Owen R. Cheatham Memorial Garden and Monument

    Owen Robertson Cheatham was a remarkable man.  Born in Virginia, he worshipped as a boy at the New Concord Presbyterian Church, and indeed throughout his entire life he was its principal benefactor.  This beautiful garden will forever memorialize his genius and devotion.

    Mr. Cheatham moulded his successful career around what he considered to be the four cardinal virtues:  (1) Love and worship God; (2) be imaginative and innovative; (3) be strong in your convictions and decisions; (4) conduct yourself with courtesy and gratitude.  The four granite monoliths represent these cardinal virtues.

    The concept of the Memorial and the Garden allude to the formality of the Williamsburg Gardens.  However, one should note that the New Concord Presbyterian Church Garden design has been softened to blend into the natural beauty of the location as opposed to restoration.  This has been done by several subtle design devices:  the retention of a twin oak (estimated to be 100 to 150 years old) was considered a key to the design.  In order to preserve this landmark tree, the curves of the walks were designed to avoid damage to the roots.

    Thus, the design evolved into a series of curves in the paving, an oval Memorial wall and flowing beds.  These design elements consciously reflect the beautiful softness of the countryside.  The architectural materials also reflect the sense of traditional Colonial American Culture.

    The pavers are Old Virginia, Wood Mold, Colonial Brick made of local shale and clay in historic Salem, Virginia, home of the Old Virginia Brick Company.  It is the same brick that is being used throughout Virginia in restorations in Williamsburg and Richmond.

    In laying the paving, the grape vine joint, in use for hundreds of years, was employed to emphasize the past use of this particular brick.  The granite monoliths were obtained from a Massachusetts quarry, linking earlier settlers from two sections of the country.

    All of the plant material is native to Virginia.  The tall shrubs which enclose the Garden are American Boxwood.  The tall trees surrounding the oval are Native American Holly, and inside the American Boxwood hedge, the billowing shrubs are English Boxwood, now considered native to Virginia.  Between these beds and the walks are white azaleas.  The oval bed which divides the walk contain dwarf Yaupon Holly.

    The Owen R. Cheatham Memorial Garden was dedicated on Sunday June 3, 1973.  Those responsible for the design included Garland Gay, A.I.A., and Albert Kennerly, A.I.A., A.R.I.B.A., Architects; Paschall Campbell, A.S.L.A., Landscape Architect; and Harold Krisel, Artist and Sculptor.  The Garden recently received the top award and honors of The American Society of Nurserymen (A.A.N.).