Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard

The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard is a cemetery in rural Colbert County, Alabama, US, reserved specifically for the burial of coon dogs. Key Underwood established the cemetery on September 4, 1937[7] by burying his own dog there. Underwood chose the spot as it was previously a popular hunting camp where "Troop" did most of his service for 15 years.[8] As of August 2014, more than 300 dogs are buried in the graveyard.[9][10][11][12] It is a specialized and restricted Pet cemetery.[3][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard
Coon Dog Monument[1]
Details
EstablishedSeptember 4, 1937
Location
Coon Dog Cemetery
4945 Coondog Cemetery Road Cherokee, Alabama 35616
Colbert County, Alabama USA[2][upper-alpha 1]
CountryUnited States
Coordinates34.63009°N 87.96698°W / 34.63009; -87.96698[6]
TypePrivate
Websitehttp://www.coondogcemetery.com

Dogs must meet three requirements to qualify for burial at the cemetery: the owner must verify that their dog is a purebred coonhound, a witness must declare that the deceased is a coon dog, and a member of the local coonhunters' organization must be allowed to view the remains.[16] The cemetery is not actually "breed specific" but at a minimum requires that the dog was actually used to hunt coons, and not something else.[17][18] Admission criteria are game specific. Quoting the late O'Neal Bolton, former caretaker of the Coon Dog Graveyard, the cemetery's website notes: "We have stipulations on this thing, ... A dog can't run no deer, possum — nothing like that. He's got to be a straight coon dog, and he's got to be full hound. Couldn't be a mixed up breed dog, a house dog."[19][upper-alpha 2]

To be sure, being a full blooded coonhound from a recognized breed — "Redbone, black and tan, English bluetick, English redtick, Plott, Treeing Walker, and various combinations of the above" — is a plus. But "many non-AKC breeds of Southern hunting hounds (such as our native frontier hounds, the Black Mouth Curs, Plott Hounds, Catahoulas, and Mountain Curs)" may be admitted, but then must meet all three of the criteria, and have no fewer than three witnesses who will attest that they have seen the dog track and tree coons single-handedly.[8]

Summarizing the experience and the memorial's purpose:

"Twelve years is a long time to be loved like that, and it’s a good life for a dog. It’s a good life for anybody. This is the only graveyard I’ve been to that was less an acknowledgment of death than it is a celebration of what almost certainly was, grave for coon dog grave, a damn good life."[8]

Headstones in the cemetery range from homemade wooden and metal monuments to more elaborate marble engraved stones. The dead include many notable coonhounds.[17] The gravestones and markers range from home made and humble to relatively well crafted and ostentatious. They each tell a touching story and make a tribute.[20]

There are two monumental sculptures.[21] It is a tourist attraction, albeit well off the beaten path.[22] Maintained by the Tennessee Valley Coon Hunters Association, it receives nearly 7,000 visitors annually.[7] Visitors are encouraged to sign in to the guest book on premises.[23]

History
Troop's grave, the oldest in the cemetery.

The cemetery was established on September 4, 1937 by Key Underwood, who buried his coon dog, Troop, in an old hunting camp[11][24][25] located in rural Colbert County, Alabama, USA. The closest town is Cherokee, Alabama.[26][27] At the time, Underwood had no intention of starting a dog cemetery but wanted to bury Troop, who he had owned and coon hunted for 15 years, in a place the dog had liked.[28][29] He buried Troop three feet deep and engraved an old chimney stone for a marker. Other hunters followed his example when their dogs died, and gradually the cemetery came into being.[28] [30] The entrance is marked by a statue of two coonhounds treeing a raccoon.[10][11][31] In 1984, Mr. Underwood was interviewed Rheta Grimsley Johnson, a columnist. He told her that burying Troop was doing "something special for a special coon dog." Other dogs are not allowed in the cemetery. Asking for their admission shows that “You must not know much about coon hunters and their dogs, if you think we would contaminate this burial place with poodles and lap dogs.”[19][29][32]

The entrance is festooned with warning signs, some pocked with many bullet holes, warns visitors of surveillance by the neighborhood; another forbids lighting fires, and stresses only coon dogs buried with permission are allowed.[4]

