If you've ever lived in Iowa City, you've probably heard of this statue. For those who don't know, Iowa City has a legendary cemetery that just might curse you.

Oakland Cemetery was established in 1843, so there are a lot of old graves there that fallen into history, but none so famously as the Black Angel. She was commissioned by Teresa Feldevert in 1913. The statue was erected that same year and held the ashes of Teresa's second husband, Nicholas Feldevert, and later Teresa's own ashes when she died in 1924. Sources vary as to whether Teresa's son, Edward Dolezal, is also within the statue or if he's beside the statue, considering he died in 1891 before the statue was made. The angel is made of bronze, which is where the legends begin.

Local lore declares the angel cursed, though no one has a clear idea why. Science explains the statue's black coloring simply as oxidation of the metal, but other stories claim it turned black because maybe Teresa was evil, or because she may have been unfaithful to her husband after his death. Who knows. People also find it odd that the statue was built with drooping wings and a down ward gaze when most angel figures are made with widespread wings and faces turned toward the sky. Overall, she's just a gloomy statue, made even eerier by that fact that the statue has Teresa's birth date but not her death date.

The best part though is why people still visit. Legend says that if you touch or kiss the angel, you'll be struck dead, unless you happen to be a virgin. It also says that any pregnant woman who visits to angel will soon miscarry. Halloween is the most popular time of the year for visits, especially from University of Iowa students who like to try their luck. So now the question is, do you think you can visit the Black Angel?

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