An Ode to Abbo’s Alley

Brent Hailes, Contributing Author 

It’s no mystery to anyone who has ever stepped foot on the Domain why Southern Living magazine and the Princeton Review ranked Sewanee: The University of the South the prettiest college campus in the country. Sewanee, “A towered city, set within a wood,” is home to a number of scenic lookouts, gardens, and hiking trails that are possessive of sheer natural beauty. Out of the many cornerstones of the University, such as  Green’s View or The Cross, there is one that stands out among them all: Abbo’s Alley. 

The Abbot Cotten Martin Ravine Garden, commonly and affectionately surnamed, “Abbo’s Alley” is one of the University’s most cherished and well nurtured natural landmarks. For decades, Abbo’s has been one of the most well maintained areas on campus, yet it appears to be a world untouched by man. Its many stone bridges, benches, ponds, and streams (some of them dedicated to those who spent time taking care and cherishing the alley) capture the eye of anyone who happens to wander down there. 

In the early years of the University, this area of the Domain was home to two dependable and productive natural springs that facilitated a pumping station for the town’s water supply, bathing tanks, and even a designated laundromat. Currently, Lake O’Donnell is the primary water source. A map commissioned by “The Friends of Abbo’s Alley” from 1975 of Abbo’s Alley reads, “It was not until the spring of 1942 that the popular and eccentric professor of French and English, Abbot Cotten Martin, took it upon himself to bring into focus the natural beauty of the wild ravine. For three decades thereafter, and for as long as his health permitted, “Abbo” made the garden his principal hobby and identity. “The Friends of Abbo’s Alley”, formed in 1975 and dedicated to the will of the founders, to the continuation of Mr. Martin’s work, and hence to the joy of future generations.”

Abbo’s is more than a picturesque setting for a leisurely stroll. In my time here at Sewanee, I have grown fond of the many trails and scenic routes the University has to offer, particularly while I am out for a distance run. No matter where I start, and no matter which route I decide to take, I always make sure I finish my runs through Abbo’s. When I find myself in the home stretch of a run through Abbo’s, there is always a moment where I think to myself, “I don’t think I can finish this one.” It is always the hardest part of my run, considering that Abbo’s is one of the  geographically lowest points on the Domain and I have to run my way out of it. Yet, within the final enduring moments of my run, I find the motivation to finish. 

It is in Abbo’s where I meditate on life’s joys and hardships. In some ways, the hills, rocks, and roots of Abbo’s Alley that I encounter on my runs resemble some obstacles in life. It is only from within the surrounding beauty  that my inner strength and faith pushes me onward, motivating me to overcome these challenges and strive for the finish. Whenever I am at my lowest, whether I have just received an unsatisfactory grade on an exam or I am missing family and loved ones, I know I can always rely on aspects of Sewanee such as the friendships I have forged here or immersive, impactful experiences inside and outside the classroom to pull me out of those low moments. 

I choose to finish my runs through Abbo’s Alley because it is hard. The feeling of climbing my way out of the alley, up the stone stairs, up the hill, and finishing upward the Fowler driveway to Texas Avenue is one I wouldn’t trade for anything. I am able to reflect on the difficult task I have just completed and be satisfied with my success. The many natural landmarks of Sewanee have drastically enhanced my appreciation for nature and have instilled a solid confidence in myself to embrace and overcome life’s challenges. For that, I will forever be grateful to Abbo’s Alley.