Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York is the resting place for many popular musicians and artists like Charles Ebbets and Leonard Bernstein.
The visitors pay their respects by leaving flowers on the tombstones.
But, one of the graves seems to be more visited than others. This grave has a bronze statue of Rex the dog who seems to be guarding his owner’s plot near the corner of Sycamore and Greenbough Avenues.
For years, people have been leaving sticks by the stone paws, but the collection expanded over the recent months.
Who Was Rex the Dog & His Owner?
Rex was the companion of John E. Stow, one of the leading fruit merchants in NYC who passed away in 1884. The files from the 19th century have a note that refers to the placement of the “bronze likeness of a dog” near the grave of Stow.
But, it’s not clear whether the dog is really buried there.
According to the manager of the Cemetery, Stacy Locky, people seem to like the idea that a dog may be buried there. However, it’s really hard to say if this is the case, Locky adds.
Visitors have been exploring the 478-acre cemetery during the pandemic because of the big space and the ability to socially distance. Because of Rex’s prominent location, people easily find it and leave sticks as home to the good boy.
The Cemetery Visitors Seem to Appreciate the Tomb Statue of Rex
Locke says that the grave is under a tree and has numerous sticks around. People often drop one across the paws in the front.
Once, someone left a photo of a dog, maybe it was a pet of theirs who also passed away and his owners wanted to say to Rex to look after him, explains Locky.
Twitter users have been tweeting about the gravestone. They’re amazed that people are leaving sticks there to honor the once good boy.
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