HPreserving Georgia's ISTORIC CEMETERIES Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources The Legacy of Historic Cemeteries Cemeteries are among Georgia's most important historic resources. If you ask people to name their communities' top historic resources, one or more cemeteries will usually be included. We were still surprised when we held public hearings for our last state historic preservation plan. We asked what historic resources needed greatest attention and from all sections of the state the answer was the same--cemeteries. This publication is part of a series of responses to that concern about cemeteries. In 2003, Christine Van Voorhies Neal of our staff authored Grave Intentions: A Comprehensive Guide to Preserving Historic Cemeteries in Georgia, which has become the basic text on how to record, restore and protect a cemetery. This publication and the accompanying confer- ence on cemetery interpretation are designed to move one step further toward better use of our cemeteries to tell community stories to visitors and local citizens alike. A Preserve America grant has made this opportunity possible. We usually think of cemeteries as sacred places where family and friends can visit to show honor and respect for departed friends and loved ones. Cemeteries are certainly among the most revered and sa- cred public places in most towns, and yet, as the articles in this publication illustrate, cem- eteries are this and much more. They are also places of education and learning. At the most fundamental level this involves the people buried in the cemetery and their stories. Signs, brochures, and dramatizations can help the current generation rediscover previous genera- tions. Cemeteries can also provide opportuni- ties for passive recreation: strolling through the green spaces, bird watching in what are often excellent wildlife habitats, or enjoying the out- door sculpture. Colonial Park Cemetery, But cemeteries also disclose how we look Savannah, Chatham County at death, who we see as responsible custodi- ans of graves--families, governments, churches, or private associations, and how this has changed over time. They reveal what we see as appropriate ways to plan and layout cemeteries, including how we delineate individual lots, and what we view as appropriate markers--simple or ornate, traditional design or in the latest fashion. Thus if we desire to tell the story of our community to citizens and visitors, cemeteries offer one of the best opportunities. They are hallowed ground with lay- ers of meanings, offering the opportunity to visit for genealogical information, to pay respects, or spend a pleasant few hours enjoying the history revealed there. We hope this publication will help Georgia citizens understand, interpret and treasure their cemeteries as important cultural resources. --W. Ray Luce Inside... 2 The Development of Cemeteries in the United States 5 Historic Cemeteries and the National Register of Historic Places 6 A Guide to Visiting Georgia's Historic Cemeteries 9 Gravestone Symbols and their Meanings 10 Making a Cemetery Preservation Plan 12 The "New" Cemetery Tourism 15 Show Me the Money: Finding Funds for Cemeteries H Preserving Georgia's istoric Cemeteries Principal Editor Karen Anderson-Crdova Assistant Editors Christine Neal Carole Moore Writers Christine Neal Richard Cloues Carole Moore David Crass Mary Ann Eaddy Karen Anderson-Crdova Layout and Design Jennifer Evans Yankopolus Photography James R. Lockhart, except where noted Special Thanks to: Jeanne Cyriaque Dexter Adams Cathy Vogel Mary Woodlan Brad Cunningham Supported by a Preserve America grant Noel Holcomb, Commissioner, Dept. of Natural Resources W. Ray Luce, Director, HPD 2007 Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources 34 Peachtree Street NW., Ste. 1600 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-656-2840 www.gashpo.org The Development of Cemeteries in the United States A rchaeologists tell us that humans have lived in the area we now call Georgia for more than 12,000 years. This means that people have been living, dying, and being buried here over a very long period of time. It is estimated that there are at least 40,000 cemeteries in Georgia and very likely, there are many more. Throughout history, the way in which people are buried has varied broadly due to circumstances of death, religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and the personal taste of families. North American Indians had burial customs that varied widely through time. Indians in the southeastern United States practiced cremation, they buried their dead underground (sometimes right under the house they were living in), and also in earthen mounds. Some groups exposed the deceased's body to the elements until it deteriorated. When the bones were all that was left, they were collected and placed in a charnel house, which was a structure built for storing the bones of the dead. The Spanish, English, and French who colonized North America brought with them their own ideas of burying the dead. During the colonial period, the Spanish established Roman Catholic missions. The Catholics preferred burial under the floor of the church or in the yard next to the church. Bodies were wrapped in a cloth shroud and the grave was oriented in an east-west direction following the Christian tradition of the deceased facing eastward to see Gabriel blow his horn announcing Judgment Day, or to face Jesus upon his resurrection. The English later introduced the idea of burial in a wooden coffin. Scholars have noted that many African Americans enslaved in the Southeast also had a tradition of burying their dead facing eastward. This could indicate a Christian influence but it is also the direction of Africa and therefore could have been recognition of the original "home" of most slaves. (For more information about African American cemeteries, see Grave Matters: The Preservation of African American Cemeteries by Chicora Foundation, 1996, http://www.sciway.net/hist/ chicora/gravematters.html; for an interesting case study of an African American cemetery, see article about the Midland Cemetery in Pennsylvania: http://www. afrolumens.org/rising_free/midland2.html) u This publication has been financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, through the Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products or consultants constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior or the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, or disability in its federally assisted programs. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire more information, write to: Office for Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, Washington, D.C. 20240. 