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Baron Samedi LbNA #10571

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Sep 1, 2004
Location:
City:Omaha
County:Douglas
State:Nebraska
Boxes:1
Found by: leefamily
Last found:Jun 30, 2005
Status:FFFFa
Last edited:Sep 1, 2004
Let's begin with a look into Omaha history:

Anna Wilson was a famous Madam in Omaha who was the mistress of Dan Allan (a famous river boat gambler in and around the Omaha area). After Dan died she started investing in real estate and amassed a large amount of money. As Anna's life was drawing to a close in 1911, she donated her mansion -- land and all -- to the City of Omaha for use as an emergency hospital. She asked only $125.00 a month rent until her death. Anna, who was 76-years-old at the time, was said to be worth upwards of a million dollars, and claimed she didn't have one relative in the world. When asked about her gift to the city, she said she wanted to help humanity. She made the stipulation in her will that she was to be buried under 9 feet of concrete, so that the "respectable" society women of the town didn't disinter her body from her resting place by her lover.

We begin our search for Baron Samedi at her grave. It is in an old Omaha cemetery that is now an historical site — walking among the graves you will see the people that many of Omaha's streets and buildings are named after. Anna Wilson and Dan Allan are indeed buried under concrete, and, while many of the graves in this cemetery have historical markers, hers doesn't.

From this spot, walk west (all directions based on magnetic north) until you reach the dirt road. Turn right.

Pass the rows of dead city founders. Rix on your left. Windheim in your right. Flodman on your left. Beindorff on your right. Like Wilson, their graves do not have historical markers, so we can only speculate about their lives.

But stop to learn something about Alfred Sorenson, Omaha newspaperman and historian. There's a lot of history to be learned in this cemetery.

Continue north. When you reach the circle, travel clockwise.

Stop to learn about Captain Lee Forby and his Company G. There is a monument nearby with a soldier atop it — you can see it from here. Look at it if you like, but do not go to it.

Instead, head west 34 paces. Stop to learn about the Metz Brothers and their brewing company.

Continue west, looking for a poem. It reads:

"Love and hope and beauty's bloom
Are blossoms gathered for the tomb."

Look northeast. There is a bush with several gravestones half-concealed beneath it.

Just beyond this bush is the pale tomb of a fallen Mason. Time has worked away the writing on the grave, and the stone itself is broken.

Beneath this, you will be able to stop and learn about Baron Samedi. This is a special stamp in two parts — you may want to bring two colors of ink. Also, bring spare paper so you can practice with this stamp to get it just right. As always, there is no digging, no moving of tombstones, no disturbing of the cemetery in any way required during this search.

Happy hunting.