RestingSpot: Snap, mark, enrich

On a recent sunny afternoon, I revisited Oller Cemetery to mark the grave site of Archibald Butt (b. 1827, d. 1888) with RestingSpot. Finding this grave was the subject of my first-ever blog post, so it seemed fitting that I mark its location for keeps.

Here are my quick-and-easy RestingSpot steps. Well, quick and easy so far as “fitting” with my particular graveyard habits.

At the graveyard: Snap it, mark it

1. Photograph the gravestone. — The original photo of the Archibald Butt marker was not my best. This time, with the leaves mostly off the trees, I can do better.
2. Fire up RestingSpot and tap Add RestingSpot. — I leave the app running while I am in the graveyard. Car charger for my iPhone is always ready, just in case.
3. Type in the first name, middle or maiden name, last name. — At this point, standing at the grave, I must look as though I am praying: Head bowed, hands together in front of me. Seems appropriate.
4. Check that you can read remaining details from photo. — Yes, I can read birth and death on my new Archibald photo. If your photo is iffy, enter the dates now. Okay, maybe I should go ahead and enter the dates now, but I am already being distracted by that interesting gravestone over in the next row.
5. Tap Add RestingSpot.

How simple is that? Done. Marked. The location of the Archibald Butt marker is “on the map,” GPS-wise.

  

At home: Enrich it
This part is easy too, but may take a bit longer, depending on how picky you are about cropping and adjusting your cemetery photos.

(Note that you can add the photo on the spot with the app after you add the RestingSpot. I prefer to get on with my gravin’ and leave the photo work for later.)

1. Edit the graveyard photographs. Crop, straighten, and so on.
2. Browse to restingspot.com.
3. Find (by name) the RestingSpot you marked.
4. Edit it to add the inscription dates.
5. Add the photographs. 

Is this a relative? A friend? A local celebrity? Record a biography—a family story, an obituary, whatever you want to share. You are enriching the RestingSpot for today—and for tomorrow.

The RestingSpot app is free for your iPhone or Android. Take it with you next time you visit Great-Granddad’s grave. Your grandchildren will thank you someday.

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Oller Cemetery, Delaware County, Ohio