2 Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site, Cartersville, Bartow County Historic Preservation Division While the practice of burying in mon open space." (NR Bulletin #41: the churchyard was customary in the page 5) This modern cemetery plan New England area where settlement promoted the natural beauty of an was centered in towns and villages, unbroken expanse of landscape, easily colonists in southern states were dis- achieved when smaller, standardized persed across the landscape on farms grave markers were installed flush with and plantations, often some distance the ground surface and plots were not from a church in town. This made bounded by coping or fencing. Such burial in the churchyard impractical, a layout also lent itself to the use of giving rise to the development of small mechanized equipment for efficiently cemeteries on family-owned property. maintaining the large tracts of land. There are countless cemeteries of this Cemeteries became the business of type in Georgia today because of the professionals rather than that of fami- state's long agrarian history. lies, communities, or volunteer associ- By the early 1800s, there was a ations. As part of the business contract gradual recognition that unsanitary when buying a plot, the purchaser and crowded church graveyards in would also pay for the perpetual care the newly industrial urban areas were of their loved one's grave. This practice becoming a public health problem. A continues now into the 21st century. series of devastating epidemics created Summerville Cemetery, Georgia's cemeteries, like many in the impetus to develop cemeteries in Augusta, Richmond County the southeastern United States, have rural areas, along with more general efforts to improve ur- been dominated by the concept of family responsibility for ban cleanliness. The unspoiled landscape outside the city the graves of their ancestors. Although the annual family was not only seen as a sanctuary from the city but also came workdays to "spruce up" the family graves have lessened, to be increasingly associated with romantic notions of the the large number of graves and plots outlined with brick sanctity of nature. This was the grand Victorian Era; people or concrete coping give silent witness to the delineation of began to have a more "romantic" or sentimental view of na- family responsibility. ture and art, into which they incorporated the melancholy Today in Georgia, we have cemeteries that date from theme of dying. This fashionable twist on death spilled over every era of the long prehistory and history in our state and in the design of the new garden-type cemeteries. which represent many cultural, ethnic, and artistic tradi- The new garden cemetery typically was established on tions. As we take on the responsibility for protecting the a pleasant, elevated site just outside the city, inspired by many gravesites in Georgia, we are respecting and celebrat- Victorian concepts of park-like landscape design. The cem- ing this rich cultural heritage. n eteries were further enhanced by the Victorian love of statu- This material primarily is from the National Register Bulletin No. 41: ary and monumental stonework. By 1850, most major cities had at least one of the new-style serene, spacious cemeteries Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries and Burial Places, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1992. where the combination of nature and monuments would be spiritually uplifting. In Georgia, examples of cemeter- ies dating from this era are Historic Linwood Cemetery in Columbus, Historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, and Magnolia Cemetery in Augusta. These cemeteries were soon being used like parks, for relaxation and recreation, and in fact, such use helped spawn an urban park movement soon endorsed by influential landscape designers Andrew Jackson Downing, Calvert Vaux, and Frederick Law Olmsted. As the 19th century came to a close, Adolph Strauch, superintendent of Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio pioneered a new idea for laying out cemeteries, when he "introduced the lawn plan system, which deemphasized monuments in favor of unbroken lawn scenery, or com- Forest Grove Cemetery, Clayton County Preserving Georgia's Historic Cemeteries 3 Case Study the coleman-leigh-warren cemetery: advocating for a small family cemetery The Coleman-Leigh-Warren family cemetery is located on a one-acre plot of land near the intersection of Washington and Berckmans Roads in Augusta, Georgia, not 500 yards from the main entrance to the Augusta National Golf Club. The cemetery traces its origins to the late 18th century, when the first English settlers were granted land in a territory previously inhabited by the Creek Indian Nation. Descendants of three prominent Augusta families (Coleman, Leigh and Warren) are interred in this small family burial ground, adjacent to the National Hills neighborhood. Interest in the cemetery that turned into an active quest to bring it back from years of neglect began when former Augustan, Brad Cunningham, revisited the site after an absence of 34 years. As he walked around the ruins of the cemetery on a hot summer day in 2004, he remembered questions he had pondered as a child: Who were the people buried in the cemetery? Why were they buried here? He saw that some graves are of soldiers from the Revolutionary War and the Civil War; one of Augusta's earliest mayors is also buried in the cemetery. Wondering what could be done to protect the cemetery and who else might care as much as he did, Brad began a quest to find local and out-of-state descendants of the Coleman, Leigh, and Warren families. By December 2005, he was able to bring together fifteen interested people, including descendants, National Hills neighborhood residents, local and state historic preservationists and an Augusta State University professor to form the Friends of Coleman-Leigh-Warren Cemetery, Inc. (fclwc). They agreed that Brad would coordinate the Friends group and descendants would fill officer positions when the group applied for non-profit incorporation. They were officially incorporated in June 2006, with the stated purpose of restoring, preserving and maintaining the historic Coleman-Leigh-Warren historic cemetery. The group's three main goals are: 1) restore the walls, box graves, monuments and grave ledgers to their original state following accepted historic preservation principles; 2) develop the parcel into an area of natural beauty and passive recreation, and 3) devise a way of maintaining the property in perpetuity. So what progress can a small but dedicated group make in approximately two years of work? The first phase of their cemetery restoration plan has been mostly completed--the cemetery has been cleaned and stone and granite pieces have been removed for safekeeping; participation in the Friends group has increased; additional descendants have been located; an email group and website have been created and maintained; public presentations have been developed to raise awareness of the cemetery's needs; a media campaign has begun; and the title search and professional survey of the property has been completed. Supporters are primarily from the Augusta-Richmond area, but they also include folks from the Atlanta metro area, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. fclwc has also received