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A Grave Responsibility: Barnhart’s Eerie Endeavor at the Cemetery

Memphis-based Barnhart, known for its expertise in lifting heavy components and equipment, recently faced a spine-chilling challenge at the Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery in Memphis. This time, it wasn’t just about moving equipment. Barnhart’s eerie endeavor involved transporting and lifting a brand-new, custom-made mausoleum from a truck to its designated grave site.

But the spectral task was not without challenges. The eerie path to the mausoleum site was lined by gnarled trees, which was a major concern on the route in and the lift. The winding roads within the site were also designed for light-footed spirits rather than the 350-ton hydraulic crane and trailer. To navigate these obstacles, the team had to summon their wits and transfer all counterweight to smaller trucks to accommodate the dimensional and weight constraints of the treacherous roadways.

Even the bridges on site whispered warnings, lacking weight ratings and posing additional ghostly hurdles. Undeterred, Barnhart’s team devised clever alternate routes to bypass the spectral structures to get the crane and equipment into the hallowed grounds.

Once the 350-ton crane was assembled at the site, Barnhart’s team worked their magic, lifting and positioning the 60,000-pound granite structure onto its final resting place.

The mausoleum was for celebrated songwriter Mark James, who departed this early realm in June. His musical legacy – like the Halloween spirits – lives on in his enduring and iconic hits. The song “Suspicious Minds,” was famously performed by Elvis Presley, and the hauntingly beautiful “Always on My Mind,” became a staple for Willie Nelson.  

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