Dogs must meet three requirements to qualify for burial at the cemetery: the owner must certify that their dog is a purebred coonhound, a witness must declare that the deceased is a coon dog that has been hunted, and a member of the local coonhunters' organization must be allowed to view the coonhound's body and certify it to be purebred. Mixed breeds or pet dogs are not allowed to be buried in the graveyard.[3][28][29][31] In fact, three witnesses must contact the association and attest that they saw the dog tree a coon by itself.[33]

"Remembrances of dogs past happen a lot at the cemetery. Tears are shed, for they're more than dogs. They're more than pets. They're friends. More – they are family members. Funerals befitting a family's grand matriarch happens up on the hill a handful of times a year because some of the dogs there are grand matriarchs. Families bury their own, like Key Underwood did that sad Labor Day."[3] The seriousness and solemnity of being interred at the memorial[34] is illustrated here:

"A group of solemn men, dressed in black mourning coats and hip boots, wearing carbide lamps on their heads stood beside a mound of soil and a freshly dug hole. A hunting horn sounded and the bay of hounds filled the air." Four outiftted pallbearers "... walked slowly toward the gathered crowd, a small wooden box carried between them."[35]

"The last lines of William's eulogy memorialize the relationship between hunter and dog:

"'...he knows in coon dog heaven he can hunt again when the sun goes down and the tree frogs holler. May the bones of Ole Red rest in peace, through the mercy of God and may the coon hunters light perpetually shine upon him.'"[35]

Headstones in the cemetery range from basic homemade wooden and metal monuments to the more elaborate marble engraved stones similar to the ones found at many human cemeteries. Some have epitaphs, such as "He wasn't the best, but he was the best I ever owned". The interred dogs include many notable hunting dogs such as Hunter's Famous Amos, Ralston Purina's 1984 Dog of the Year.[31] It is the only cemetery in the world specifically dedicated to coonhounds.[28][36] By 2014, over 300 dogs were buried in the cemetery.[30]

Caretaker and contact person for the cemetery was Janice M. Williams,[21] a/k/a the 'Coon Dog Lady', who is the cemetery board's president. Her knowledge of the cemetery is formidable. She is the first reported person to actually "count the graves scattered across that pastoral acre: 307 as of January 2014. She keeps it presentable (without care the forest quickly encroaches)."[9]

As the 75th anniversary of the cemetery approached, coins and replica service medals started to be left on the graves.[37]

The cemetery has evolved, as has the sport of coon hunting. "These days hunting's about competition... Used to, people hunted [raccoons] for their hides or in the Depression, they ate them, but we don't shoot [raccoons] anymore." Rigorous competition winnows champions from the also rans. Dogs are supposed to independent, capable of hunting on their own, and "honest, meaning it won't run deer or rabbits; and it'll stay put, meaning it'll stay no matter rain, a storm, or another dog aggravating it," says Lee Hatton, grounds caretaker. A United Kennel Club title requires beating other champions and "It takes 100 hard-earned points to become a champion."[38]

The facility is officially recognized as an historic cemetery by the State of Alabama.[39]

Labor Day
Travis Wammack entertains the crowd at the 2007 Labor Day Celebration

Every Labor Day the Tennessee Valley Coon Hunter's Association sponsors a gathering at the cemetery in a tribute to the inauguration of the cemetery on Labor Day in 1937. The celebration includes bluegrass music, dancing, barbecue and a liar's contest.[31] Admission is free to the public, but donations are accepted and go toward upkeep. In 2014 eight Redbone Coonhound puppies were sold at the gathering, with proceeds going to upkeep. The gathering is often attended by local politicians.[3][30][38][40][41][42]

In 2012, the festivities included an open and moon shine serving pot still; 2,500 guests were present (who were largely oblivious ot the arrest), along with entertainment. The alleged prepetrator was arrested on the spot. Notwithstanding: "Next year the Coondog Cemetery plans to hide the still a little further back in the woods on the other side of the outhouses. These modern day folks have got to have one of these portal John things, so they won't be going near the aroma of the outhouses. So y'all be sure to come back now next year."[upper-alpha 3]

The cemetery was featured in the movie Sweet Home Alabama, but the producers used artistic license to relocate it to south Alabama.[5][31] The film's protagonists go looking for the graves of dogs named "Bear" and "Bryant", an homage to Bear Bryant the football coach.[44]

