Elementary, my wife Molly and I set out to bring some of the magic from our Halloween memories to the neighborhood. Though we started small that first year with a scrap-wood coffin, some color-changing lights, and a cheap fog machine, the enthusiasm from kids and parents alike inspired us to expand our modest yard haunt. We quickly ran out of space in the years that followed, adding graveyard staples like headstones, fencing, and skeletons to the display.
In 2020 we moved to our home on Rathbone Road, tripling our yard space and giving us a new canvas to create larger structures and set pieces. It was Molly who coined the name Wrathbone Cemetery as an homage to the new location, and I quickly created the centerpiece sign bearing the title. That year also saw the creation of a custom animatronic we lovingly refer to as Gary the Gravedigger, who has become the unofficial mascot for the cemetery. In 2021 (with 2 newborns in tow) our DIY lightshow became a full production complete with DMX-controlled lights, cryo-cannons, eerie music, and spooky video elements projected inside a 13-foot mausoleum. In 2022, increased trick-or-treater traffic prompted us to begin filing a street closure permit with the city to ensure the safety of those brave enough to visit on Halloween night.
Six years ago, while living in our first home near Randolph Elementary, my wife Molly and I set out to bring some of the magic from our Halloween memories to the neighborhood. Though we started small that first year with a scrap-wood coffin, some color-changing lights, and a cheap fog machine, the enthusiasm from kids and parents alike inspired us to expand our modest yard haunt. We quickly ran out of space in the years that followed, adding graveyard staples like headstones, fencing, and skeletons to the display.
In 2020 we moved to our home on Rathbone Road, tripling our yard space and giving us a new canvas to create larger structures and set pieces. It was Molly who coined the name Wrathbone Cemetery as an homage to the new location, and I quickly created the centerpiece sign bearing the title. That year also saw the creation of a custom animatronic we lovingly refer to as Gary the Gravedigger, who has become the unofficial mascot for the cemetery. In 2021 (with 2 newborns in tow) our DIY lightshow became a full production complete with DMX-controlled lights, cryo-cannons, eerie music, and spooky video elements projected inside a 13-foot mausoleum. In 2022, increased trick-or-treater traffic prompted us to begin filing a street closure permit with the city to ensure the safety of those brave enough to visit on Halloween night.
Wrathbone Cemetery is our small contribution to the extraordinary sense of community that makes the Country Club neighborhood special. With the help of our twin boys Axel and Vaughn (3), Molly and I look forward to evolving and sharing this unusual “space we love” with friends, family, and neighbors for many years to come.