Hello Fellow Listers: Even though the following - which was sent through the PA Dauphin Co. List does not mention this county in particular - I thought it most intriguing and thought others may feel the same. I've never heard of this before??? Note: Pillow is a small town/hamlet located in Dauphin Co.. Best Wishes... Donna HELLER ZINN of Newville, Cumberland Co., PA. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following article taken from a 1935 edition of the American Weekly, Inc. is of interest to Bohner descendents: COULDN'T KEEP FASCINATED PUBLIC AWAY FROM THE TOMB "Burial vaults and coffins are such unpleasant things that most people try to avoid the suggestion of them, but in a cemetery in Pa it has become necessary to close up the vault of a man and his wife to keep curiosity seekers away. On a number of occasions spectators have broken into the vault, impelled by a well-known type of morbid curiosity. The two persons occupying caskets inside the vault near Pillow, Pa are Daniel and Julianna Bohner. They have been there more than a quarter of a century, but as time goes on, public interest in the vault and the glass-topped coffins inside it seems to grow. When the well-to-do farmer and his wife, thirty years before on their quiet hilltop of the same soil which had brought them prosperity and happiness, they did not take into consideration the intrusion of a curious world. Anxious never to be parted, even after death, and hoping never to allow waning years to blur the memory of them among their ten children, the couple set down and systematically figured a plan of burial. Glass topped caskets were the solution. So that they were sure that their plan would be carried out to the last detail they purchased the coffins and placed them in the attic of their farmhouse after the underground vault had been completed in 1874. The death of Julianna Bohner, the wife, occurred at the age of 81 years on Dec 8, 1898. For six years her loyal husband went regularly to the "burial room", lifted the lid of the coffin and sat with her. She was in her "best" grey satin dress, and looked as lovely as she did in life. On March 29, 1904, the second glass-covered coffin was brought down from the attic, and the 93 year old husband was borne between the aisle of trees, through the heavy iron door and down the steps into the couples vault. In compliance with their last wishes, members of the family and friends "visited" with them frequently. Keys to the lock which barred outsiders were distributed among them. But the quiet communion which they had planned for their family was destined to be disrupted. Gradually the community of Pillow grew in population and consequently new graves appeared around the Bohner vault. Word of the strange burial place was passed mouth to mouth and the curious flocked to the site to get just a glimpse of the interior as the door swung open to admit relatives. Dissatisfied with this meager view, people began breaking the lock and forcing entrance into the sacred room. Just as rapidly as the locks were broken, members of the family replaced them. During one of these forced entrances, the handle on the coffin in which Daniel Bohner was resting was broken, allowing air to seep in and start decomposition. Not long ago another of these intrusions resulted in the glass being shattered on Julianna Bohner's coffin, but his time there were no signs of decomposition. Investigation disclosed her body to be as soldid as a rock, as though petrified. At once the family feared that if this knowledge were obtained by exhibit hunters there would be danger of the body being stolen. Today the iron door is bolted, by order of William Bohner, a grandson who is a mill owner in Pillow. And so, side by side, their wishes fulfilled for more than 30 years after death, Daniel and Julianna Bohner are for the first time being completely shut off from the living world." Roger Cramer Peoria, Arizona <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/RogerCubs/index.html">Roger & Sue Cramer's Genealogy Site</A> http://members.aol.com/rogercubs/index.html <A HREF="http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilogle/">Ogle Co., IL Genealogy Site</A> http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilogle/