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HERLONG CEMETERY’S HOLLOW TOMBSTONE

In Herlong Cemetery in Claiborne County, Mississippi, there is a very unusual tombstone, or more precisely, monument, because although it gives the appearance of being made of stone, this memorial is actually made of metal. More than 100 years old, the marker is still in excellent condition.

It marks the resting place of George Washington Johnston (Mar. 23, 1819 – Feb. 9, 1901) and his wife Colen/Colon (June 9, 1837 – Dec. 25, 1903). G. W., as he was known, was a Confederate veteran of the siege of Vicksburg, and he had children by three wives, the last of which was Colon. Lying beside them , with a traditional stone marker, is their blind teenage daughter Susan who died in 1882.

The Johnston marker is unique to this cemetery and is fairly rare. Although such monuments are found in every state in the Union, there are relatively few of them since they were only made in this country for about forty years, beginning in 1873. For some reason, the metal tombstones never became popular though they were easily accessible and affordable, even being sold in the Sears & Roebuck catalog. Some cemeteries banned their use, however, thinking them inferior. But unless their foundations were improperly laid, most of these markers are in better shape today than their stone counterparts.

The monuments, called "White Bronze," for commercial appeal, are actually made of molded, pure zinc panels, bolted together. Over the years, these “tombstones” weather in the elements, gradually forming a tough shell of zinc carbonate. This aged patina is what gives the markers their lovely blue-gray color.

The consumer of that day could choose from many different symbols, sculptures, panels, and shapes. Popular motifs were angels, sheaves of wheat, wreaths, etc. Prices ranged from a few dollars for a simple panel to thousands of dollars for a large, elaborate monument; but overall, they were very reasonably priced.

The Johnston monument in Herlong Cemetery must have been of great interest to the rural community at the turn of the century, few having seen such a remarkable thing. The local children soon found out that, because it was hollow, it would give out a mighty bong when struck with a rock or stick.

When my grandmother Eunice Geneva Furr Jones (1894 - 1987),a native of Claiborne County, was a small girl of about nine or ten years old, she and her family lived on her grandfather Isaac Furr’s place, less than a mile from the Herlong Cemetery. Christmas was coming, and her father, William Preston Furr, said that he had money for only one saddle for his three older children to have to ride their horses. He said that he had determined that he would give it to the one brave enough to walk to Herlong Cemetery in the dark and rap loud enough on the hollow metal tombstone to be heard back at the house. Eunice had two brothers older than she - Herman, about fourteen and Sidney, about twelve. The boys were not up to the task, but young Eunice was, and won the much-desired saddle by making the spooky trip and accomplishing the eerie task. The resounding, vibrating voice of the tomb was heard by the entire family, and she won her saddle, much to the chagrin and embarrassment of her brothers. This action, though insignificant, was prophetic of her ninety-three years of life, full of courage, determination, and true grit.

Submitted by Sue Burns Moore - sbmoore@swbell.net
Sources of information about the White Bronze monuments:

? Rochester's History: Cemetery Monuments: White Bronze - Zinc

? Metal Monuments of Greenwood Cemetery