Historians in West Virginia are puzzled by unusual monuments in a cemetery near the New River Gorge. The graves are covered by wedge-shaped concrete forms, a sight not commonly seen.
David Sibray, publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine, expressed his surprise. “In all my years exploring cemeteries in West Virginia, I’ve never encountered anything like these graves,” he said. Sibray reached out to Joni Morris, a fellow preservation consultant, for her insights.
Morris, who frequently leads cemetery repair workshops, was equally intrigued. “I’ve seen hundreds of cemeteries, but never concrete isosceles triangle grave covers,” she said. Morris speculated on the reasons behind these shapes, suggesting they might be practical or ceremonial.
“Triangles can symbolize a connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. Maybe these covers were meant to connect the living and the dead. Or perhaps they were designed to keep water out of the graves. The presence of a Shriners symbol on the main family stone might also indicate a Masonic connection,” Morris explained.
Sibray acknowledged the potential ceremonial link but noted that Freemasons in the U.S. typically do not use such grave covers. “I’ve spoken to several Freemasons, and this doesn’t align with their traditions. These graves are unique,” he said.
The Garrett family, influential in the area in the 1900s, might hold clues. Patrick Garrett, a former mayor of Mount Hope, was known for his eccentricities. In 1950, he reported an unidentified flying object and built a monument and time capsule to commemorate it. Sibray speculated that Garrett might have been behind the distinctive grave covers.
Morris intends to continue researching these graves. “They are extraordinary and unique. It makes one wonder about the family’s or the deceased’s thoughts when they requested these unusual monuments,” she said.
The Garrett plot can be found in the Oddfellows Cemetery in Oak Hill at Google coordinates 37.981959, -81.143777.