The Vampire Grave of Lafayette
Do you believe in vampires? Either way you answer, there is an alleged vampire’s grave in Lafayette, Colorado. As legends have it, a vampire is buried under the grave of Mr. Fodor Glava, who came all the way from Transylvania, Romania, to work in the mining industry in the early 1900s. Despite the lack of concrete information due to the period's inadequate documentation, the story continues to linger as paranormal investigators continue to unmask the truth behind the spooky grave.
You can find the grave in Lafayette Municipal Cemetery, just on the edge of town. A simple grave has been a landmark of interest not just for historians but also for paranormal enthusiasts. The grave marker reads "Mr. Fodor Glava" with "Transylvania" written beneath it. It is believed Mr. Glava was drawn to Lafayette due to the opportunity from the booming mining culture. However, that’s where things start to get a bit hairy. Now, the 1900s didn’t have the best records so that’s about where the trail gets a little cold.
It seems Glava likely lived a modest life but, largely, without note. However, his grave appeared to have been hastily carved, and inscribed with his birthplace, year of death, and a few other words, among them “trandofir,” the Romanian word for rose.
While it's documented that Glava definitely died in Lafayette in December of 1918, the plot in which he purchased is said to also be shared by another man who did not survive the influenza epidemic during that time. Additionally, the fact that he decided to purchase a grave in what was known as the paupers graveyard was a bit strange.
There are a couple of reasons why the story of the vampire's grave persists. Firstly, the supposed origins of Glava from Transylvania, the supposed homeland of Count Dracula, raise the curiosity of the people and give it a touch of fictional realism. Secondly, the poorly written headstone intensifies the aura of mystery that surrounds the grave. The spelling errors and confusion regarding the specifics of the person buried only add to the intrigue.
It's also important to note that Mr. Glava died at the height of the 1918 flu pandemic. This was a time of extreme panic, death, and confusion. So much so that, perhaps, people were looking for someone (or something) to blame. It is said that some townspeople decided to dig up his grave to see if he was behind some of the stranger deaths and it is alleged that they found blood in Glava's mouth, deformed teeth, and his nails had continued to grow. Now, today, we know that a lot of these are normal parts of decay, but, nervous about what they'd seen, the townsfolk decided to drive a stake through his heart, just in case.
According to legend, there was apparently a tangled rose bush growing out of the grave, right above where the buried person’s heart would be.
There are several reports of a tall, thin man with dark hair and long fingernails sitting on the gravestone while dressed in a dark coat, seemingly waiting for someone. In fact, there is a claim that former Lafayette chief of police allegedly told people he found a doll with a pin stuck through its heart on top of the grave.
In fact, according to some records, it appears Glava was actually Austrian and was employed at the Simpson mine. He was 43 when he died and was survived by his wife who had remained behind in Austria. However, it appears he may have been born in or had parents from Romania or Transvania and used that as a conversation starter among his fellow miners. In fact, Dracula would have come out not so long before, in 1897, and kicked off a wave of vampire fiction. This once-fun conversation starter in life turned out to be much more menacing in death.
To this day, locals are said to dare each other to stand at the grave as the clock strikes midnight. Many chicken out, afraid of witnessing the ghost of the vampire.
While official documentation is wanting, the legend surrounding the grave is a clear indication of people's fascination with the paranormal and the unknown. One thing that is apparent is that the grave's aura of mystery and confusion has managed to last over a century and has even garnered worldwide attention. Who would have thought that an average cemetery in Colorado could hold such an interesting story? And, if you’re interested, you can still visit his grave today. If you do stop by, please remember to do so respectfully. This graveyard is still active.
The blog feature image depicts a Jupiter tree growing out of Todor Glava’s grave. Jupiters are rot-resistant, and have been commonly used for fences (and stakes) throughout time. Photo by Zoe Jennings for Yellow Scene Magazine.
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