2009/04/23 - Bertha's Grave, Coleraine, MN

Weather Conditions:

History

We had a meeting with a potential member that was cancelled due to illness so we decided to make the best out of the day and venture out to a location that we had always heard about as an urban legned called "Bertha's Grave" in Coleraine, Minnesota.

Please refer to this file on the history of Bertha's Grave.

Investigation

This was not a full investigation because it just could not be done at this location. There are no trespassing signs posted and there is a house next to the cemetery. To be honest, the cemetery only has about a dozen headstones in it and is probably a 50x75 foot area. 

The team arrived to just scout the location and we filmed a video for the website as well as recording an EVP session at the marker.

Observations and Conclusions

The team noticed that Bertha is indeed far away from the other markers and someone put a pumpkin decoration next to her stone. There were several flowers that were placed there so you know that people take note of her legend or at least she still has family in the area.

We do not believe this area to be any more haunted than any other cemetery could be. It is a very peaceful location and since Bertha's Grave is older than most of the ones on the hill, it could very well be that she was the first one buried there. She died in 1910 and both Hibbing and Grand Rapids were founded in the 1890s. Now while 20 years seems like a long time to develop a few miles in, looking back at the equipment and methods that they had during that time, it makes sense that it took time to get out there. That area could have been settled around the time of Bertha Maynard's death.

There is a legend that the headstone moves on Halloween but when you think about it, there is a historical record of it being removed from the cemetery due to vandalism. Even when we were there, there are deep scratches into the back of the marker and the top of it is missing due to abuse. The marker also does sit on the ground and is not mounted into the ground by any other means than its own weight. The stone could very well tumble down the slope due to the ground shifting from frost, moisture, or rain. It is a very moist area as Trout Lake is only about 40 feet away!

We don't think Bertha's Grave is anything other than an urban legend that has been passed around by the youth. This is very familar to the Dr. Follmann legend in Mankato's Calvary Cemetery.

Please let the woman rest in peace.