endorsements from Historic Augusta, Inc., the Augusta Genealogical Society, Inc., and the Augusta Chronicle. Interest and information about the cemetery is generated through the media and through their website www.colemanleighwarren.org. Created by Brad Cunningham in late 2005, the website contains a wealth of information about the cemetery, the families interred, the early history of the area, the restoration plan, as well as information on how you can support fclwc. The website is currently funded privately, but plans call for the fclwc, Inc. to assume financial responsibility as funds become available. This is an impressive example of how a small but important cemetery can be rescued from neglect by individuals who saw the need, cared and took action. It took curiosity, patience, personal interest and passion to begin this project. It will take the continued work and com- mitment of fclwc to see the project to completion. n Information for this article was obtained from the fclwc website www.colemanleighwarren.org and from its executive director, Brad Cunningham. 4 Historic Preservation Division Historic Cemeteries and the National Register of Historic Places H istoric cemeteries can be included in the National Register of Historic Places in two ways: as individual historic sites, or as historic sites contribut- ing to the sense of time, place, and significance of historic districts. To be listed in the National Register as an individual historic site, a cemetery must be old enough to be consid- ered historic (generally at least 50 years old) and it must retain its identity ("integrity") as a historic cemetery. Additionally, a cemetery must display distinctive or charac- teristic design values in its layout, landscaping, headstones and monuments, art, sculpture, or architecture; or contain graves associated with individuals of "transcendent" histori- Midway Cemetery, Liberty County cal importance; or be of "great age" in relation to its geo- graphical or cultural context; or be associated with impor- The qualifying criteria for listing cemeteries in the tant historical events such as a Civil War battle or settlement National Register are stated in National Register Bulletin by an ethnic, cultural, or racial group and if other historic "How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation" properties associated with the group are rare or nonexistent. and explained in detail in National Register Bulletin Many individual historic cemeteries, ranging from small, "Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries simple family or church cemeteries to large, elaborate urban and Burial Places," available from the National Register of cemeteries, will qualify for National Register listing. Historic Places, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.; Historic cemeteries also can be listed in the National both can be downloaded from http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/ Register if they are directly associated with historic build- publications/bulletins.htm. ings and structures or if they are contributing parts of larger More than a hundred historic cemeteries in Georgia historic districts. Again, the cemetery must be old enough are now listed in the National Register. If you are interested to be considered historic and it in nominating a cemetery to the must retain its identity as a historic National Register, please contact cemetery; the test is whether the the Historic Preservation Division, cemetery contributes to the sense Georgia Department of Natural of time, place, and significance of Resources for information and ad- the larger historic setting within vice about the nomination process. which it is located. Examples in- To be considered for listing in the clude churches, churches and National Register, historic cem- schools, and campgrounds; planta- eteries must be well documented tions, farms, and other complexes historically and placed in the larger of historic buildings; and neigh- contexts of their physical attributes borhoods, downtowns, or entire and historical associations. If you communities. want to know if a particular ceme- Historic cemeteries may also tery is already listed in the National qualify for the National Register Register, please contact hpd or you under National Register Criterion can check the division's on-line D if they have yielded or have the geographical information system, potential to yield important his- "nahrgis," at http://www.itos.uga. torical information through profes- edu/nahrgis. n sional archaeological investigation that is unavailable in other docu- Cedar Grove Cemetery, mentary forms. Augusta, Richmond County Preserving Georgia's Historic Cemeteries 5 A Guide to Visiting Georgia's Historic Cemeteries C emeteries are places to commemorate the dead. But they also are among the largest historic landscaped places in our communities. They contain a wide variety of sculptural art. Through the inscriptions on their monuments, they are repositories of information about those who have come before us. In some instances, cemeteries are the only tangible evidence of a former community and its people. As such, cemeteries are true historic places, valued for their art, their landscaping, and their historical associations. Visiting historic cemeteries can be a reverent, delightful, and informative experience. Knowing what to look for when visiting a cemetery can greatly enhance the experience. This guide is intended to enrich the experience of visiting a cemetery by pointing to the physical features that give each cemetery its distinctive sense of place. 1. Location First of all, think about the location of the cemetery you are about to visit. Is it in a community, downtown perhaps, or near a religious building, or is it on the edge of town, or in a suburban area? Perhaps it is in a rural area, near a crossroads or a cluster of farms? Could it once have been in a rural setting that has since been transformed by suburban or urban development? Consider the topography of the area--Is the cemetery on a hill, in a valley, or on level ground?--and look at the surrounding landscape. The location of a cemetery establishes its overall physical setting and sense of place. It also may suggest historical associations to a community, a neighborhood, a religious group, ethnic or racial groups, rural families, or former communities otherwise vanished. 2. Approach As you approach the cemetery, take note: Is there a formal "approach" to the cemetery--perhaps a city street or country road aligned with the entrance to the cemetery, or a dirt driveway--or do you just "come upon" the cemetery? Does the placement of the cemetery appear to be an integral part of a community plan? How does a formal approach or the lack thereof affect your experience? 