"Tent Graves"

[Eleanor Rose]

Tennessee Gravewalkers
​

Known as "tent graves" to the locals, these strange gravestones are scattered all across the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Some refer to them as "comb graves." The majority of graves that follow this set-up were utilized in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The story behind the idea is that the tent gravestones were popular due to problems with the settling of old graves. The traditional wooden coffins would fall apart and once they did, the ground above would start to sink. Keeping a tent-like gravestone above the burial plot protected the sunken ground and kept animals away from the area.

These "comb graves" are numerous in the Cash Family Cemetery (yep, the man in black is there) in Coffee County, Tennessee.

Tennessee Gravewalkers​

 

[Pat Young]

Tennessee Gravewalkers
​

Known as "tent graves" to the locals, these strange gravestones are scattered all across the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Some refer to them as "comb graves." The majority of graves that follow this set-up were utilized in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The story behind the idea is that the tent gravestones were popular due to problems with the settling of old graves. The traditional wooden coffins would fall apart and once they did, the ground above would start to sink. Keeping a tent-like gravestone above the burial plot protected the sunken ground and kept animals away from the area.

These "comb graves" are numerous in the Cash Family Cemetery (yep, the man in black is there) in Coffee County, Tennessee.

Tennessee Gravewalkers​

Never saw these before.

 

[DixieRifles]

Never saw one. If I had come up on 1 of these in an okd cemetery, I would conclude it was a box type cover that collapsed or sunk in the mud.
That photo of rows of such graves is quite impressive.
Where else can I go to see some examples??

 

[bdtex]

Tennessee Gravewalkers
​

Known as "tent graves" to the locals, these strange gravestones are scattered all across the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Some refer to them as "comb graves." The majority of graves that follow this set-up were utilized in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The story behind the idea is that the tent gravestones were popular due to problems with the settling of old graves. The traditional wooden coffins would fall apart and once they did, the ground above would start to sink. Keeping a tent-like gravestone above the burial plot protected the sunken ground and kept animals away from the area.

These "comb graves" are numerous in the Cash Family Cemetery (yep, the man in black is there) in Coffee County, Tennessee.

Tennessee Gravewalkers​

Not a bad idea. Went to a number of old cemeteries in East Texas,Louisiana and Mississippi last year where the burial area had settled and sunk and the gravestones had collapsed into the hole or otherwise had fallen and sometimes broken.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Never saw one. If I had come up on 1 of these in an okd cemetery, I would conclude it was a box type cover that collapsed or sunk in the mud.
That photo of rows of such graves is quite impressive.
Where else can I go to see some examples??

Based on my reading, Tennessee is the only state where "tent graves" can be found. Below are two more photos from Tennessee Gravewalkers.

It isn't clearly stated, but I think all of these photos are from the Cash Family Cemetery.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

A little more information...

http://rayhutchison.blogspot.com/

http://www.thegravewalkers.com/tentgraves.htm

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Source: Mathew B. Brady/Library of Congress)

Take a look at the photo above taken in City Point, Va., during the Civil War. It shows fresh graves in the foreground that appear to have no markers. Apparently leaving the displaced dirt in a triangle atop a grave was common practice in the south at the time.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

The photo (above) is from tngenweb.org/darkside and shows a tin-roof "tent grave." This grave is in an abandoned cemetery with the "last known burial being a civil war veteran" and is known under the surname of Whistman, in Kentucky.

 

[JOHN42768]

Unique to say the least. Darn good idea actually

 

[1867crete]

Yes interesting. Most of modern cemetery's require a cement vault that the casket is placed in, which does the same thing keeping the surface flat and headstones even. If you go to a old cemetery or old parts and look down the headstones you can see a wave effect as the ground settles.
Thanks for posting!

 

[Mr. King]

People do funny things to protect the dead.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Very interesting and as I got into the links - wild! Regarding the graves at City Point, I guess I just thought it was dirt piled over a body in a very, very shallow grave because they were going to be disinterred quite soon. Am I wrong on that? What did happen to those bodies there?

 

[John Winn]

Thanks - never seen one of those.

 

[donna]

Very interesting. I don't think I have ever seen one.

 

[Patrick H]

Very interesting. I've never seen them before. The box-like vaults shown in one photo probably serve the same purpose. There are several of those in the old city cemetery here in my town. Many are in terribly bad repair, but it didn't occur to me that they might simply be protecting a conventional burial underneath. I feel somewhat relieved now.

 

[Kristen Hope]

Tennessee Gravewalkers
​

Known as "tent graves" to the locals, these strange gravestones are scattered all across the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Some refer to them as "comb graves." The majority of graves that follow this set-up were utilized in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The story behind the idea is that the tent gravestones were popular due to problems with the settling of old graves. The traditional wooden coffins would fall apart and once they did, the ground above would start to sink. Keeping a tent-like gravestone above the burial plot protected the sunken ground and kept animals away from the area.

These "comb graves" are numerous in the Cash Family Cemetery (yep, the man in black is there) in Coffee County, Tennessee.

Tennessee Gravewalkers​

Wow! This is fascinating! I've never heard of this before. Thanks for sharing!

 

[jackt62]

Same here. Never heard of these type of graves.

 

[WJC]

Tennessee Gravewalkers
​

Known as "tent graves" to the locals, these strange gravestones are scattered all across the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Some refer to them as "comb graves." The majority of graves that follow this set-up were utilized in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The story behind the idea is that the tent gravestones were popular due to problems with the settling of old graves. The traditional wooden coffins would fall apart and once they did, the ground above would start to sink. Keeping a tent-like gravestone above the burial plot protected the sunken ground and kept animals away from the area.

These "comb graves" are numerous in the Cash Family Cemetery (yep, the man in black is there) in Coffee County, Tennessee.

Tennessee Gravewalkers​

Thanks for posting this information. I had never before heard of this practice.

 

[mofederal]

I have seen a lot of burial practices, but this is one of the strangest I have ever seen. Thanks for posting this @Eleanor Rose. This is right up there with the Korean sitting up burials.

 

[Seduzal]

Well I guess I'm just like the rest; never seem or heard about this one! Learn something new on this place every day. Thanks for sharing.