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| As of 2024, the legend is as follows: Local residents were suspicious of coal miner Teodor Glava and, after he died in 1918, dug him up and drove a stake through his heart. That wooden stake grew into a tall juniper tree that now dominates his grave site. It is also said that Glava's fingernails grew into a red rose bush that covered the grave until the early 2000s. (Although the rose bush was actually yellow.) Various blog posts and newspaper articles starting in the late 1980s enhanced the legend, and state that "local youth" sighted a tall, dark figure with red eyes lurking near the grave. Estate records at the State of Colorado Archives in Denver show that Teodor Glava was embalmed and buried about two days after he died, probably the result of ]. He had been sick for several weeks prior to his death.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lafayette Vampire |url=https://www.lafayettehistory.com/the-lafayette-vampire/ |website=Lafayette History}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Newspaper death notices state that Glava had no relatives in the U.S. and estate records state that he had no relatives in Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lafayette Vampire |url=https://www.lafayettehistory.com/the-lafayette-vampire/ |website=Lafayette History}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> | As of 2024, the legend is as follows: Local residents were suspicious of coal miner Teodor Glava and, after he died in 1918, dug him up and drove a stake through his heart. That wooden stake grew into a tall juniper tree that now dominates his grave site. It is also said that Glava's fingernails grew into a red rose bush that covered the grave until the early 2000s. (Although the rose bush was actually yellow.) Various blog posts and newspaper articles starting in the late 1980s enhanced the legend, and state that "local youth" sighted a tall, dark figure with red eyes lurking near the grave. Estate records at the State of Colorado Archives in Denver show that Teodor Glava was embalmed and buried about two days after he died, probably the result of ]. He had been sick for several weeks prior to his death.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lafayette Vampire |url=https://www.lafayettehistory.com/the-lafayette-vampire/ |website=Lafayette History}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Newspaper death notices state that Glava had no relatives in the U.S. and estate records state that he had no relatives in Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lafayette Vampire |url=https://www.lafayettehistory.com/the-lafayette-vampire/ |website=Lafayette History}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> | ||
| The Lafayette Vampire gravesite can be found in the north-central edge of the Lafayette Cemetery at 111th and Baseline, about 20 feet south of the City Park road and 70 feet east of 111th.{{ |
The Lafayette Vampire gravesite can be found in the north-central edge of the Lafayette Cemetery at 111th and Baseline, about 20 feet south of the City Park road and 70 feet east of 111th. See {{Coor title dms|40|0|5.03|N|105|5|33.9|W|scale:1563_type:city}} | ||
| In 2021, ] magazine ''Yellow Scene'' reported the gravesite is "filled with strange trinkets" including fresh flowers, bubble gum, and a plastic chicken.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Zoe |date=2021-10-08 |title=The Myth of the Lafayette Vampire: Stakes and All |url=https://yellowscene.com/2021/10/07/the-myth-of-the-lafayette-vampire-stakes-and-all/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Yellow Scene Magazine}}</ref> | In 2021, ] magazine ''Yellow Scene'' reported the gravesite is "filled with strange trinkets" including fresh flowers, bubble gum, and a plastic chicken.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Jennings |first=Zoe |date=2021-10-08 |title=The Myth of the Lafayette Vampire: Stakes and All |url=https://yellowscene.com/2021/10/07/the-myth-of-the-lafayette-vampire-stakes-and-all/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Yellow Scene Magazine}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 17:33, 19 December 2024
Colorado urban legendThe Lafayette vampire is an urban legend originating in Lafayette, Colorado.
History
In the 1950s, local youth were told by their parents that a vampire was buried in the Lafayette Cemetery and if they didn't get home by dark the vampire would get them.
They were referencing Romanian immigrant and coal miner Teodor Glava, who died in 1918. His grave marker in the potters field section the cemetery lists his birthplace as "Transylvania". Curator of Lafayette Miner's Museum Claudia Lund explains, "That part of the world has always had a certain history behind it. Particularly the Dracula story and everything."
The legend of the Lafayette vampire evolved in subsequent decades 1950s to mimic details of Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Bela Lugosi's classic motion picture portrayal. As Internet use grew in the 1990s, the story increased in popularity such that visitors from across the U.S. visit the grave.
As of 2024, the legend is as follows: Local residents were suspicious of coal miner Teodor Glava and, after he died in 1918, dug him up and drove a stake through his heart. That wooden stake grew into a tall juniper tree that now dominates his grave site. It is also said that Glava's fingernails grew into a red rose bush that covered the grave until the early 2000s. (Although the rose bush was actually yellow.) Various blog posts and newspaper articles starting in the late 1980s enhanced the legend, and state that "local youth" sighted a tall, dark figure with red eyes lurking near the grave. Estate records at the State of Colorado Archives in Denver show that Teodor Glava was embalmed and buried about two days after he died, probably the result of Spanish Flu. He had been sick for several weeks prior to his death. Newspaper death notices state that Glava had no relatives in the U.S. and estate records state that he had no relatives in Colorado.
The Lafayette Vampire gravesite can be found in the north-central edge of the Lafayette Cemetery at 111th and Baseline, about 20 feet south of the City Park road and 70 feet east of 111th. See 40°0′5.03″N 105°5′33.9″W / 40.0013972°N 105.092750°W / 40.0013972; -105.092750
In 2021, Boulder County magazine Yellow Scene reported the gravesite is "filled with strange trinkets" including fresh flowers, bubble gum, and a plastic chicken.
References
- "5 urban legends that still live in Colorado". FOX31 Denver. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
- ^ Conarroe, Doug (2024). Ghosts and Legends of Lafayette and Louisville. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781467152730.
- ^ Jennings, Zoe (2021-10-08). "The Myth of the Lafayette Vampire: Stakes and All". Yellow Scene Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
- "There's a vampire buried in Lafayette?". 9news.com.
- "The Lafayette Vampire". Lafayette History.
- "The Lafayette Vampire". Lafayette History.
Further reading
- Offutt, Jason (2019). Chasing American monsters: over 250 creatures, cryptids, and hairy beasts (1st ed.). Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications. ISBN 978-0-7387-6006-3.