Jasper Smith's Vault Oakland Cemetery

Aside from some of the famous people buried in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta GA, this cemetery definitely has a WOW factor! Maybe a strange thing to... more

by Joan Carroll

Title

Jasper Smith's Vault Oakland Cemetery

Artist

Joan Carroll

Medium

Photograph - Digital Art/photography

Description

Aside from some of the famous people buried in Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta GA, this cemetery definitely has a WOW factor! Maybe a strange thing to say about a cemetery but...there are so many amazing sculptures sitting atop graves, vaults and mausoleums! You can even go for tours of the cemetery! The website oaklandcemetery.com says "Less than a mile from the heart of downtown Atlanta, a hidden treasure, a secret sanctuary, welcomes you. This garden cemetery, founded in 1850, is the final resting place of many of Atlanta's settlers, builders, and most noted citizens like Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell, and Maynard Jackson. It is also a showplace of sculpture and architecture, and a botanical preserve with ancient oaks and magnolias. Here in this peaceful place the full scope of the city's rich and fascinating history unfolds before you." This is the vault of Jasper Smith. Says the website www.gardens-of-stone.com "One of the most unique mausoleums to be found in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery is that of successful Atlanta businessman, Jasper Newton Smith. Occupying a prominent site close to the cemetery's main entrance, the structure's focal point is the life-sized statue of Smith perched in a chair atop the building. The sculpture, commissioned by Smith for the purpose of constructing his mausoleum, originally depicted him wearing a tie---something Smith never wore because of a boyhood episode in which he almost choked to death. This detail became a point of contention between Smith and sculptor, Oliver W. Edwards, who, for two long years, refused to remove it. In turn, Smith refused to pay him and eventually Edwards relented and chipped away the offending cravat. Smith is the only one of his family to be entombed in the mausoleum, where, from his vantage point it has been said he is able to 'watch the comings and goings'. Local lore has it that Smith gets up out of his chair and walks the cemetery at night." Mr Smith's penetrating gaze certainly seems to look right at you!

FEATURED PHOTO, First Friday Gallery Group 1x day, 3/17/15

FEATURED PHOTO, The Road To Self Promotion group, 3/17/15

FEATURED PHOTO, Out of the Ordinary group, 3/17/15

Uploaded

March 17th, 2015