A few blogs back, we explored the mystery and sadness of Pleasant Gardens Cemetery. Today, we revisit in a unique kind of way.
This past week I was at the Bicentennial Library on my lunch break. There they have Chattanooga Newspaper Archives going all the way back to the 1800s. I've scanned these archives more than once in search of family history, unique birthday souvenirs and I am still searching for a picture of me and a bunch of other kids on a rock at the Nature Center back in 1986.
I was thinking about Pleasant Gardens on a recent visit to the library and recalled this headstone below.
Died May 29, 1960
Barn Sept 11 1903
It is sad. This headstone is obviously home made; at least I hope nobody shelled out money for it. The word "born" is spelled incorrectly. The maker of the headstone's heart was in the right place though. He or she wanted to make sure those who knew and loved Sam would know where to go and pay their respects. That is admirable.
The previous blog noted how the maker of this headstone could have never known how millions of people worldwide would someday have the potential to see his or her handiwork.
I thought I'd do Sam another good turn and allow the entire world to know a little about the man whose headstone was a part of my blog. I found the May 1960 Chattanooga Times Free Press and looked up Sam's obituary. It is almost as sad as his tombstone.
The previous blog noted how the maker of this headstone could have never known how millions of people worldwide would someday have the potential to see his or her handiwork.
I thought I'd do Sam another good turn and allow the entire world to know a little about the man whose headstone was a part of my blog. I found the May 1960 Chattanooga Times Free Press and looked up Sam's obituary. It is almost as sad as his tombstone.
Sam got two whole lines in his obituary. Another insult: either the headstone maker or the obituary writer spelled Sam's last name incorrectly. It was either Stallion or Stalliam. I'd bet it was Stallion. Compare Sam's entire two lines with the obituaries below.
It saddens and shames me to know of treatment of blacks in times past. Even the obituaries were segregated. If you were white, you got a nice little write up telling of when and where you died and those you left behind. If you were black, everybody got to know your address. Hell, even those miles away got a better write up. 
The cities listed in the Tri-State Deaths where Austin Rue and W. Rich Limbaugh are a good hour or more drive from Chattanooga. It'd have been even further in 1960.
It saddens and shames me to know of treatment of blacks in times past. Even the obituaries were segregated. If you were white, you got a nice little write up telling of when and where you died and those you left behind. If you were black, everybody got to know your address. Hell, even those miles away got a better write up. The cities listed in the Tri-State Deaths where Austin Rue and W. Rich Limbaugh are a good hour or more drive from Chattanooga. It'd have been even further in 1960. Well, Sam Stallion/Stalliam, today your obituary can be read by more people than anybody can ever imagine. May you rest in peace.
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