Yes, this really is a story about Cinderella's grave, but no, it has nothing to do with the beloved Disney film or its title character. The story of this Cinderella isn't a fairy tale, but it is pretty interesting, and mysterious.

Prince or Princess?

Finch Cemetery, located in Portland, Indiana, is the final resting place of a child named Cinderella Steed. I say "child" because according to a couple of different websites, Cinderella was a young boy who died back in 1859 - but another site says Cinderella was the daughter of John and Elithea Steed, which seems to match the engraving on the stone. So, was this Cinderella a boy or a girl? I really don't know.

Michael Calvert via Facebook
Michael Calvert via Facebook
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What's In a Name?

Another interesting aspect of this story is the name on the grave marker. By all accounts, the child's name was "Cinderella," but if you look closely, you'll notice the stone actually says "Cinderlla." Maybe the engraver just made a mistake, or maybe that's really how the child's name was spelled. Big shout out, by the way, to Michael Calvert, who shared this picture on the Abandoned and Forgotten Indiana Facebook page and pointed out the name discrepancy.

Michael Calvert via Facebook
Michael Calvert via Facebook
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One of Indiana's Most Haunted Places

Look at just about any list of the most haunted places in Indiana and you're likely to find Finch Cemetery included. Here is the "official" word from HauntedPlaces.org...

The late-1800s Finch Cemetery at the Jay County Conservation Club is said to hold the grave of a boy named Cinderella. Rumor has it that the gravestones here shift, or disappear. If you count the gravestones on the way to Cinderella’s grave, you will count 13. But on the way back, there are only 11.

Are You Brave Enough to Visit?

It appears as though the Finch Cemetery is open and accessible to visitors. From the looks of the video below, the cemetery is off the beaten path and there doesn't seem to be much to it. I'm not sure if this YouTuber got permission first or if anyone is free to come and go as they please. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to contact the Jay County Conservation Club before making the trek to Portland, Indiana, just to be safe. I am curious to know if any of these strange things really happen at the cemetery, but I'll admit that I am too big of a weenie to find out for myself.

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Gallery Credit: Melissa Awesome

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