This story was obtained from a notebook in the Penn Yan Public Library.

LEGEND OF THE FACE ON THE TOMBSTONE

Mr. and Mrs. Francis Gillette lived in a large gray house on the corner of Garfield Ave and East Main St. (It still stands today) The Gillette legend revolves around the family tombstone in Lakeview Cemetery.

There are at least three versions and perhaps more.

In one version Mrs. Gillette threatened her husband, Francis, that should he remarry after her death she would come back to haunt him and would make sure that everyone around knew about it.

A Second version of the story states that Mr. Gillette was unkind to his wife, which prompted the threat of revenge.

A third version accuses r. Gillette of being unfaithful husband.

There is no evidence to support any of these claims. With these three versions in mind the remainder of the story seems is the same no matter which one of the above versions you want to believe.

The Gillett's are buried in the cemetery with a large black granite stone marking their family plot.

There is a flaw in the marble. IF you use your own thoughts and imagination you may see the reported profile of the head of Mrs. Gillette. The figure resembles a mid aged woman. A pomp adore, adorns her head and she is staring toward the heavens.

The story has been passed down orally and no written version has been found. The story is of the early part of the 20th century.

No written account of this story has been seen except the newspaper articles that appeared several years ago.

There is no evidence of sand blasting, or replacement of the stone in any records.

Finally Lakeview cemetery records reveal Matilda was born in 1859 and died in 1936. He husband Francis was born in 1850 and died in 1929.

Today if you go into the cemetery, turn right just past the caretakers quarters. Looking around to find the large granite monument, I spotted it on the large piece of black granite. On the East Side of the monument facing a very large tree, it is reported that Matilda’s head is tilted back looking skyward. According to the legend it is a profile of Matilda Gillette.

No matter which of the three descriptions you believe of the legend, Matilda swore to return and haunt her husband, for whatever reason. The rest of the story goes on she died after making the threat. She was buried in Lakeview Cemetery. Mr. Gillette marked the final resting area with a huge black granite monument.

Shortly after the monument was placed a change was noticed in the granite. At first only a slight discoloration was noticed. But as the days passed a strange shape began to appear gradually taking on the shape of a woman’s head and face. The form reportedly resembled Mrs.. Gillett in profile.

Mr. Gillette had the monument sand blasted to remove the face. but it soon reappeared in the same spot. It was than decided that the “face looking skyward” may be a flaw in the original piece of mined granite.

So Mr. Gillette had the memorial block removed and replaced with a different piece o granite and as precaution, the second stone was from a different quarry than the first. This was done and the new stone installed. After a few months and suddenly it was noticed that the new stone had begun to discolor in exact ally the same spot as the first piece of granite. The profile reappeared looking skyward. The legend goes on to says that a third quarry located in a different state from that where the first two were mined. But again the head and face appeared to, as if to make a stand of her promise of haunting the husband.

Interesting that he died ahead of Matilda, but a threat is a threat.

Below are pictures of the stone. YOU be your judge!
 

                                                                FACE AT NIGHT

                                                                                    FACE IN DAYLIGHT