'Nothing creepy' about graveyards, say tombstone transcribers

Gary Peck spends a lot of time in graveyards. But the bears scare him more than ghosts.

He and other volunteers with the Sudbury Genealogical Society have spent thousands of hours in cemeteries across the Sudbury district from Foleyet to the French River, writing down what's on each stone and making a digital record of the information carved in stone.

"Genealogists salivate when they get this data. It's so crucial," says Peck.

"I also think it's important to remember the ancestors of a community and cemeteries are one of the best places to start."

But he has found himself battling blackflies and carrying bear spray in cemeteries carved out of the bush like those in Biscotasing or Gogama. But never seen a ghost or goblin.

Another dedicated transcriber Rochelle True also doesn't understand why people are afraid of graveyards.

"After you've been transcribing for a few years, you realize it's just beautiful parkland. It's a very peaceful place, nothing creepy about it," she says.

Morning North6:53Documenting the headstones in your local cemetary

Rochelle True and Gary Peck spend a lot of time at the cemetery. They're members of the Sudbury Genealogical Society and have been making a paper record of what's carved in stone in graveyards. The CBC's Erik White spoke with them to find out more.