High above the Kent School campus on Numeral Rock stands a striking monument, one that links generations of students to a past marked by love, loss, and devotion. The Gunn Cross, a towering structure overlooking the valley, was recently restored and reinstalled after years of absence, symbolizing the resilience of the Kent community and the power of remembrance.

The original cross was installed in 1929 in memory of Charles Berry Gunn Jr. ’28, a Kent student who died during the influenza epidemic of 1928. His passing was one of five student deaths that profoundly affected the school community. In tribute, his family commissioned a Celtic-style cross to be erected on the high point of Numeral Rock. Designed by Roger Bullard—father of one of Charles’s classmates and the architect of Kent School’s St. Joseph’s Chapel—the cross was meant to be both a personal and communal symbol of remembrance.

The Kent News reported in October 1929 that several large crates had arrived on campus from Boston, containing the teakwood sections of the cross, crafted by the renowned firm Irving and Casson. The monument was designed to withstand the elements and “improve with time,” the article noted. Inscribed at its base was a dedication that included the dates of Charles’s birth and death, along with the words: “He lived on Skiff Mountain and loved this Valley. The cross would stand twenty-four feet high and be seen from all points in the Valley.”

Its installation was a remarkable community effort. Boys from the Fifth and Sixth Forms helped carry the heavy cross sections and building materials up the steep trail to Numeral Rock. “It was gratifying to note the spirit with which the work was accomplished,” wrote Kent News. Teakwood is notoriously heavy, and students had to coordinate their efforts carefully, distributing weight and navigating sharp turns. Sand, gravel, and cement were brought up 50 pounds at a time, and the most arduous task proved to be hauling water—much of it spilling along the way—to mix mortar. Yet, through perseverance, two barrels of water were successfully delivered.

In recent years, only the main vertical support beam of the original cross remained intact at the base of Numeral Rock. Around 2020, this remnant was carried down and placed in storage. “It was evident that we could not use the remaining section of the old cross,” said Kent’s Director of Facilities, John Bergin. But interest from alumni sparked a new chapter in the monument’s story.

With historical guidance from the school archivist Katy Armstrong, who supplied original photographs and drawings, the Facilities team began an extensive restoration effort. Sourcing appropriate materials was the first challenge. “We searched for several months looking for white oak beams large enough to recreate the original size cross,” Bergin said. They eventually found the right timber at a shipbuilder’s yard in Cornwall, Connecticut.

From there, the project was placed in the skilled hands of Michael Rost, the School’s master carpenter. “The beams were then hand-carved by Michael to the specifications of the original cross,” Bergin explained. Over the course of nine months, Rost shaped the wood by hand, continuously treating it with linseed oil to protect it from the elements. A new trail was also cut from the back of the gym to make the installation more manageable.

On April 23, 2025, the Facilities crew secured a new base to Numeral Rock and installed the main beam. The final horizontal piece was added the following day. “A huge thank you to Michael for the time and dedication he put into building the cross, and to the entire Facilities team who helped make this restoration possible,” Bergin said. “Everyone took great pride in bringing this piece of Kent’s history back to life.” In addition to Rost, the project was made possible by the skilled work of Jerry Mollica, Jeff Anderson, Teddie Miner, Kyle Summers, Charles Hayes, Eric McAllan, Luke Anderson, and Josh Smith.

Nearly a century after students first carried it to its resting place, and with the same spirit of care and craftsmanship, Kent has ensured that the memory of Charles Berry Gunn Jr. continues to endure.