One of the hazards of allowing trees to grow in cemeteries is demonstrated here. Samuel B. Field, two-year-old son of John F. and Mary Field, died in 1860 and was buried at Selleck or Bennett's Farm Cemetery in Ridgefield. Before or after his burial -- probably the latter, a tree was planted or sprouted nearby. By 1973 when this photo was taken, the base and roots of the then sizable tree had engulfed the headstone. It looked almost like a mother cuddling a child. Nearly 30 years later, as shown in the color photo below, taken in July 2001, the roots have continued to "suck in" the stone, less of which is visible. |