A Rabbit's Tale: Cemetery Spotlight 8/30/2012

Cemetery Spotlight:

Green Hill Cemetery – Bedford, Indiana

By Joy Neighbors

I know, you’re thinking “Where is Bedford Indiana?”  True, this is not a well-known cemetery, nor is it located in a major city; but it most definitely worth a Cemetery Spotlight visit.

Bedford Indiana, located in Lawrence County, is in the south central part of Indiana, about 75 miles south of Indianapolis.  This small town of less than 14,000 residents was founded in 1825.  Bedford is known as the “Limestone Capital of the World.”

This is the only area of the country where Oolith limestone has been found in such great abundance.  Oolith was sought out because of its beauty and endurance. Once the oolith rock was dug, exposure to the elements hardened and strengthened it, making it more durable and weather resistant - perfect for building cities throughout the new country, and for monuments and memorials.

Limestone quarried in this area has been used in the construction of the Biltmore Mansion, the Empire State Building, Yankee Stadium and the Pentagon.  And Bedford limestone is the reason that Green Hill Cemetery is extraordinary!

The History:

Green Hill Cemetery was founded in 1889.  Comprised of over 20 rolling acres of hills and valleys, near the center of town, the cemetery maintains a quiet, reflective atmosphere with sculpture and carvings that will amaze.

Dr. Winthrop Foote arrived in Lawrence County in 1818 from Connecticut.  Foote realized the potential use for the limestone and purchased acres and acres of land the stone was in. Known as the ‘Father of the Limestone Industry,’ he predicted that limestone would be sent to the East Coast for use in building cities well before there was a railroad in place to haul the stones or the finished carvings to their destinations. 

Foote opened the first quarry in Indiana, named Blue Hole, in 1830. He brought in a master stonecutter, Mr. Toburn, from Louisville, Kentucky in 1832.  Soon stone workers and master carvers from all over the world were arriving in Bedford to work in the Indiana quarries.

Stone carvers came from Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany and Italy, each bringing his unique understanding of stone and his carving abilities.  These men helped to build America through the quarrying and carving of Oolith limestone. From the 1870’s until after WWII, Indiana limestone was used to build over 30 notable architectural landmarks in the U.S., including the National Cathedral.

The work of numerous stone carvers can be seen at Green Hill Cemetery.  Hundreds of carvings, statues, sculptures, and engravings exist in minute detail, thanks to the limestone’s ability to weather well.

Many of the stone carvers from the past are buried at Green Hill, near the Stone Cutters Monument.  This monument was carved and erected by the Bedford Stone Cutters Association in 1894.  At the top stands a late 19^th century stonecutter, holding a mallet. 

 

Clasped hands are shown on the front of the monument, beneath it’s gabled roof.   The other three sides bear the carved images of a hammer and chisel, a sexton and square, and a grouping of stonecutting tools.  This monument, along with those listed below, is included in the Smithsonian American Art Museum Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture.

Outstanding Monuments:

There are numerous monuments and sculptures at Green Hill Cemetery.  What follows are just a few of the amazing hand carved works of art located here.

The Baker Monument –

This is the gravestone everyone wants to see.  It is an exact replica of the wooden workbench, belonging to stone carver Louis Baker, as it looked when he left work for the last time on August 29, 1917.  Baker was killed that night when he was struck by lightening.  As a tribute to him, stone carver Marion Taylor and other cutters recreated his workbench in limestone, as it appeared when he left work that last evening. Baker’s carving tools, his discarded apron, the bent nails, even the stone slabs have been painstakingly reproduced.  It was said that Baker was working on a building cornice at the time of his death.  He was 23.

The Barton Sculpture –

Another intricate gravestone is of local resident, Tom Barton.  Barton, an avid golfer, stands ready to begin yet another game of golf.  The detailing of his 1930’s clothing, including bow tie and cuffed pants, lends the statue the appearance that he is ready to tee off again. Legend has it that Barton died while playing golf in 1937.

The Corbin Monument –

This limestone grave marker shows Christ kneeling in prayer.  The life-sized sculpture was carved by the Corbin brothers, Virgil, Elmer and Jesse, in the 1940’s. 

The Wallner Monument –

This WWI soldier commands your attention as he stands on a hill facing west.  It is a life-like carving of Michael F. Wallner (1893 – 1940.)  Wallner was a private in Company A-16^th Infantry’s First Division during the First World War.  The battles he fought in are listed on the base of the stone, along with the dates.  Wallner was wounded by shellfire in a campaign on July 20^th, 1918.  He was sent home and hospitalized for his wounds.  Unfortunately, Wallner never recovered. He died in the hospital, 22 years after being sent home.

Notables Buried Here:

Green Hill Cemetery is home to two U.S. Congressmen.  Eugene Burgess Crowe served from 1931 – 1941, representing Indiana’s 3^rd and 9^th Districts.  He also served as a delegate to the Democratic State and National Conventions from 1908 – 1960.

U.S. Congressman George Grundy Dunn served in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 1840’s and 50’s.  He represented Indiana’s 3^rd and 6^th Districts.  He was a member of the Whig Party, and later an Opposition Party candidate.

Military aviator, Harley Halbert Pope is also buried here.  Pope died in an aviation crash in 1919 when the Curtis JN-4 Jenny he was flying crashed into the Cape Fear River near Fayetteville, North Carolina.  One of the country’s oldest military instillations, Pope Air Force Base, in North Carolina is named after him.

Limestone Tree Stones:

If you love the tree stone markers, you’ll love to wander Green Hill.  The Bedford Walking Tour brochure lists over 25 tree stones in this cemetery. Tree stones were popular from the 1880’s through the 1930’s. They could be ordered from catalogues or were offered as a benefit to belonging to the Modern Woodmen of America and Woodmen of the World, both fraternal benefit organizations.

 

The intricate carving and details provide us with a look back in time where someone’s interests, or memories, were hand carved into the tombstone.  The tree stones in Green Hill are rich with these details.

The Foote Monument:

And a final word on Winthrop Foote, the ‘Father of the Limestone Industry.’  While Foote’s family stone is located in Green Hill, he and a brother are buried just east of town near what was once the Blue Hole Quarry. (Blue Hole is where stone for the Indiana State House, Chicago’s City Hall, and the Vanderbilt Mansion in New York came from.)  Mr. Toburn, the area’s first stonecutter, cut and designed the Foote vault in 1840.  Foote’s brother Ziba was buried here soon after. 

Foote died in 1856 and was interred here, along with, according to locals, his horse of whom he was very fond.  Legend also has it that Foote had his money buried with him in the tomb.  Treasurer hunters have attempted to displace the limestone, but it appears that Foote was able ‘to take it with him.’

Cemetery Information:

Green Hill Cemetery is located at 1202 18^th Street in Bedford, Indiana.  The cemetery manager is Peggy Tirey. The cemetery phone number is (812) 275 – 5110.  The cemetery does not have a web page.  Two walking tour brochures are available at the cemetery office located at the main gate.

Although off the beaten path, Green Hill is well worth the trip! Plan an afternoon and take a step back in time as you explore this cemetery. While autumn is a gorgeous time to visit, anytime will do once you see the amazing skill and intricate details found on the tombstones here.  The deep pride and respect the stonecutters and carvers had for their craft is apparent, and their work is amazing.

~ Joy Neighbors

Writer/Blogger

A Grave Interest

http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com/