Speck Cemetery - Historic Tent Grave Restoration

Us and Our Cause

We are excited to start a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to restore the tent graves in a historic cemetery, Speck Cemetery, in Crawford, Tennessee. Speck Cemetery was first established in 1856. The descendants of those laid to rest there love gathering to find joy in each other’s company and remember our past loved ones.

 

 

Tent Graves

One special aspect of this cemetery is the tent graves that reside there. These graves are a cultural and historical part of the south, especially in Tennessee.

 

Popular during the 1800s in the south, tent graves are made up of two slabs of rock laid against each to create a tent over a loved one’s grave. The original reason behind this unique type of grave is unknown but thought to be done to protect graves from adverse weather and curious animals.

 

Sadly this unique practice is fading from history as well as our cemetery, and many of the engravings have almost entirely faded over time, especially since many of them date back to the 1800s.

 

The following two photos show a before and after shot of a tent grave that has been restored, showing how effective it can be in revealing the name and important dates of those who were laid to rest here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You Make a Difference

Your donated money will go towards restoring these tent grave headstones to preserve the memories of loved ones and this unique slice of southern history.

 

No donation is too small. Our goal of $4,000 will help us restore at least 20 tent graves, and hopefully we can raise more in the future to restore them all in time. We appreciate your help in supporting this cause, to restore these historic and unique gravesites.

 

Please feel free to share this fundraiser on your Facebook page and elsewhere to help spread the word on this important cause.

 

 

The YouTube video linked below is recent aerial drone footage of the cemetery, with some close-up video of the tent graves throughout the cemetery.