SACRED STONES - Mesopotamia Cemetery
"The concept for SACRED STONES began germinating over thirty years ago in the tiny rural town of Mesopotamia, Ohio. "Mespo," as it is called by locals, is in the heart of Amish country in Trumbull County in northeastern Ohio. This general area is home to the fourth largest Amish community in America. The center of town is a community oriented public green space or park. A tall Civil War Monument topped by a stone eagle was erected there in 1867 honoring area veterans. Over 2,000 people attended the dedication.
About half way north on the eastern side of the commons is Fairview Cemetery, which had its first burial in 1818. Like most cemeteries, the majority of the marker stones tend towards the routine. Many of those in Fairview were fashioned from soft white marble and now appear to be melting from years of exposure. Names, dates and other embellishments are slowly vanishing; history fades with each rain storm. Scanning the cemetery, however, several obviously different stones immediately summon each visitor’s attention. They are not marble but seemingly indestructible hard granite. No detail has been erased by over a century of constant weathering. It is visually evident that a remarkable sculptural approach produced the various granite monuments in Fairview. One is a large highly detailed spiral sea shell. The largest is the Brigden Family marker accentuated by carved foliage and a friendly climbing bear. Another features a life-size seated curly coated faithful canine patiently waiting next to the headstone of a small child. These wonderful memorials originated from the self-taught artistic mind of Howard A. Brigden (1841-1913), a native of Mesopotamia. He also sculpted the stone eagle perched atop the Civil War Memorial. Being a sculptor, art teacher and folk art enthusiast, I was immediately attracted to Brigden’s masterpieces of cemetery art. Their existence provided an excellent reason to take visitors to Mesopotamia."Gene Kangas,Creekside Art Gallery
Latter Day Saints Blessed Virgin Mary Shrines Mesopotamia
Chocolate Covered Bridges Golfing Bicycling Parachuting Canoeing Skiing Swimming Baseball Wood Carver for Disney Europe State Parks Medieval Faire Wineries Antiques County Tourism Resources Culture in Northeast Ohio Pennsylvania Regional Attractions Miscellaneous Welcome to your source for Downtown Cleveland hotelsNearby Attractions
SACRED STONES
By Gene Kangas
INTRODUCTION Excerpted from Book
All Matters Art Gallery, Burton, Ohio
Kirtland Temple
Shrine
and Church of Mariapoch, Welshfield/Burton, Ohio
Ridgeview Farm
End of the Commons
Meadowridge Farm
North Star Equestrain horseback riding
Whitehouse Chocolates, Route 87, Burton, Ohio
Ohio Covered Bridges
Lake County and Ashtabula County Covered Bridges
Geauga County Golf Courses
Ohio Golf Guide
BBBiking Your Guide to Bed, Breakfast and Biking
Camp Hi Hiram
Northeast Ohio Canoeing
Ohio Canoeing
Brandywine
Pioneer Waterland
Swimming & Camping, Warren, Ohio
Indians
Mosquito Lake Park
Punderson
Punderson State Park
Geneva
Mentor Headlands
Vineyards
Ashtabula
Geauga
Burton Chamber of Commerce Log Cabin, selling Geauga Maple products
Lake County
Portage
Cleveland
Northern Ohio Tourism & Business
Geauga County Fairgrounds (many events)
Geauga County Historical Society and Century Village Museum
Geauga Lyric Theater Guild
Cleveland Play House and Playhouse Square
Lake Erie; Mentor Headlands
Cleveland Orchestra
Blossom Music Festival
Severance Hall
Golf Courses
Fairs and Festivals
Major League and Minor League Sports