3. Entrance Is there a clearly defined entrance to the cemetery, or perhaps several? If several, does one appear to be the "main" entrance? How are the entrances to the cemetery marked: by a simple driveway or path? stone, metal, or wood entry posts? a gate or gateway? landscaping? Is there signage at the entrance, and, if so, what does it say about the cem- 6 Bartow Cemetery, Bartow, Jefferson County etery (name? date established?). Is the signage historic or contemporary? Is it clear, as you enter the cemetery, who takes care of it? 4. Boundaries As you approach and enter the cemetery, note how the boundaries of the cemetery are marked. How can you tell how big the cemetery is--by the extent of marked graves, or by fences, walls, landscaping, or changes in the grade of the ground? Whether inside or outside marked boundaries, are there areas that might contain unmarked graves? Is the cemetery characterized by a sense of enclosure or one of expansiveness? 5. Topography Once inside the cemetery, observe the topography, the "lay of the land," so to speak. Is the terrain hilly, sloping, or flat? Does it appear to be natural or does the land itself appear to have been reshaped through landscaping (more common in large urban cemeteries)? How does the terrain inside the cemetery compare to the geography outside the cemetery? (Note that in some instances, the topography inside large urban cemeteries may represent what the natural terrain of the area was like before development; in other cases, the natural terrain within the cemetery may have been "enhanced" through landscaping.) Does the cemetery "fit" into the surrounding topography, or has it been "carved out" or "imposed upon" the geography of the area? How the natural terrain has been handled determines to a large degree the overall landscape effect of a cemetery. 6. Layout From a vantage point, or as you move about in the cemetery, analyze the overall layout of the cemetery. u Historic Preservation Division In Georgia, there are four basic ways effect one of formality and enclosure or in which cemeteries were laid out: in a informality and expansiveness? relatively random way, in a regular but 8. Markers and Monuments piecemeal manner, in a gridiron plan, Look closely at the grave markers and and in a curvilinear layout. Each way monuments throughout the cemetery. results in a distinct overall appearance. How many different kinds are evident? For example, a gridiron layout creates Common in Georgia are carved upright an orderly, geometric, "urban" environ- gravestones (headstones and footstones), ment, whereas a curvilinear arrangement monuments, sculpture, mausolea, box produces a more informal, naturalistic, and slab graves, commemorative mark- or picturesque look. Random and piece- ers (most often associated with a mili- meal plans, most often found in smaller tary event such as the Civil War), and and rural cemeteries, reflect their small sometimes just rough, natural fieldstones size, familial nature, and incremental de- placed at the heads of graves. Look also at velopment. Observe how the layout of the materials out of which they are made. the cemetery manifests itself--through Statuary at Myrtle Hill Cemetery, the plan of streets, driveways, and paths; Rome, Floyd County Most in Georgia are made of stone, either granite or marble; some are made of through the pattern of grave plots; by the use of curbs and metal (you can tell by tapping with your hand and listening copings; by walls and fences; and by landscaping. Take note for a "hollow" sound); and others are cast from concrete, also of how the layout relates to the topography. Gridiron often with handwritten inscriptions. Historically, many plans are more commonly used on flatter terrain, while grave markers were made of wood, but very few if any have curvilinear layouts conform better to hilly or sloping sites, survived. Note the different ways in which the markers and but sometimes gridiron plans are used to order hilly terrain monuments are inscribed and sculpted. Be on the lookout while curvilinear layouts enliven level landscapes. for unusual gravesite features 7. Landscaping such as small wooden grave Observe the overall landscape of the cemetery and ask your- shelters or lifelike statuary. self these questions: Is the landscaping formal or picturesque in its overall appearance? Or is it casual, piecemealed, perhaps unplanned? Are there tree-lined drives, or are trees 9. Biographical and Historical Information clustered in small groves? Does there appear to be an overall As you are looking at the grave landscape plan, or is the landscaping dependent on fam- markers and monuments, pay ily plots or smaller sections of the cemetery? How does the attention to the names, birth landscaping relate to the layout of the cemetery? (Usually and death dates, and other more formal landscap- information carved or written ing is associated with on them. These inscriptions gridiron plans while represent short biographies of more picturesque or the deceased. At a minimum, naturalistic landscap- you can find birth and death ing is associated with curvilinear layouts.) Can you identify traditional landscape el- dates of named individuals. Just from the names, you may be able to learn about family associations, generational Marker with Masonic Symbol, Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Fulton County ements such as trees relationships, race, and ethnicity. From other clues, either (commonly magnolias, written or sculptural, you may be able to discern other as- oaks, and especially pects of the deceased's life including religious beliefs, socio- cedars) and shrubbery, economic status, personal interests, and social relationships. walls and fences, ter- Even the size and placement of markers and monuments Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb County (Photo by Ray Luce) races, curbs and copings, and pavements? Again, is the overall may tell you something about the role played by individuals in their community. By comparing the information from several gravesites, you may be able to learn about u Preserving Georgia's Historic Cemeteries 7 broader patterns of local and family his- cally separate white and African American tory such as causes of death including sections, while other cemeteries may have illnesses and epidemics, natural disasters, been reserved exclusively for white or and local historical events such as when a black burials. Still other cemeteries may community was founded. have separate Jewish sections, usually evi- 10. Patterns Finally, as you move about through the cemetery, take note of the historical development patterns within the cemetery itself. Does it look like the entire cemetery was laid out at one time, or was it laid out incrementally, in clear chronological sections, over time? (How can you tell? Most obviously from the dates on markers and monuments, but also from the style of the markers and monuments themselves. Also look at the overall pattern of development dent by the arrangement of graves and the styles of monuments. Finally, look to see if there might be areas within or around the cemetery with unmarked burials--for example, open areas with a regular pattern of visible mounds or depressions in the ground. Be aware that some unmarked burials may always have been unmarked, for economic reasons