Grave sites and cemeteries provide much more than a resting place for the deceased, though that is the primary purpose. They also capture moments in our history, our family legacies, and our communities. Grave sites also pay tribute to the memories of those who have gone before us, sometimes in very unique ways.
In Linden, TN you can visit The Historic Hufstedler Gravehouse, better known as Pinckney’s Tomb. This is the largest grave house in Tennessee. If you are unfamiliar with the term grave house, it’s pretty much what it sounds like, a house-like structure built to cover graves. The grave house in Linden, featured on the National Register of Historic Places, has a stone wall base with wood walls and a metal roof. Local farmer Pinckney Hufstedler had an aversion to water getting into graves, so he built the structure to protect his and his family’s graves.
The structure is deemed to be a rare example of vernacular rural cemetery architecture of the 19th century. In 2009, the Tennessee Preservation Trust listed it as one of the state's ten most endangered historic sites, noting that the foundation was beginning to fail.
If you are a history buff, especially interested in rare historical architecture, this is a must-see. If you are more of a novice, it’s still worth a trip, especially when you include a stop in the charming town of Linden.
Please be respectful if you visit. There are graves inside and outside the structure. Do not attempt to enter the tomb.
Don’t just Travel Tennessee…EXPERIENCE TENNESSEE!!
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