Clash at Swan Point Cemetery: Why Not Photograph Lovecraft's Grave?

Irish fantasist and author Caitlin R. Kiernan recently ran into a belligerent security guard at Swan Point Cemetery, who swore at her and demanded she delete photos of H.P. Lovecraft's grave. The crazed, possibly intoxicated guard seemed to stretch the cemetery's policy of no photographs far past its limits. It seems this is a weirdly isolated incident in the graveyard's long history of housing H.P. Lovecraft's remains in its soil. However, it may well raise new concerns for admirers traveling to Providence who wish to pay tribute to the weird writer while obtaining their own token of the visit on film.

Perhaps the deeper question is this: why not photograph Lovecraft's grave? Swan Point's security deployments around HPL's grave are partially understandable. After a failed attempt to unearth Lovecraft's coffin in the late 1990s, security was stepped up, especially on certain days like Lovecraft's birthday (August 20th), date of death (March 15th), and Halloween. Minor "vandalism," such as quoting phrases from Lovecraft on his headstone and surrounding property (as in the tree carving pictured at the top) is also a reason behind the fiercer security presence. That said, the cemetery's bizarre policy banning photography still prompted the latest clash between Kiernan and Swan Point's guy.

According to visitors, Swan Point's remains an active cemetery with regular internments of new corpses. This allegedly prompts their no photos policy, since the graveyard believes camera wielding tourists will disrupt funerals. Huh? There's a lot that doesn't add up here, with the policy in general and application to Lovecraft specifically. Vast swaths of plots around Lovecraft's grave are old, established families of Providence, many of whom have already been put in the ground. It's difficult to see how photographers would be in a position to offend distant mourners. Moreover, when was the last time someone really had the nerve to snap photos right next to a funeral tent? It's almost impossible to envision a rude tourist meandering around the cemetery and taking pictures with zero regard for funeral goers.

Even more nonsensically, Swan Point's policy is all but unenforceable. Judging by the immense number of photos showing H.P. Lovecraft's grave on the internet and in books, it has been a huge failure. Perhaps this is because even Swan Point doesn't take itself seriously. Or because they lack the personnel to endlessly monitor Lovecraft's resting place, except on the three days mentioned above. It would be interesting to know if Kiernan was confronted on August 20th. This would explain an increased security presence around the author's grave, possibly resulting in the awkward occurrence. In any case, Swan Point just cast itself in a terribly unprofessional light. Maybe the security guard in question was hellbent on picking a fight. Yet, Swan Point's worthless and unreasonable ban on photos provided fuel for the inferno of rage that burst out of this man.

Despite my obvious bias, I don't expect the cemetery to reverse their position anytime soon. It's far more likely that the status quo will continue. The graveyard's owners will leave the no photos policy intact, while most sane security guards will ignore the visitations by camera lenses. For now, the main lesson that can be gleaned for potential visitors to Lovecraft's grave site is this: keep the cameras hidden on the three days Swan Point steps up their security, and in the presence of unhinged-looking guards. Otherwise, shoot away.

-Grim Blogger