Congratulations to Kevin and Lesley!

Photo taken July 26, 2009.

The wedding anniversaries of longtime Oberlin residents Francis and Norma Bishop are celebrated with rock paintings a decade apart. The older painting is the first photo of a rock painted in the 1990′s on the site.

Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes, leaders in the raw food movement, are getting married today, June 21, 2009.  The rock was painted to celebrate their marriage. The three paper flags taped on the rock represent the home countries of Matt (United States),  and Angela (U.K.), and where they plan to live (Ecuador). A photo of the painted rock was sent to Matt and Angela for the time capsule they are burying today as part of their wedding ceremony, which they made note of receiving in this video.  Plans are underway to have Matt and Angela speak in Oberlin or nearby in July of 2009.  Rock painted and photographed on June 14, 2009.

A snippet of the painting in progress.

Sari Gardner, OC ’09 shares “This is the real story behind the “Will you” rock that appeared on your website in early June. On the night before commencement (May 24, 2009), my then-boyfriend Casey Fein (Tufts University ’09) enlisted my friends and family to paint one of the Tappan Square rocks to read “Will You” on one side and “Marry me Sari?” on the other while we were out to dinner at WeiaTeia. Upon our return from dinner, he surprised me by bringing me to that very rock and proposing! It was a beautiful scene, as hundreds of Japanese Lanterns were strung up around the square in celebration of commencement the next day. I was not the one to paint “yes” over the rock, but I’m glad someone else appreicated his proposal method We are now happily engaged, living in NYC, and planing a summer 2011 wedding. The attached pictures are from the night of the proposal; the last picture is us after the fact.”

Thanks very much, Sari, for sharing the real story and setting us straight.  Congratulations to you and Casey!

Photo taken June 7, 2009.   Aracely and Gene traveled from Southern California to be married June 6, in Oberlin, Gene’s hometown.  Gene’s sister Mimi and helpers painted the rock late in the evening of their wedding day as a surprise to the bridal couple.

And on the front of the rock:

By the next morning the rock had been covered with a net.  ?

Night photos taken on May 25,  day photos taken on May 26, 2009.

Photos taken May 25, 2009.  Stay tuned for the answer, next week!

Tim Brown writes: “I went out late at night on May 15, 1978 and painted this for my girlfriend Laurell to surprise her on her 20th birthday. We met when we were students at Oberlin College. We are still together and have been happily married for almost 29 years.”

Congratulations to Tim and Laurell and thanks for sending in the photo and story.

The Class of 1882 monument.  Photo from the Oberlin College Archives, Oberlin, Ohio.