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The Harper Mausoleum 9

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Along Route 72 in southwestern Ohio, preceding south from the town of Yellow Springs, one encounters extraordinary and unexpected bits of history. As my friend Andrew (seated here) and I took the road less traveled on our way to the Great Serpent Mound, I opted for this backroad instead of a more direct one. It could not have been a better choice.

We literally slammed the brakes as we saw a jaw dropping example of Egyptian revival and right next to it this tribute to the Union troops from the region (posted starting here [link] ), both likely done by the same artist and foundry.

I was curious about the occupants of that fabulous mausoleum, which is in the National Register of Historic Places for Greene County, Ohio. The Harper family was a family of note. Here is the transcript of the original records from the Cedarville Township:

George W. Harper, farmer and stock raiser, Cedarville, was born in this county, May 30, 1825. Is a. son of Thomas and Mary (Sirlotte) Harper, who were born at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, the name of which place originated from the same family of Harpers. They came to this county about the year 1812, and are numbered among the earliest settlers of the same. Mr. Harper grew to be one of the wealthiest farmers, and departed this life, January 8, 1878, aged eighty-two years. His wife, Mary S. Harper, died April 6, 1873. George, the subject of this sketch, spent the early part of his life at home, with his parents. At the age of eighteen he commenced business for himself, dealing in cattle in Illinois, and has remained in that business until the present time. He was educated in the common schools, except one year, when he attended Thomas Steele's select school. He was married, in the year 1860, to Vinnie Murray, daughter of George and Virnie (Morris) Murray. We are pleased to record George as one of, if not the largest, land owners now in the county, owning eleven hundred acres at the present time, and has about completed the handsomest dwelling now in Cedarville.

The testament to their wealth can be seen in this magnificent tomb, which is impeccably detailed and fittingly faces the rising sun with images of the deceased depicted as sphinxes. My friend and colleague here on DA :Hatter23: , just from these pictures alone, called this the finest example of Egyptian Revival style memorial architecture he had ever seen. :silentkitty:

Location: North Cemetery, Cedarville, OH
Image size
1280x960px 430.12 KB
Make
FUJIFILM
Model
FinePix E900
Shutter Speed
1/267 second
Aperture
F/5.6
Focal Length
29 mm
ISO Speed
200
Date Taken
Jul 26, 2010, 8:50:04 AM
Sensor Size
2mm
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