or by personal choice or religious belief, while others may have lost their historic markings over time due to neglect, deterioration, or vandalism. to see if you can discern different sections Magnolia Cemetery, or subdivisions of the cemetery--perhaps Augusta, Richmond County When your visit is over, take a few moments to reflect upon your experi- a change in the layout, or a place where a ence. What did you see that was mem- grid pattern doesn't quite line up.) Can you discern separate orable? What did you learn from your visit? And most sections of the cemetery based on race, ethnicity, or reli- importantly, is there something you can do to help these gious persuasion? In Georgia, many cemeteries have histori- historic places?! n Case Study community coming together to preserve african american cemeteries in lithonia Lithonia, incorporated in 1856, is a community of 2,187 residents located in DeKalb County. Lithonia means "City of Stone." Although its early settlers were primarily farmers, after the Civil War, Lithonia became a granite producer, and the first quarry opened in 1879. Many African Americans left farms for jobs as laborers in the quarries, and lived in a community known as Bruce Street, adjacent to the Lithonia One Cemetery. This African American cemetery became the property of Davidson Mineral in 1929. In 1971, Davidson Mineral deeded the cemetery to the Lithonia Civic League, an African American organization founded to promote civic pride and to fight discrimination. The Lithonia One Cemetery occupies 6.7 acres in mostly unincorporated DeKalb County. The Friends of Lithonia African American Cemetery (flaac) was formed to preserve the cemetery and develop a maintenance plan for its continued care. Volunteers, led by Barbara Lester, a member of the Lithonia City Council, worked diligently on weekends to remove debris and fallen trees. flaac raised funds to clear the cemetery and also nurtured partnerships. flaac received assistance from the Georgia State University Heritage Preservation Program. Students from the Historical American Landscapes and Gardens class provided a research report that flaac will use for future preservation initiatives. A National Register nomination is also being considered to document the cemetery's historic significance. flaac is also working closely with the Arabia Alliance to ensure that Lithonia One Cemetery is a viable site in the recently desig- nated Arabia Mountain Heritage Area. Another African American cemetery in Lithonia is the Flat Rock Cemetery. It is nestled on a hill adjacent to a new subdivision, near the intersection of Evans Mill and Lyons Roads. Johnny Waits and other descendants are looking at ways to preserve this cemetery. Waits has identified a number of families interred at Flat Rock who have celebrity descendants. He plans to contact these families to raise funds for the cemetery preservation. The Arabia Alliance is working with DeKalb County to purchase and protect this cemetery. Both Lithonia One and Flat Rock Cemeteries are examples of a growing interest among African Americans to preserve the final resting places of their ancestors. Barbara Lester and Johnny Waits believe that their preservation efforts help to raise community awareness about Lithonia's African American past and provide important information to pass onto future generations. n Information excerpted from Reclaiming African American Cemeteries in Lithonia, Reflections, February 2005: Volume V, No. 1, pp.4-5, Jeanne Cyriaque, Editor. (Above photo by Jeanne Cyriaque) 8 Historic Preservation Division Gravestone Symbols and their Meanings W hen you walk into a cemetery, one of the first things that you notice is that many of the headstones convey information about the deceased. Birth and death dates, an appropriate epitaph and/or Bible verse, military service branch, perhaps even a picture or a list of accomplishments give the viewer some sense of who this person was. But perhaps the most intriguing information conveyed in cemeteries comes to us through an elaborate system of symbols. The study of symbols that stand for a specific idea important to a culture is called iconography. The study of symbols relating to the dead is called mortuary iconography. Symbols on gravestones are part of a complex system of iconography. At the most basic level the landscape of the cemetery itself includes symbols (for instance, family plots set aside by wrought iron fences convey a sense of the family unit's survival even in death). Plants such as cedars, nandina, periwinkle, and other evergreens were used especially during the late Victorian period to symbolize eternal life. Architectural styles convey a stylistic sense of the time--for instance, the weeping lion in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery is a typical High Victorian symbol of the fallen Confederacy. The symbols on headstones are one aspect of mortuary iconography. The earliest European graves in Georgia were often marked only with a wooden head board, most Preserving Georgia's Historic Cemeteries of which have disappeared over the years. Rural graves are often only marked by plain fieldstones. Neither of these usually included information beyond the name, and perhaps the birth and death dates of the interred. Starting in the mid-18th century, however, gravestones were often carved with symbols that relate to a wide variety of themes. Some common symbols on gravestones include: n Clasped Hands (united in eternal love) n Torch (eternal life) n Inverted torch (life snuffed out) n Sea Shell (baptism, new life after death) n Willow (nature's lament) n Oak leaves, acorn (maturity) n Broken column (loss of the head of the family; or life cut short) n Darts (mortality, dart of death) n Winged orb (derived from the Egyptian sun-god Ra) n Draped Urn (death, sorrow) n Fish (Christ) n Snake with tail in mouth (eternity) n Star of David (religious cross, Jewish) n Ivy (eternal life) n All-seeing eye (Masonic symbol) There are many more symbols that appear on gravestones; hundreds, in fact. Some are found only on men's graves (for instance, fraternal order symbols), while oth- ers usually appear only on women's graves (Easter Lilies). Children's graves often feature a lamb (innocence), cherubs, or a woman weeping (in Greek mythology Niobe was turned to stone as she wept for her slain children). On the other hand, some cultures in Georgia intentionally did not use much of anything on their gravestones. Moravians, a communal religious society headquartered in Salem, North Carolina, with missions in Georgia, initially used small square, rather plain stones laid flat on the ground to mark their interments. This reflected their emphasis on the community, rather than on the individual. And African American graves in the old rural South might have only had plain headstones or head boards, but the graves themselves may have been decorated with sea shells or a wide variety of glass and ceramic items that were important to the deceased. The lesson? Even the absence of symbols on gravestones can signify