On the far right corner from the entrance to Mount Hope Cemetery is a line of pine trees that forms a border around a different small cemetery named for Toussaint L’Ouverture, the leader of the revolt of the enslaved in Haiti in the 1790s that resulted in Haitian independence in 1804.
There was a time when the black community of Franklin was not allowed to be buried in Mount Hope and were instead laid to rest in Toussaint- on the other side of the pines from the white deceased. Interred in Toussaint are some notable members of Franklin’s history: A.N.C. Williams - a former enslaved man who became a respected business owner and minister, Mariah Otey Reddick - a former enslaved woman at Carnton who became a midwife, as well as many leaders of local black churches, and others who served the community of Franklin.
Now, Mount Hope is no longer segregated, but the pines stand sentry over those who gave their lives to a community that would not lie next to them, even in death. Many in Franklin’s historic black communities still choose to be buried with their families there, while others have plots in Mount Hope or other places. While it is a choice now, the pines make us mindful of the time when it wasn’t. Sentry is inspired by the pines who hold the story of a close and strong community in their very roots.
This posting is for unframed prints only. Prints have a 1 inch bleed to ensure none of the image is covered by frame if not using matting. If you prefer no white edge (image to the edge of the paper), please specify that request.
On the far right corner from the entrance to Mount Hope Cemetery is a line of pine trees that forms a border around a different small cemetery named for Toussaint L’Ouverture, the leader of the revolt of the enslaved in Haiti in the 1790s that resulted in Haitian independence in 1804.
There was a time when the black community of Franklin was not allowed to be buried in Mount Hope and were instead laid to rest in Toussaint- on the other side of the pines from the white deceased. Interred in Toussaint are some notable members of Franklin’s history: A.N.C. Williams - a former enslaved man who became a respected business owner and minister, Mariah Otey Reddick - a former enslaved woman at Carnton who became a midwife, as well as many leaders of local black churches, and others who served the community of Franklin.
Now, Mount Hope is no longer segregated, but the pines stand sentry over those who gave their lives to a community that would not lie next to them, even in death. Many in Franklin’s historic black communities still choose to be buried with their families there, while others have plots in Mount Hope or other places. While it is a choice now, the pines make us mindful of the time when it wasn’t. Sentry is inspired by the pines who hold the story of a close and strong community in their very roots.
This posting is for unframed prints only. Prints have a 1 inch bleed to ensure none of the image is covered by frame if not using matting. If you prefer no white edge (image to the edge of the paper), please specify that request.
