- Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard
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The main monument replacing the original monument damaged by vandals.
Troop's grave site at the Key Underwood Memorial Coon Dog GraveyardThe Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard is a cemetery located in rural Colbert County, Alabama, USA,[1] reserved specifically for the burial of coon dogs.[2] Key Underwood established the cemetery on September 4, 1937 by burying his coon dog, Troop.[3][4] Underwood chose the spot as it was previously a popular hunting camp. As of 2007 more than 185 dogs are buried at the cemetery.[5]
Dogs must meet three requirements to qualify for burial at the cemetery: the owner must claim that their pet is an authentic coon dog, 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 coonhound and declare it as such.[5]
Headstones in the cemetery range from the homemade wooden and metal monuments to the more elaborate marble engraved stones found at many human cemeteries. The dead include many famous dogs such as Hunter's Famous Amos, Ralston Purina's 1984 Dog of the Year.[5]
Labor Day
Travis Wammack entertains the crowd at the 2007 Labor Day CelebrationEvery 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 music, dancing, food and a liar's contest. The gathering is often attended by local politicians.
Location
Coordinates: 34°37′48″N 87°57′59″W / 34.63°N 87.96639°W The cemetery is west of Tuscumbia, Alabama. From Tuscumbia travel west on US 72 to Alabama 247. Take Alabama 247 south for 12 miles to Colbert County Route 21, Coondog Cemetery Road. Turn right and follow the signs to the cemetery.
References
- ^ Elder, Tracy (16 February 2011). "Tim Horton and Colbert County Tourism unveil new marketing project". WAFF (TV). http://colbertcounty.waff.com/news/events/tim-horton-and-colbert-county-tourism-unveil-new-marketing-project/49283. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ McNulty, Timothy (1 October 1978). "It's the doggonest cemetery around". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ "Coon Dog Cemetery". St. Joseph News-Press. 12 June 1969. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KExkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cHQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2577,2374562&dq=coon-dog-cemetery&hl=en. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ Harwell, Hoyt (30 July 1983). "Cemetery for Coon Dogs Only". Star-News. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ksE0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=gxMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7170,4438948&dq=coon-dog-cemetery&hl=en. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
- ^ a b c "Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard". coondawgs.com. 2007. http://www.coondogcemetery.com/. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
External links
Categories:- Protected areas of Colbert County, Alabama
- Florence – Muscle Shoals metropolitan area
- Cemeteries in Alabama
- Visitor attractions in Alabama
- Dog monuments
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