an important cultural value. n 9 Making a Cemetery Preservation Plan A s the final resting place for those who lived before us, cemeteries are worthy of respect and care. Therefore, they are also worthy of the effort to plan for sensitive, effective maintenance and preservation. A plan enables cemetery caretakers to have a document to refer back to over time, it gives a baseline assessment of the cemetery as of a certain date, and it will guide future caretakers. Noting what needs to be done in the cemetery is the first step; then making a plan can be as straightforward as writing down what to do and how to do it. A plan can be a simple written outline or a more formal typed document. Some general steps to follow are: n Perform an initial assessment of the cemetery's condition before any work is done. n Develop a list of cleanup and repair needs and prioritize them. n Research cemetery preservation experts' recommendations for addressing your cemetery's specific needs. n Decide which projects volunteers can do and which will require hiring a professional. When the cemetery is very large or has special problems such as erosion or extensive stone marker damage, the best strategy may be to hire a cemetery preservation professional to make a condition assessment and prepare a good plan for rehabilitating the cemetery. A professionally produced plan might cover issues such as these: n A brief summary of the cemetery's history, its current use, and restrictions on the property's use (if applicable) including whether or not new burials are currently being accepted. n Existing conditions assessment of grave markers, monuments, fencing, trees, and plantings. Recommendations will be made for their repair, conservation, or u Old Athens Cemetery, Athens, Clarke County Case Study old athens cemetery preservation plan Located on the campus of the University of Georgia, Old Athens Cemetery is a 2.5-acre urban green space containing mature cedars and oaks with minimal shrubbery and plantings. Grounds exhibit little ornamentation; however, some monuments and remains of iron fencing and brick walls exist. Although not all marked, graves of over 5,000 souls may be located within cemetery borders. Carved from land given to uga trustees in 1801, this property was the scene of burials for Athens' citizens throughout the 19th century. No longer active by the early 20th century, the site sometimes referred to as Jackson Street Cemetery, faced pressure as the campus grew. Responsibility for maintenance changed hands over the years, and quality of care varied. In 1981 Old Athens Cemetery Foundation was formed. By 2005 the group disbanded, leaving a small endowment to uga. Over time projects were undertaken to record and stabilize the cemetery. In 1932 a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution inventoried the cemetery and repaired stonework. Old Athens Cemetery Foundation prepared a detailed sketch map of the grounds in 1984. uga encouraged geophysical studies, compilation of historic documents related to the cemetery's history and documentation of monuments, and inclusion of the cemetery survey in the University's gis database. When uga once again took over the cemetery's care, a long-term protection strategy was needed. University Grounds Director, Dexter Adams, knew that deferred maintenance, vandalism and litter, stone and ironwork repair, and landscaping and tree conservation had to be addressed. He requested that a preservation plan be developed and a consulting firm that specialized in evaluating historic cemeteries be selected. In 2006 Chicora Foundation, Inc. produced the Preservation Assessment and Plan for the Old Athens Cemetery, Athens, Georgia. This included a synopsis of the cemetery's history, recommendations for overall maintenance, safety issues, and access, and treatment proposals for monuments. Work items with cost estimates were divided into priorities. The approach was first to understand the cemetery's historic character and then to recommend sound preservation practice, specifically the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Preservation. Using these recommendations, uga made a commitment in 2007 to the cemetery's ongoing protection and conservation. Old Athens Cemetery is a significant component of the town and university's history. As Mr. Adams explained, "Old Athens Cemetery enriches the tapestry of the campus landscape." Long-term planning and commitment to stewardship insure the future of this important resource. n 10 Historic Preservation Division restoration, including a list of n Administrative recommen- projects prioritized according dations covering site man- to their urgency. This could agement including regu- also include cost estimates for lating visitation and grave individual projects. plot care, trash, maintaining n Recommendations for com- roadways, signage, lighting, pleting the recordation of the and security issues including cemetery, which would in- vandalism and theft. clude: delineating the bound- For assistance in finding a aries, mapping the cemetery, cemetery preservation profes- recording the markers includ- Linwood Cemetery, Macon, Bibb County sional, check with the Historic ing inscription, type of mark- (Photo by Carole Moore) Preservation Division, www. er, variety of stone and other distinguishing informa- gashpo.org, The Association for Gravestone Studies (a tion, and determining the location of any unmarked national volunteer cemetery preservation organization) graves. www.gravestonestudies.org, or The American Institute for n Routine maintenance plan that addresses control- Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (aic) http://aic. ling plant overgrowth, erosion control, tree pruning stanford.edu. As always, a personal referral is the best way to and replacement, masonry repair, and cleaning stone find good consultants; contact some of the larger cemeteries markers. in the state and ask for their recommendations. n Cleaning Up a Cemetery Working in a cemetery is very satisfying but it's best to first do your research! Reading what the experts say about cemetery maintenance and protection will teach you what to look for and give you practical, safe tips on doing all kinds of work in the cemetery. For example, it's recommended to use the gentlest means possible to clean tombstones, which means clear water and a soft-bristled brush--no household or outdoor cleaning agents. You'll need to consider many things before going to work in your cemetery, but here's a quick summary of steps to get you started: 1. Permission Get permission of landowner for access to cemetery and consult with descendants regarding any proposed work. 2. Initial Evaluation Conduct an evaluation, including a photographic record, of the existing condition of the graveyard and the grave markers before beginning any work. 3. Equipment Be aware that equipment such as weed-eaters, lawnmowers, and even metal garden tools used too close to stones may scar the stones, leaving them vulnerable to corrosion and breakage. Use plastic or wooden implements; put rubber bumpers around lawnmowers. Utilize the cemetery experts' advice on applying herbicides on weeds and cleaning solutions on stones. 