“You know me, I think there ought to be a big old tree right there. And let’s give him a friend. Everybody needs a friend.”
― Bob Ross
Tree Stones
Oak Ridge has several beautiful monuments carved from stone into the shape of tree trunks. Much symbolism is associated with this design, which was popular (but expensive!) during the latter part of the 19th and early part of the 20th Centuries. Cut branch stubs signify deceased family members; broken branches can signify a violent or premature death; names and dates can appear on peeled bark and on the wood exposed by peeling the bark; leaves sprouting from the trunk, as well as other live plants and animals on and at the base of the stump, signify rebirth and everlasting life; fungi at the base or on the trunk signify the decay of the earthly body. Some tree stones are incorporated into even more elaborate designs, such as being perched upon basal pedestals. Most tree stones are family-plot markers, with smaller stones or carved logs around them for headstones of individuals. They are among the most impressive and striking of all cemetery monuments, and we feature three of them here as part of our tree tour:
Wright Tree Marker 39.825089 N, 89.656172 W
Grant Tree Marker 39.826342 N, 89.655678 W
Brant Tree Marker 39.826128 N, 89.655678 W
oakridgecemeterytrees.com 