The Cathedral of the Pines
National Memorial for all American War Dead
by Patricia L. Cummings
photos by James Cummings
When we were considering where we might like to photograph an antique “Rose of Sharon” quilt, we immediately jumped in the car and headed for The Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge, New Hampshire. This very special place is dedicated to all Americans who have died in war. The hilltop area that the site encompasses is a good access point for viewing the summit of Mt. Monadnock, that is, when it is not hiding behind a cloud.
One is awed by the unspoken importance of this natural area, now the destination of pilgrims who seek to pray in front of the site’s stone “Altar of Nations.” Wooden benches have been constructed and many faith denominations celebrate religious services there annually. The tall pines act like towering sentinels which have witnessed many a wedding, over the years.
Although my parents had taken me to visit this site a few times as a child, the area was not quite as I had remembered it to be. Perhaps transformations have taken place over the years. There are quiet areas with benches where one can spend time in quiet meditation amidst flowers and statues, with just the sounds of bumblebees to interrupt one’s thoughts
On the day that we visited, we were hoping to photograph a recently acquired, pre-1860, “Rose of Sharon” quilt. We asked permission to do so, and were told that perhaps the best place to set up would be near the granite stone where the Ten Commandments are carved.
Unfortunately, that late afternoon, the wind kept blowing over the photographer’s stand to which we had pinned the quilt. We did manage to snap a few slides, not realizing that there would be shadows on them. Ultimately, none of them had the quality needed for magazine publication. So, consequently, the photos were not included in the second in the series of Bible Blocks articles which were published in The Quilter magazine.
In reviewing the photos recently, we have decided to share the better ones with you.
“The Rose of Sharon” quilt pattern, typical of the red, green, and white quilts so popular during mid-nineteenth century, is a traditional pattern with about 40 block variations, located thus far). The blocks are generally very large. As you can see, this bed size quilt has been assembled with only nine blocks.
Even though we were hounded by a deer fly, trying to round up a souvenir of us that day and were also being buzzed by mosquitoes and tormented by the wind, we have the strong feeling that we will return again to this beautiful site in the future.
The Cathedral of the Pines was instituted by the family of Lt. Sanderson Sloane, a young man who lost him life during WWII when his bomber was shot down over Germany in 1944. The Cathedral Museum “houses gifts and artifacts from all over the world.” For more information you may visit the website below: http://www.virtualnh.com/cathedralpines