4. Historic Plantings and Grave Decorations Read about and/or consult with experts regarding historical plantings and types of grave decorations that might have been used in the cemetery during the time period it was active. Caring for a cemetery means respecting the ways people commemorated their loved ones when burying them, so plants and items purposefully placed on graves should not be removed during a clean-up project. Do take out fallen trees or those likely to be a danger to people or tombstones. 5. For the Work Day Bring trash receptacles, benches or lawn chairs for taking a break from the work, and plenty of drinking water. 6. Record What Was Done Make a written record of the clean up--what input descendants had, how landowner permission was obtained, what was done, and who participated--for the benefit of future caretakers. Store this information with the initial evaluation of the cemetery. n Preserving Georgia's Historic Cemeteries Boy Scouts assist in cleaning the School Street Cemetery in Washington, Wilkes County (Photo by David Jenkins) 11 The "New" Cemetery Tourism C emeteries long have been visited by genealogists, poets, and relatives of the interred, but in recent years cemeteries have begun to see an amazing increase in a new type of visitor--the heritage tourist. Who is this heritage tourist? According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the heritage tourist is one who is "traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present." Based on that definition, what better place to find a diversity of stories from the past than a historic cemetery? Tourism is big business--nationwide and in Georgia. In 2005, the travel and tourism industry contributed $650 billion to the U.S. economy; in Georgia alone, the industry brought in $28.2 billion. According to tourism industry statistics, cultural and heritage travel increased 13 percent since 1996. That's good news for Georgia, as it is one of the top ten states visited by heritage travelers. Another plus is that the heritage tourist typically travels more often, stays longer and spends more money than other types of tourists. But, perhaps the biggest benefit of heritage tourism is the contribution it makes towards the preservation of significant historic sites within a community. Historic cemeteries, often operating on a tight budget but requiring funds for badly needed repair and restoration work after years of vandalism and neglect, are reaching out to the potential heritage tourist in creative ways. As repositories of architectural and sculptural treasures, cemeteries are realizing they, too, have a story to tell and are telling those stories in a big way. Gary Laderman, a professor of religion at Emory University and author of Rest in Peace: A Cultural History of Death and the Funeral Home in the 20th Century (Oxford University Press, 2003) sees cemetery tourism as an opportunity for civic re-engagement after years of isolation from the mainstream due to the increasing mobility of society and the growth of the death care industry. Laurel Hill Cemetery, located in Philadelphia and the resting place of six Titanic victims, promotes itself as an "underground museum." It recently offered a sold-out recreation of the last nine-course supper served aboard the ocean liner. Other events offered at Laurel Hill include "Birding Among the Buried" and "Sinners, Scandals and Suicides" tours. In Washington, D.C., the 200-year-old Congressional Cemetery's recent Heritage Day event featured a 70-piece marching band that celebrated John Philip Sousa, who is buried there. 12 Georgia cemeteries have also jumped on the heritage tourism bandwagon with great success. Some have developed websites, published newsletters, and printed brochures with self-guided tours for visitors. Others have gone to the next step by offering guided tours and special events. Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta takes the lead, with a series of ten historically themed tours, a special Halloween tour, and an annual Victorian festival (see the case study on Oakland Cemetery, p. 13). Summerville Cemetery in Augusta offers "Walking with the Spirits" each October. Jonesboro Confederate Cemetery hosts reenactments that coincide with the dates of the Battle of Jonesboro. Riverside Cemetery in Macon offers trolley tours spring, fall and winter, which include a stop at Civil War earthworks. Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah has experienced increased visitation since the 1994 debut of John Berendt's book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and the 1997 release of the movie based on the book. In response to this Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Chatham County influx of visitors, it operates a special weekend Visitors Center, staffed with volunteers who provide historical information to tourists. Even the private Sylvester Cemetery in DeKalb County offers an annual spring tour with a different historical theme each year. These are just a few examples that represent the "new" tourism being promoted in Georgia's many beautiful historic cemeteries. They all have stories to tell, and the heritage tourist is eager to hear them. n Historic Preservation Division Case Study heritage tourism at historic oakland cemetery, atlanta Oakland Cemetery was established by the City of Atlanta in 1850 and is the city's oldest extant cemetery. Oakland is an outstanding example of a Victorian garden cemetery, as well as an outdoor museum and classroom that features a magnificent sculpture garden, flourishing wildlife habitat, public greenspace, and a beautiful setting for quiet reflection. Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell and golfing great Bobby Jones are buried here. The cemetery has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1976 and has been a local landmark district since 1973. Although the cemetery continues to be owned by the City of Atlanta, for the past 30 years the city has been assisted in its efforts to preserve, restore, and promote Oakland by the Historic Oakland Foundation. In the fall of 2006, the City of Atlanta and Historic Oakland Foundation initiated a new master plan. Among the objectives outlined in the new plan is one to "develop a heritage tourism and education plan that enhances the Oakland Cemetery experience for all visitors." To accomplish this goal, the cemetery currently promotes two main, and very successful, programs to attract the heritage tourist--a guided walking tour program and the annual "Sunday in the Park" special event. Other educational programs not directly related to heritage tourism include a lecture series, an annual photography contest, community gardening projects, service-learning projects for students, and corporate service projects. Oakland's historically themed, guided walking tours provide a unique and broad ap- proach to discovering Atlanta's history. Offered on