The cemetery and the Labor Day gathering are remembered in song by Milan Miller.[45][46]

In 1987, an authorized 50th anniversary Case knife souvenir was sold to honor the dogs and the cemetery.[47][48] With new graphics and subject matter, the promotion was repeated to honor 75th annniversary in 2012.[47][49]

See also

References

Notes
  1. "The Coon Dog Cemetery is located seven miles west of Tuscumbia, Alabama, on U.S. Highway 72. For more information, visit www.coondogcemetery.com."[3] As a commentator waggishly noted: "The cemetery is located around 45 minutes southwest of Muscle Shoals, behind the backwoods, and north of a massive TVA reservoir in Colbert County, Alabama."[4] Another notes that the location is both peaceful and extremely remote from everywhere. "In fact, it’s about a 30-minute drive from the nearest town – Cherokee, if you’re coming off the Natchez Trace Highway, or Tuscumbia if you’re coming from the Shoals. It’s located down a long, desolate road on the top of a mountain, making the ride either really beautiful or kind of scary, depending on how you feel about being in the middle of nowhere with no cellphone service."[5]
  2. The cemetery's website warns: "ONLY COON DOGS ARE ALLOWED TO BE BURIED IN THIS SACRED SITE! No other organization is authorized to handle burials by the order of the Freedom Hills Wildlife Management & State Lands Division of Alabama."
  3. "TUSCUMBIA - What better way to have a mountain celebration with over 2500 guests than to have some shine to go along with L. O. Bishop BBQ? .... The still was set up and running next to the remains of a previous raid as guests were settling down in their lawn chairs waiting for the first group to perform when the law showed up and spied the still stuck off to the side of the cemetery. Deputy Darren Green wasted no time in arresting Sam Bates, the ring leader of the moonshine operation and hauled him off in hand cuffs."[43]

