Barre, Vermont - Granite Sculptures of Hope Cemetery

Barre, Vermont - Granite Sculptures of Hope Cemetery

Barre is "Granite Capital of the World," and its granite-carvers turned Hope Cemetery into their canvas. Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Barre, Vermont - Hope Cemetery - Monumental Granite

Barre has the world's largest granite quarry and therefore a large number of granite workers who eventually die. It seems that they are none too keen to pass unnoticed and the headstones in this amazing cemetery are a testament to that! There are many three dimensional statues, including a man and woman sitting holding hands and looking lovingly into each others eyes whilst in bed. The two graves form their bodies from the waist down and what would usually be the headstone is the torsos.

There is a soccer ball approx two feet in diameter with the admonition "Never Give Up Hope." I guess his team was not on a winning streak~!

There is also a three dimensional cube resting on one corner and the six sides each having a picture carved upon its face; a three dimensional motor car, airplane and so on and on and on!

It takes about an hour to drive through and really explore the extraordinary monuments. Barre is a few minutes drive from Montpelier, an hour south of Lake Champlain. [Jacqueline Payne, 05/28/1998]

[RA: Photo is by Christopher Scott Martin of the "Marriage Bed" grave monument in Hope Cemetery. Barre's nearby Rock of Ages Quarry runs free tours June through October. 2002: A granite museum is planned to open in town soon.]