The Field

Trust for Public Land first discovered the Field, a site forgotten for over a century while constructing the White Oak Connector Trail, which connects Stringer’s Ridge in Chattanooga to White Oak Park in Red Bank. Just half a mile away, hidden in a kudzu-choked ravine, lie the unmarked graves of hundreds of Chattanoogans, many of them Black. Their contributions to the city are often overlooked, reflecting a complex and painful history.

Known as a “potter’s field” or “paupers’ cemetery,” the Field served as a resting place for those who could not afford burial costs, including unnamed infants, laborers, immigrants, and many Black Chattanoogans like Henry Hightower, a U.S. Colored Troops veteran, and Alfred Blount, who was lynched unjustly on the Walnut Street Bridge.

For decades, Trust for Public Land has dedicated itself to preserving sites that highlight the experiences of Black Americans. This work now includes the Field. We’re collaborating with renowned landscape architect Thomas Woltz, the Cities of Red Bank and Chattanooga, and Hamilton County to restore and honor this sacred space.

As Maia Council, a historian from the University of the South, puts it, “The people buried in the Field made Chattanooga what it is. They were the lifeblood of this city.” Often undervalued in life and mistreated in death, these individuals were vital to Chattanooga’s growth and resilience.

Preserving significant sites related to Black history allows us to engage with narratives of healing, hope, and growth. The Field tells a powerful story about those who shaped Chattanooga. We’re dedicated to honoring their legacy and deepening the community’s connection to its roots.