Old Tombstone, also known as the Denton Monument, is a

folk art Folk art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative art, decorative. The makers of folk art a ...

tombstone listed on both the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

and the

Virginia Landmarks Register The Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) is a list of historic properties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The state's official list of important historic sites, it was created in 1966. The Register serves the same purpose as the National Registe ...

in the town of Hollins,

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Located in the Tombstone Cemetery, just east of Plantation Road (

Virginia State Route 115 State Route 115 (SR 115) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as Plantation Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 221 (US 221), US 460, and US 220 Alternate in Roanoke north to Intersta ...

), Old Tombstone is noted for its folk art elements as being unique to Southwest Virginia.

Description

Old Tombstone is a monolithic freestone carving marking the grave of Robert Denton, who died in 1805, and is long, wide and, at its thickest point. an
''Accompanying photo''
/ref> The stone features a carving on its top exposing the head and torso of a child, with markings in

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

. The inscription reads: ''Once loved, once valued, now avails me not; Though my relations have not me forgot . . .''

History

The monument was designed by Laurence Krone, a prolific Virginia-German carver. Its design featuring a carving of a child, although commonplace in

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...

during the period, is unique to

Southwest Virginia Southwest Virginia, often abbreviated as SWVA, is a mountainous region of Virginia in the westernmost part of the commonwealth. Located within the broader region of western Virginia, Southwest Virginia has been defined alternatively as all Vir ...

. Krone met the Dentons after the family took him in after falling ill at the turn of the 19th century. Due to the generosity of the family, Krone carved the monument free of charge upon the death of Robert Denton. By 1967, the ornate lid that once covered the sandstone face and bust of the child was stolen. As a result of the theft, the Hollins

Lions Club The International Association of Lions Clubs, more commonly known as Lions Clubs International, is an international non-political service organization established originally in 1916 in Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , ...

constructed a roof and chain-link cage around the monument to protect it from vandals. Due to its architectural significance the monument was named to the

in 1977 and to the

in 1980. The

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite or graveyard is a place where the remains of dead people are buried or otherwise interred. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek , "sleeping place") implies that the land is specifically designated as a buri ...

where it is located, Tombstone Cemetery, takes its name directly from that of Old Tombstone.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Monuments and memorials on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Roanoke County, Virginia Burial monuments and structures Headstones Tourist attractions in Roanoke County, Virginia Buildings and structures completed in 1805