Odd Fellows Cemetery
Odd Fellows Cemetery, a historic African American cemetery established in 1880, underwent the initial phase of design implementation this summer. Focusing on ground stabilization (protection from water erosion) and accessibility, the project team, with the help of nearly 100 students and community volunteers, moved over 200 tons of compactable soil to sculpt an earthen walkway within the cemetery.
Led by Professor Katherine Ambroziak, the Odd Fellows and Potters Field Rehabilitation initiative seeks to reactivate the abandoned burial grounds by introducing interactive memorial interventions that hold relevance for present and future generations, while addressing issues such as site demarcation, stabilization, accessibility and support for contemporary engagement.
The work on the pathways within the cemetery began last summer, when the design and research team determined the best routes to highlight unique experiential moments and monuments, take advantage of shade and existing slopes and respect the current pathway that the community already uses. A single pink surveying ribbon marked the centerline of the proposed pathway weaved through the cemetery, a humble gesture of reactivation.
This summer, the pathway construction focused on the western half of the cemetery to maintain a feasible scope. Before the soil could be placed, the single ribbon had to be offset to define the actual space of the path. Witnessing the single line transform into an actual space felt like being within a virtual version of CAD. To provide accessibility for all members of the community, string lines were established along the perimeter of the paths to ensure a maximum slope change of 1:20, requiring portions of the existing topography to be built up nearly thirty inches. The temporary surface treatment will consist of decomposed granite and mulch, with plantings bordering portions of the pathway to activate a visitor’s senses of touch and smell as they meander through the cemetery.
Several groups were vital for this summer’s progress, including the City of Knoxville who donated the soil, rock and other necessary tools and equipment, the Knoxville Re-Animation Coalition, who offered continued guidance, and the University of Tennessee Service and Leadership Program who engaged over 100 UT freshman during their Ignite Service Week.
An upcoming illumination event is tentatively scheduled for First Friday on November 1 to celebrate All Saints’ Day. More details will be released as the time draws near.
Anyone interested in volunteering or staying updated with the progress may be added to the Odd Fellows email list. Student organizations or community members interested in scheduling a service day within the cemetery should contact Katherine Ambroziak (aambrozi@utk.edu) or Brad Collett (bcollett@utk.edu).
submitted by Michael Housley