Mt. Nebo Death Masks Historical

Mt. Nebo Death Masks Historical (HM1X0L)

Location: Wagarville, AL 36585 Clarke County
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Country: United States of America
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N 31° 20.797', W 87° 52.059'

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Inscription
Side 1

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Mt. Nebo Cemetery is home to the unique folk art of African American inventor and artist, Issac "Ike" Nettles, who used concrete to make images of living people's faces for their tombstones.

Born in 1885 near this location, Nettles was described by family as a "brilliant recluse" who studied at Tuskegee University. Though earning his living as a farmer, he received several patents on inventions he created, most notably a child's pedal car. He built other machines around his home in Nettles Quarters

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Side 2

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to aid in his farming endeavors. Three of the four death masks are Nettle's family members. The largest gravestone was his mother Selena (d. 1933), which he represented from the waist up and according to some, included her hair. The grave of Angel Ezella Nettles included her face and nickname "Sis Dollie." Another was his wife, Korean (d. 1933), and also featured the faces of his three daughters, Pauline, Marie and Clara. The last mask was Manul Burrell (d. 1946). The death mask gravestones have been recognized as unique and significant by folklorists in the state may be unique in the southeast.
Details
HM NumberHM1X0L
Tags
Year Placed2016
Placed ByThe Clarke County Historical Society
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Sunday, February 26th, 2017 at 1:02pm PST -08:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16R E 417468 N 3468341
Decimal Degrees31.34661667, -87.86765000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 31° 20.797', W 87° 52.059'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds31° 20' 47.82" N, 87° 52' 3.54" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)251
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling West
Closest Postal AddressAt or near Mt Nebo Rd, Wagarville AL 36585, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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