Visitors adorn cemetery statue

COLUMBUS (AP) — As a light snow fell Tuesday at Green Lawn Cemetery, someone made sure 5-year-old George Blount was dressed warmly. George, who was decked out in a Santa hat and plaid scarf, has been a fixture at Green Lawn since 1873. For years, visitors have decorated his grave site, which is marked by a life-sized stone statue of a young boy. No one who works at Green Lawn knows who decorates the grave.

Sandi Latimer, volunteer coordinator at the cemetery, said George’s grave is near the back, making it easy for decorators to slip in unnoticed.

George was born Sept. 26, 1867, the only son of Eli and Sarah Blount. Eli Blount owned the American House Hotel, where 5-year-old George slid down a banister and crashed into a steel potbellied stove, hitting his head.

He died a week later, Feb. 14, 1873.

Latimer affectionately refers to him as “Georgie” and says his grave is a frequently requested stop when she conducts tours of the cemetery.

Since 2002, Latimer has served as the cemetery’s unofficial historian, regularly conducting research on the people buried there.

Linda Burkey, the cemetery’s general manager for 13 years, said that as long as she has been there, George’s grave has been decorated.

“Out of all the other graves, his is the most decorated,” Latimer said as she removed the hat and scarf.

She said she has to remove the items because they can hold in moisture and harm the statue.

On Tuesday, stuffed animals lined the base of the marker. Water guns, action figures and Hot Wheels cars were scattered around as well.

A fresh candy cane rested in his lap.

“I’ve found all kinds of things: Mardi Gras beads, baseball caps — even sunglasses on him in the summertime,” Latimer said.

Gary Best, a German Village resident, was there Tuesday, walking his dogs, Gabriel and Wheezer.

“I think it’s interesting that, after all these years, people still put stuff out there,” he said. “It’s a sad story, and I guess people are just fascinated with that.”

Latimer added: “Almost every cemetery has something that plays on the heartstrings of the public. And here, it’s little Georgie.”