Drive-Bys --- Our Second Field Lab

As our class loaded the van, I asked, "What are we doing today?" In response, Smith said, "Driving by various cemeteries in the surrounding community." Before heading down the mountain to walk around the cemeteries in the cove areas, we first drove by a couple of cemeteries in the immediate Sewanee area. We were instructed to note the upkeep of the cemetery, the composition of gates (if they even existed), the stones used as markers, and the plants that grew in and around the cemetery. Our first "drive-by" was Eastern Star cemetery, located within the Sewanee domain.

Eastern Star cemetery is surrounded by a chain-linked fence. Starkly different in taste when looked at The University Cemetery not a mile down the road. Its stone archway is the only "Sewanee" thing about it. The cemetery appears to be much newer than The University Cemetery. For one, granite predominates the stones chosen for headstones. Granite is not native to this area, and therefore had to be shipped up here. There are older looking stones within the cemetery, but its chainlinked fence and granite head stones seem to indicate that it is a community cemetery established more recently than The University's.

Eastern Star has far less crosses as head stones, far more modern looking headstones, and little edging. There are suffering boxwoods and some adam's needle, as well as a few dogwood that seems to line the south side. Upkeep of cemeteries can be daunting, but Eastern Star has a clean look to it. It obviously has a group looking after its upkeep.

As we drove on to our next cemetery, we made a quick loop through the St. Mary's Cemetery (not to be confused with the Order of St. Mary's Cemetery to which we were going). This cemetery had no gates and no fence. Dogwood trees were growing in the cemetery. What seems to be the most interesting aspect of this cemetery (other than the oddity in having no fence) was a headstone for a man named Garner who, according to the stone, was the best damned moonshiner. Classy.

Driving on we passed stone pillars similar to the large "Sewanee Gates" that mark the University's domain. Smith informed our van that stone pillars, similar to the gates around a cemetery, are used to mark special land. These particular pillars marked the land of The Order of St. Mary. The land used by the sisters of St. Mary's was the old land of Mr. Hayes, a New York jeweler, who was friends with Bishop Quintard, one of the University's best schmoozer. Hayes had established a nursery on the land which accounts for random trees growing out in the wild.

We stopped to walk around The Order of St. Mary's Cemetery to examine several new features of rural cemeteries. To enter the cemetery, one must pass through a litch gate. Archways are fake litch gates in a way. They retain a basic shape of the litch gate, but fail in the size and use. The covering of a litch gate was used to receive the corpse. It acted as a shelter or gate house which could protect from elements like rain. The litch gate of St. Mary's was constructed in the timber frame fashion. This particular litch gate is constructed with a King Post, indicated by a post in the center (a Queen would lack the central post).

Another new cemetery feature discovered by this field excersie was the presence of a crucifix. A crucifix differs from a cross in that it shows the human form of Christ nailed to the cross. This particular crucific shows the passion of Christ, or the suffering he endured while nailed to the cross with a crown of thorns. Other forms of crucifixes can be found showing Christ in regalia, but always with an image of what Christ would look like. During the reformation in Europe and England, many religious theologians stressed the importance to rid services of images, for the Ten Commandments forbids making idols. The presence of the crucifix therefore usually indicates a Roman Catholic establishment. St. Mary's is Anglican, though. Many "high church" or "Anglo-Catholic" establishments retained or reintroduced the crucifix into their customs as a reaction against the extent the Reformation had gone. Above the crucifix hangs the banner "INRI" which is the banner Pilate had nailed above Jesus's head indicating his crime for which the Jews committed him. Translated from Latin it reads "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." The banner "INRI" is employed more commonly in Protestant churches than the crucifix especially on altars.

Growing within St. Mary's are several cemetery indicator plants. Day lillies and irises, which are found in services for Easter and for funerals, spread throughout the cemetery. A large basswood tree, indicitive of southern and rural areas, stands high above these flowers. Having noted these popular rural plants, we headed down to Crow Creek Valley.

Our stop down the mountain brought us to a starkly different setting. The Garner cemetery is old cemetery found now in the middle of grazing land. This cemetery is enclosed by a barbwire fence. One will notice upon entering the cemetery the presence of Sweet Gum trees. These are not cemetery indicators, but rather indicators of limestone soils and cove areas. These trees have scarlet leaves during the fall. The grounds have not been regularly kept up. It is not mowed and several stones have been moved or knocked over. Cemeteries require work and money that can strain a community. If a particular community suffered in bad crops, or if its inhabitants move away, cemeteries loose their support and can eventually be over run and lost. Garner cemetery is not a lost cemetery, but its upkeep indicates the passion and dedication it once had for its upkeep is dying out.

Within the cemetery, several types of markers can be found. Field stones indicate older burials and to an extent can lead us to believe a poorer person. Field stones were common in early 19th century, but with money, persons could acquire crafted makers. Elsewhere in the cemetery, store bought markers can be found. These headstones come in several shapes, many of which echo ancient shapes that became in fashion during the late 19th century. Sandstone, limestone, granite, marble, concrete, and brick markers tell us of the diversity of taste of the community and the extent of time these people were buried. A couple of box graves, which are above ground markers, can be found. These were used in part to keep animals for digging up remains of the dead person. Some iron fencing is found in the cemetery telling us that the cemetery was used for burial after the Civil War as well as before. Near this iron working, a litch gate has been constructed over a plot. It's knotch shoulder joints and timber frame construction seems to be of Native American influence. The family may have been Cheerokee descendants. Same size trees in a line in this cemetery may indicate that the land was once used as a farm for which this line was a fence line.

We left the Garner cemetery and headed to Epiphany Episcopal Church. This mission was established by Father Jones. The church has a wonderful outdoor sanctuary. Much attention was given to the look of the place. It is very much a "spike" or "high church" influenced mission. Plants with the common name of Mary, or rose, or lady are purposefully planted in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. A large stone statue is placed within the garden in her honor. A large celtic cross is formed in the walkway. Around the mission, homes have sprung up that contrast with the richness Epiphany radiates. It's serpentine walls, for instance, shows the missions flare for praise through art and design, which the small community around it reflects construction of necessity.

We left the gardens and headed for our final stop of our quick tour of cemeteries at the Sherwood Cemetery. Sherwood Cemetery has begun to see the return of vinca grass, the traditional 19th century cemetery grass. Vinca is great for cemeteries because it doesn't require the maintanace of grass. The cemetery houses many of the workers from the Gager Lime company and their families. Cemeteries spring up where concentrations of people live, work, and pray. The cemetery has a crumbling wall made of stone and pillars. An interesting headstone is found here. The marker is shaped like a log and indicates the person was a member of "Woodmen of the World." Plots are edged off with stone in a fashion like lots in a town.

Working our way back up the Mountain, we each had the opportuninty to consider the various types of cemeteries that popped up roughly around the same times. Some have been let go by their community, while others benefit and continue to flourish. We continued our education in learning what markers indicate rural influence and society. The varying richness reminds us that the rural is not the mythological working farmer. Much more was active in the rural lands in the 19th century.