View Full Version : Unknown Stories: Cemetery At The Ralph
BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan
10-29-2009, 11:35 PM
There's more than cheering and tailgating at Ralph Wilson Stadium, something that was here long before the stadium ever existed. It's under the stadium lights and behind Gate Seven; The Sheldon Cemetery. And it's been there since the early 1800's.
"Mr. Sheldon and his wife lost a child at three weeks of age and that child was the first person to be buried in this plot," said Sue Kulp, Orchard Park Town and Village Historian.
And for generations, more Sheldons followed to call it their final resting place.
Up until the 1970s, the family burial was surrounded by farmland, few homes and no traffic.
But there was a spark in that magic in 1973 when the Bills' stadium was about to go up. Architects wanted it to go right over the cemetery.
"They were going to move the cemetery to put the stadium here and family members, my mom and aunt Lola Sheldon said no way, you move the stadium, you're not moving the cemetery," said Hartloff.
"There was somebody buried here in 1932," said Susan Phillips. "It was too recent that they could not move the cemetery."
"They changed the position of the stadium," said Gary Phillips, a descendent of the Sheldon Family. "This is not the 50 yard line and the stadium I believe was turned a bit because of this. That's why when you get the wind changes in there you almost think it's the spirits turning the wind. When you see a football kicked and it goes wide right or to the side, it changes just drastically. The wind changes and I believe that's the position of the stadium. So this cemetery probably had something to do with them winning or losing their games. I'm sure it did."
http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=71443&catid=37
Billz_fan
10-30-2009, 12:11 AM
Interesting story. If there is any spirits left around the stadium hopefully they are Bills fans. I love little historical tidbits like that. Thanks for the knowledge man :up:
The place is cursed, that's all there is to it.
Meathead
10-30-2009, 01:48 AM
so thats why theres a corpse walking the sidelines
Lexwhat
10-30-2009, 02:26 AM
I knew there was a logical explanation to why we suck.
Billz_fan
10-30-2009, 02:50 AM
Wait, is this some halloween story ? :lol: j/k
trapezeus
10-30-2009, 08:02 AM
well i feel relieved now that i know why these things always happen to us. now we have to get a seance together and go marching towards a super bowl.
The King
10-30-2009, 08:09 AM
Now every Sunday hundreds of drunk Bills fans piss on the perimeter of the cemetery.
Mad Bomber
10-30-2009, 08:28 AM
No every Sunday hundreds of drunk Bills fans piss on the perimeter of the cemetery.
Here's proof:
http://www.billszone.com/gallery2/d/58326-1/IMG_1800+_Custom_.JPG
Mad Bomber
10-30-2009, 08:30 AM
It's the patch of trees at the upper left of the picture:
http://www.billszone.com/gallery2/d/58324-1/IMG_1808+_Custom_.JPG
mybills
10-30-2009, 09:08 AM
:ill:
Cntrygal
10-30-2009, 10:01 AM
The Historian has said he wants to be buried there....
Meathead
10-30-2009, 11:40 AM
this weekend is good for me
Hemlepp53
10-30-2009, 11:53 AM
Great bit of history. Never knew that and I appericate it. Wonder if the stadium is haunted? Someone should call one of those shows "Paranormal State, Ghost Lab, or Ghost Hunters" That would be a first...
Michael82
10-31-2009, 01:38 AM
In the gallery...there's a photo of Historian resting on one of the graves with a beer on his stomach. We used to tailgate right by that graveyard a few seasons ago...
DynaPaul
10-31-2009, 07:32 AM
The spirits from that graveyard are very angry and cursed us to 4 Super Bowl losses. Everything makes sense now!
PECKERWOOD
10-31-2009, 07:37 AM
The Historian has said he wants to be buried there....
That's a pretty cool request.
yordad
10-31-2009, 07:45 AM
This is jacked up. We always said they were cursed. :ill:
PECKERWOOD
10-31-2009, 07:50 AM
This is jacked up. We always said they were cursed. :ill:
They should get some investigators up in here to test for EVP!
Meathead
10-31-2009, 09:38 AM
the indians over here at the res tell the story that the graveyard was actually originally a sacred indian burial site which is why the city was cursed to not win any championships
of course since they are indian spirits they are fine with the handful of lacrosse championships. typical wahoos
The spirits from that graveyard are very angry and cursed us to 4 Super Bowl losses. Everything makes sense now!
Agreed, Sundays are meant for peaceful days of rest.. there is no peace with the noise of 76,000 fans and explosions going off after every score.
SabreEleven
10-31-2009, 09:17 PM
Agreed, Sundays are meant for peaceful days of rest.. there is no peace with the noise of 76,000 fans and explosions going off after every score.
In that case, they are getting plenty of rest in the last 10 years.
hydro
10-31-2009, 10:34 PM
the indians over here at the res tell the story that the graveyard was actually originally a sacred indian burial site which is why the city was cursed to not win any championships
of course since they are indian spirits they are fine with the handful of lacrosse championships. typical wahoos
:rofl:
so thats why theres a corpse walking the sidelines
LOL Good one.
BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan
11-01-2009, 12:18 PM
There's more than cheering and tailgating at Ralph Wilson Stadium, something that was here long before the stadium ever existed. It's under the stadium lights and behind Gate Seven; The Sheldon Cemetery. And it's been there since the early 1800's.
"Mr. Sheldon and his wife lost a child at three weeks of age and that child was the first person to be buried in this plot," said Sue Kulp, Orchard Park Town and Village Historian.
And for generations, more Sheldons followed to call it their final resting place.
Up until the 1970s, the family burial was surrounded by farmland, few homes and no traffic.
But there was a spark in that magic in 1973 when the Bills' stadium was about to go up. Architects wanted it to go right over the cemetery.
"They were going to move the cemetery to put the stadium here and family members, my mom and aunt Lola Sheldon said no way, you move the stadium, you're not moving the cemetery," said Hartloff.
"There was somebody buried here in 1932," said Susan Phillips. "It was too recent that they could not move the cemetery."
"They changed the position of the stadium," said Gary Phillips, a descendent of the Sheldon Family. "This is not the 50 yard line and the stadium I believe was turned a bit because of this. That's why when you get the wind changes in there you almost think it's the spirits turning the wind. When you see a football kicked and it goes wide right or to the side, it changes just drastically. The wind changes and I believe that's the position of the stadium. So this cemetery probably had something to do with them winning or losing their games. I'm sure it did."
http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=71443&catid=37
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