Citations
  1. Pictured Here
  2. Young, Jennifer (December 26, 2020). "The World's Only Coon Dog Cemetery Is Hiding In Small Town Alabama And It's As Weirdly Wonderful As You'd Expect". Only in Your State. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  3. Shipley, Jonathan (November 20, 2021). "Here Lies Troop". Dog News. p. 90. Retrieved April 10, 2022. Only Coonhounds Need Apply at Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Cemetery in Tuscumbia Alabama
  4. Hoppes, Ian (July 7, 2015). "Entertainment: I went to the Coon Dog Cemetery last weekend and this is what I found". al.com/entertainment. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  5. Kristoff Alabama News Center, Anne (August 30, 2017). "Alabama's Coon Dog Cemetery celebrates 80 years this Labor Day weekend". Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Key Underwood Coondog Memorial Park
  7. "This Day in History: September 4, 1937". Alabama Living Magazine. September 4, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  8. Evans, Erik (June 17, 2019). "FILED UNDER: MISCELLANY 68 Things to Love About Alabama: The coon dog cemetery". Retrieved April 12, 2022. A place like no other for some of our best friends.
  9. Wallace, Daniel (April 2014). "GOOD DOGS: Alabama's Coon Dog Cemetery". Garden & Gun. Retrieved April 10, 2022. Deep in the Alabama woods at the base of the Cumberland Mountains lies a cemetery like no other.
  10. Ferris 2010, p. 27.
  11. Harwell 1983, p. 7170.
  12. Pell 2008, p. 1425.
  13. "Key Underwood Coon Dog Cemetery: Cherokee, Alabama". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  14. "Coon Dog Cemetery, North Alabama". June 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  15. Spangler 2016, p. 175.
  16. Desmond 2016, pp. 88, 269.
  17. "Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Cemetery: Alabama Legacy Moment" (Video). Alabama Public Television. June 30, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2022 – via YouTube. In order for a dog to be buried at the site, the Coon Hunters' Association must verify that the dog is an authentic coon dog. Although a pedigree or a specific breed is not required for qualification, the dog must have been a hunting dog and must have hunted raccoons exclusively.
  18. Coon Dog Cemetery Photo Gallery Underwood Dog Memorial Graveyard
  19. Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard
  20. The Cemetery Detective. "Key Underwood Coon Dog Cemetery – Cherokee Alabama". Retrieved April 14, 2022. The Coon Dog Cemetery tombstones and epitaphs will make any animal lover shed a tear.
  21. "Coon Dog Cemetery Historic Site or District". Tennessee River Valley. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  22. "10 of the Most Interesting Pet Cemeteries in the United States". onegreenplanet.org. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  23. The Bucket List With Meg (2015). "If I Ever Have A Dead Coon Dog". Kicking The Bucket List With Meg. WordPress. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  24. "Coon Dog Cemetery". St. Joseph News-Press. 12 June 1969. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  25. Cuhaj 2019, p. 33.
  26. Elder, Tracy (16 February 2011). "Tim Horton and Colbert County Tourism unveil new marketing project". WAFF (TV). Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  27. McNulty, Timothy (1 October 1978). "It's the doggonest cemetery around". Chicago Tribune.
  28. "Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard". coondawgs.com. 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  29. "Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard Tuscumbia, Alabama (AL), US". virtualglobetrotting. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  30. Kazek, Kelly (August 19, 2014). "Legendary Coon Dog Cemetery to once again host Labor Day celebration with live music, crafts, barbecue". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, AL. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  31. Finch, Jackie Sheckler; Martin, Gay N. (September 2, 2014). Jackie Sheckler Finch (ed.). Alabama Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places (Ebook). Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot, GPP Travel. p. 62. ISBN 9781493014095. ISBN 1493014099.
  32. "Beloved hunting dogs buried in northern Alabama". Daily Mountain Eagle. May 2, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  33. Elliot, Debbie (September 7, 2015). "NATIONAL: Hunting Dogs Can Spend Eternity At The Coon Dog Cemetery". Morning Edition. National Public Radio. Retrieved April 10, 2022. You have to have three references that have to contact us and have actually witnessed the dog tree a coon by his self.
  34. Sutton, Keith (February 11, 2009). "Coon Dog Cemetery: Hunting dogs are laid to rest in the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard". Outdoor Life. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  35. Kazek, Kelly. "Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard". weirdus.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  36. "Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard". Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  37. Staff (September 3, 2013). "The mystery of the Coondog Cemetery headstone coins". Quad Cities Daily. Retrieved April 11, 2022. TUSCUMBIA- The Mystery of The Coondog Cemetery coins on the headstones started when coins started appearing on top of the headstones at the Coondog Cemetery southwest of Tuscumbia about six months before the 75th anniversary in 2012. In addition to various coins, replicas of service medals were also left.
  38. Helderman, Jennie (August 29, 2016). "For 79 Years, Americans Have Been Burying Their Hunting Hounds In Alabama". Country Living. Retrieved April 12, 2022. This Labor Day, thousand will head to the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard to pay their respects.
  39. "The Alabama Historic Cemetery Register as of April 4, 2022" (PDF). Alabama Historical Commission. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  40. "The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard – Tuscumbia, Alabama". The American Festivals Project. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  41. "Coon Dog Cemetery". Exploring Alabama. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  42. Clemons, Alan (August 31, 2016). "Alabama's Famous Coon Dog Cemetery Celebration Set for Labor Day". Clembone Outdoors. Word Press. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  43. Staff (September 6, 2012). "Moonshine still raided at Coondog Cemetery 75th anniversary celebration". Quad Cities Daily.
  44. Credendino, Chris (August 3, 2014). "Sweet Home Alabama: Then and Now – 12 Years Later". Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  45. Miller, Milan (March 9, 2018). "Coon Dog Cemetery" (Audio). Retrieved April 13, 2022 – via YouTube.
  46. Miller, Milan (February 4, 2018). "Coon Dog Cemetery Trailer from the EP Timepiece" (Video). Retrieved April 14, 2022 – via YouTube.
  47. Coon Dog Cemetery souvenirs
  48. MILITARIA & WEAPONS: 1987 CASE XX USA B0200 COON DOG MEMORIAL GRAVEYARD 1937 [OLE BLUE) POCKET KNIFE
  49. CASE XX KNIFE, TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN COON HOUND
  50. Presnell & McGee 2015, p. 118.
  51. Blakeslee, Sandra (29 August 1997). "Kentucky Doctors Warn Against a Regional Dish: Squirrels' Brains". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  52. Rettner, Rachael (October 15, 2018). "Man Dies from Extremely Rare Disease After Eating Squirrel Brains". LiveScience. Retrieved April 9, 2022.

Bibliography

Further reading
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