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No ghost here! Just history |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Wednesday, 25 October 2006 |
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 As the first snowflakes of the year drifted downward, turning the landscape white and gray, a man with a round face and white beard sat in a subdued stone building surrounded by memorials and tombstones.
In his 28 years at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, Phil Carpenter has buried many people, comforted even more families and unraveled bits of history.
 “I get a lot of satisfaction helping people,” the cemetery supervisor said. “In our society today, people don’t even want to talk about death and dying.”
Many don’t know what they need to do when a loved one dies, he said. While the nature of the job holds many sad moments, Carpenter retains a life-affirming spirit.
“I’m the last person to let you down,” he said with a smile. “We have to be light-hearted around here.”
Contrary to any myths or legends, Carpenter is sure the cemetery, dating back to 1887, isn’t haunted.
“I’ve worked nights and early mornings,” Carpenter said. “I’ve even worked Halloween night and there are no ghosts here.”
One of the only extraordinary stories he has heard was from an elderly gentleman who worked at the cemetery back when the graves were still dug by hand. The man claimed to have seen a lady in a flowing gown walking a dog.
“I never saw her and I don’t know if he actually saw her,” he said.
In the ’80s the cemetery staff had a heck of a time keeping kids out of the cemetery at night, but this isn’t a problem anymore.
The cemetery isn’t the spooky place for goblins and ghouls but is actually full of life, from the frequent bird watchers to cross-country teams training.
Before working at the cemetery, Carpenter worked for the Fort Collins street department.
“I was tired of doing asphalt at the street department,” he said.
The career change provided him the perfect place to delve into history.
The historian has discovered much of the city’s history lies at Grandview Cemetery.
“Every life is a history,” he said. “It’s just some are more known than others. Every life has a story.”
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IN HIS WORDS
What is it about this job that makes it challenging?
Requests and funeral services are always changing. It’s incredible what different people request.
Makes you get out of bed in the morning?
Meeting the public.
Things that impress you?
The resilience of families.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
I have been here so long, I don’t know.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
Fallen into a grave.
Smartest?
Became a historian.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
Followed the wheat harvest.
Any interesting anecdotes?
What you don’t know is I play Santa Clause. One November I was going to the Laporte post office and had a hat on because it was wet out. A boy sitting in a car in the parking lot leaned right over the window and said, “I would love a sleigh for Christmas.”
I went back in the post office, found his mother and told her about it. Three days later the woman went into the hardware store across the street to order the sleigh. She told the lady at the check out counter, “You’re not going to believe what happened.” The lady said she would because she is my wife. My wife works at the hardware store.
What’s the one thing you wish you could do on the job that you can’t right now?
To convince people that memorializing of cremated remains is necessary.
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
Serving families.
Are you the boss? Do you think you should be?
Yes.
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
Being at the right place at the right time.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
I am a kettle corn popper and work on my 6 acres.
Pets? Family?
A cat named Lucy and a dog named Freckles. Married to my wife Mary for 37 years and have five children Jim, Brian, Alison, Nathan and Todd.
Favorite TV shows. Movies. Books.
Any thing on the history channel, not a movie watcher, history books
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
Job related
Where do you play?
I am an ATV rider. I love to ride in Utah.
Go out to eat?
Cafe Mexicali
Favorite spot?
The state of Utah. | Only registered users can write comments.
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