WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA
Thomas Pursell’s
Escape Burial Hatch
A retired firefighter created this contraption so he and
his family wouldn't die if accidentally buried alive.
Thomas Pursell wanted to make absolutely sure that neither he nor his family would suffer the nightmare of a freak awakening six feet under. So the retired firefighter from Pennsylvania concocted an advanced version of the safety coffin: the escape burial hatch.
Pursell subsequently designed a vaulted apparatus that would allow the revived to ventilate their coffin from the inside via a patented wheel lock that he devised. Each tomb was lined with felt for comfort, warmth, and safety should they begin to panic, and any fallen family members would be laid to rest with tools and bread.
Pursell’s burial hatch is a peculiar stone structure bearing five metal wheels—one for each tomb beneath the grave marker—should worst come to fruition. Pursell was buried in his own creation at the age of 83 in 1937 with no sign of attempted escape. He and his family are buried at Wildwood Cemetery in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
From the road head east into the cemetery and turn right follow that road roughly 0.2 mile and the site should be visible to you on the right hand side across the gully.
Know Before You Go
Wildwood Cemetery is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
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