The images in this gallery are from a slide presentation compiled by the former Director of the Cedarville College Library, G. Paul Wyland, in 1960. The descriptions of each image are from the narrative that accompanied the slideshow.
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Headstone Design
Another design is this holding hands within a heart. This denotes fellowship, and more specifically, fellowship with God in heaven. Notice just above the heart a branch of ivy with three leaves upon it. This symbolizes the trinity, three Persons in one, corresponding to the three leaves from one stem. Symbolically, the ivy has always been closely identified with death and immortality. Because it is forever green, it is a symbol of fidelity and eternal life.
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Turnbull Road Cemetery
In Turnbull Road cemetery we find this interesting stone. We might suggest the following symbolism. The figure of a tombstone on the left suggests the death of Cunningham. The weeping willow in the middle suggests those that are left behind are mourning him, and the blossom on the right might suggest the blooming of eternal life.
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Cherry Grove Road/Caesars Creek Cemetery
This slide is of Cherry Grove Road and Caesars Creek Cemetery with its old wrought iron gate.
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Cherry Grove Road and Caesar's Creek Cemetery Scroll Design
Notice here the scroll design, a symbol of the Divine Law, and above it the three roses again symbolizing the Trinity and Love, Wisdom, and Beauty. The fence you see is around the family plot, denoting a family of some wealth or some importance in the community. Also in the lower right-hand corner, nearly buried by snow, is a footstone. This practice of laying a footstone has generally been done away with.
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Old Head Stones Denoting Several Buried Under One Stone
Notice here the six infants buried in one grave. A great number of the old stones show very early deaths. This is probably due not only to lack of doctors, but lack of up-to-date medical procedures and wonder drugs.
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Spring Valley-Paintersville Road Cemetery
A stone found in this cemetery is the marker for two children, one about four years old, the other one year old. A little time on earth they spent, Till God for them His angel sent, And then on time they closed their eyes, To awake to glory in the skies. Notice the dove design which symbolizes purity and peace. Many children's graves also have sculptured lambs upon them. The lamb, as a symbol of Christ, is one of the favorite, and most frequently used, symbols in all periods of Christian art, especially for little children. It symbolizes both Christ as the Lamb of God, and more particularly in this instance, Christ, the Good Shepherd.
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Associate Church Cemetery on Jones Road
A stone dating from 1859 is found in this cemetery. The anchor, which is embedded in a rock, is gripped by a hand. This shows Jane Ferguson's faith in Christ as the rock of her salvation. Psalm 62 says, "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved." In Hebrews we read, "which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." Note again the rose design.
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Wright House/Xenia Hotel Civil War Recruiting Banner
This banner, which hangs in the lobby, was used in recruiting Union soldiers in the Civil War. One way to recruit was to find a drummer boy who would stand on the street corner and drum. After a crowd had gathered, the recruiter would begain his spiel. Such a drummer was Gilbert Van Zandt, born in Port William and later a Xenian. Little Gib, as he was called, was so good that he enlisted and was accepted. Thus he became, at 10, the youngest Union soldier.
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Civil War Drum
This drum is something like the one used by Little Gib. It was captured by W.F. Snediker of the 94th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, when General Sherman's army took Raleigh, North Carolina, April 13, 1865.
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Civil War Sword
Drums were not the only instrument used in the Civil War. This Civil War sword was an instrument of death and destruction. It was carried by a corporal from Fairfield in the 8th Ohio Volunteer Calvary.
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Slave Blocks
The use of slave blocks like this was one of the major causes of the Civil War. Here human beings were sold like cattle. This slave block was in the center of Bardstown, Kentucky.
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Underground Railroad Stations
The method of transporting Negroes north was known as the Underground Railroad and the homes of abolitionists, such as this home on Chillicothe Street in Cedarville, served as stations along that road.
