ANDERSON — West Maplewood Cemetery is a beautiful repository of loved ones and a stone library of architectural memorial styles.

From the simple rectangular slabs of the early 1800s, through the ornately decorated carvings of the Victorians, to the stone blocks of the early 20th century, West Maplewood provides a walk through the fashions and culture of the past.

Overlooking White River, West Maplewood was started in the early 1860s and was initially called “City Cemetery.” The new burial ground for Anderson not only accepted the remains of residents but also was used for the re-interment of the Tharp Cemetery, originally located along Delaware Street.

The oldest stones

Some of the oldest stones from earlier cemeteries are on the west side of the drive. James Tharp’s stone from 1846 is an excellent example of the Federal Period’s severe styling. This is a large tablet-type marker, almost 3 feet high and 5 inches thick, of brown granite. Granite, while hard to cut, retains the incising better than the softer white stone used in the last half of the 19th century.

Even the weeping willows and urns at the top are still beautifully visible after 160 years. The urns represented mortality or the body’s decay.

A lamb, another popular symbol, on an adult’s stone stood for resurrection and on a child’s, innocence. James is buried next to his parents, Collins and Esther Tharp.

Like James, they have tall tablets. Both the James Tharp and the Collins Tharp families are listed on the 1820 census for the area. They would have been among the very first residents of Anderson and also among those re-interred in the new City Cemetery.

A softer side

Starting in the late 1840s, a soft white marble became more popular than the granite used previously.

The marble was easier to cut and therefore could take more intricate designs. While the Federal style was straight and severe, the Victorians of mid- and late 19th century enjoyed curved lines and an abundance of decoration.

Mollie Brown’s gravestone is an excellent example of high Victorian style. The outline and forms are flowing and include acanthus leaves, ribbon, and rose. The rose represents triumphant love. As well as being decorative, the ribbon and leaves stood for pride and victory. Personal data was sometimes etched on the incisor’s scroll of paper, a shield, or a medallion, and, for the Victorians, the more decorations the better.

It was customary to use a much smaller stone, often with a lamb or angel, for the graves of young ones. The ornate stone for 1-year-old Lillian Doxey is complete with stacked rocks, paper scroll and lilies. The lilies stand for purity or chastity, and this variety was used so often at funerals and on markers that it is now sometimes referred to as a “death lily.”

The obelisk rises

Another popular shape of marker was the obelisk — whether short and small for a child or enormous for a wealthy citizen. The simple styling belies the Victorian’s fondness for symbolism.