Wildlife Photograph

Ijams stonework carries on rich tradition

Thursday May 31, 2007
Volunteer's build walls with native stone

Stonework dates back to prehistoric time as man has used stone for a variety of construction purposes. Native Americans stood flat stones on end as markers along their trails. 

The woodland Indian tribes in the upper Midwest built stone effigies of great size in the shapes of birds, snakes and other animals. These sites served as ceremonial and burial grounds. In western Tennessee, tribes constructed large mounds with ceremonial structures on top above their villages.  

Stonewalls became prevalent across the countryside as European immigrants settled and began farming the land. The walls were either dry stacked as property boundaries or simply piled along the edges of fields when rocks were removed after plowing. In their cabins and homes, the stone chimneys were held together with clay used as mortar.

Many styles of walls from Europe became popular in American architecture and the prevalence of walls was also reflected in namesakes of American history. Thomas Jackson, a famous Confederate General who led the Northern Virginia regiment during the Civil War became known as Stonewall Jackson as he stood like a stonewall at the battle of Bull Run.

At Ijams Nature Center, there are several styles of dry stacked and mortared walls represented. At the Homesite terrace gardens is a series of dry stacked walls supporting the cottage style garden beds. These walls were originally built by the Ijams’ family using stone from middle Tennessee, and were later restored by Carl Goddard, a volunteer, in 1987. The Ijams’ family also built the mortar walls along the picnic area at the Homesite parking area with round river rock collected from a dry creek bed nearby. 

At Mead’s Quarry the old limekiln foundation dates back to the early 1900s. The foundation was constructed using marble from the site and cut stone to form the archways under the kilns where the finished lime powder was removed. The mortar is very strong as lime was added to the cement mixture.

The overlook walls were built in an old world English style with upright stones along the top of the wall. Glenn Palmer and Robert Shelton built the Tharp and Plaza overlook walls, and Gary McCullough and Boy Scout Troop 36 built the Leconte overlook wall. Jake Livesay has been volunteering his expertise in dry stacking stone to create serpentine walls and garden beds along the Pink Marble Trail.

- By Ed Yost

Back To News Releases