weekends, some at twilight, there are topics for just about every interest, including: "Sights, Symbols & Stories of Oakland" (a basic overview tour) "Oakland and the Civil War" "Pioneers of Atlanta: the First 20 Years" "Victorian Symbolism at Oakland" "African American History at Oakland" "Dying in the Nineteenth Century" "Jewish Grounds of Oakland" "Margaret Mitchell and Gone with the Wind" "Art and Architecture of Death" "The Women of Oakland" "Halloween" On average, a total of 10,000 people participate in the docent-guided tours each year, with the most popular being the basic overview tour and the Civil War tour. The recently added Halloween tour is becoming increasingly popular, with 1,000 to 2,000 people attending. Tours are $10 adults, $5 students, $3 seniors, $5 children. A family rate for two adults and two children is $26. In Atlanta's 1886 annual report, Oakland was described as "the most attractive place in the city, where decorous and orderly throngs of our citizens congregate every pleasant Sunday to quietly pass through the well-kept grounds." In this century, Oakland hopes to re-create its 19th-century Sunday afternoons with its annual "Sunday in the Park" Victorian festival. The festival is held annually in the fall and is Oakland's major outreach event designed to share the history and cultural diversity of the cemetery with the widest possible audience. This well-received event draws 3,000 4,000 people for the live music, food, storytellers, carriage rides, guided walking tours, a Teddy Bear tea for children, a special children's area, and mausoleum tours. n For more information about Oakland Cemetery's events and programs, please call 404-688-2107 or visit its website at www.oaklandcemetery.com. (Adjacent photo by Oakland Cemetery) Bibliography: These resources provide additional information on cemetery preservation. An important text to start with is Grave Intentions: A Comprehensive Guide to Preserving Cemeteries in Georgia by Christine Van Voorhies; published in Atlanta by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division, 2003. It is available from the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, P.O. Box 33, Eufala, AL 36072, toll-free phone (877) 766-2443, www.hcc-al-ga.org. Other sources are listed below. Cemetery Do's and Don'ts, Basic Advice: Association for Gravestone Studies, 278 Main Street, Suite 207, Greenfield, MA 01301; phone (413) 772-0836; http://www. gravestonestudies.org Historic Preservation Division, GA DNR, www.gashpo.org, under Archaeological Services, Cemetery Preservation. (http://hpd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaynavigation. asp?TopCategory=23) www.ctgravestones.com - Basic advice on cemetery maintenance and preservation from the Connecticut Gravestone Network. Other Cemetery Resources: Crawford, Sybil F. The Association for Gravestone Studies' Guide to Forming A "Cemetery Friends" Organization. Greenfield, MA: The Association for Gravestone Studies, 1995. Grave Matters: The Preservation of African-American Cemeteries, by Chicora Foundation, 1996. http://www.sciway. net/hist/chicora/gravematters.html Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries and Burial Places, National Register Bulletin 41, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cultural Resources, Interagency Resources Division: 1992. Keister, Douglas. Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography. Layton, Utah. Gibbs Smith, 2004 up15 Preserving Georgia's Historic Cemeteries 13 Case Study heritage education tours at the city of decatur cemetery Although no early records survive, the 58-acre Decatur Cemetery is believed to have been an old church burial ground incorporated into the city when it was chartered in 1823. It is the largest green space within the Decatur city limits. The cemetery's landscaping and monuments range from the simple styles of the early 19th century to the more ornate Victorian era to the contemporary 20th century. The Friends of Decatur Cemetery is a volunteer group, organized in 1994, that works with the City of Decatur and the Decatur Preservation Alliance to preserve and maintain the cemetery. Together, they have obtained grants and donations for the development of a cemetery maintenance plan; completion of masonry repairs to walls, steps, and walkways; replacement of dead and dying trees; and for restoration of the 1881 well-house/gazebo. The cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Friends of Decatur Cemetery sponsors several tours, programs, and volunteer projects throughout the year. An important objective is to offer educational tours for school children in the Decatur area, hoping to ensure that Decatur's history will not be forgotten. The school group tours are conducted by Friends member Cathy Vogel. Ms. Vogel begins the tour by telling the students, "Cemeteries need not be spooky or scary; they are places of peace. There is much to be learned here, including history, art, nature, and how people lived in their times." She continues by telling stories about the lives of some of the people interred within the cemetery and how they helped to create the community of Decatur. "I attempt to make them real people, not just a name on a street sign or on a stone monument," she explains. The tour concludes with an innovative scavenger hunt. Ms. Vogel gives the students a list of questions related to what they have seen during the tour. She says this "encourages them to wander, read and think! I want them to leave with skills they can use when visiting other historic cemeteries." In parting, she asks the students to consider what they could do to help "save" the cemetery and make it a more welcoming place. n For more information about Decatur Cemetery's tours and programs or to schedule a tour, call The Decatur Preservation Alliance at 404-371-4444 or visit www.decatur preservationalliance.org. (Above photo by Cathy Vogel) Rights, Responsibilities, and Laws Regarding Cemeteries In Georgia, our legislators wisely believed we are all equal in death and our graves all deserve the same protection, regardless of our age, status, or ethnic or racial heritage. In that spirit, they wrote our three main state laws protecting human burials from disturbance. However, while these are statewide laws, they are written to be enforced by the local government. This gives citizens the opportunity to work with elected local governing authorities in seeing that these laws are properly implemented in every hometown. While there are laws protecting burials from disturbance, there is no law governing the access by descendants to their ancestors' graves located on someone else's private property. This issue has been the subject of lawsuits and the courts have, in general, favored the rights of descendants to cross private property to access a family cemetery, to tend to it and protect it from disturbance. The private property rights all landowners enjoy in Georgia are also to be respected; therefore, it is recommended that descendants initiate an amicable discussion with the landowner to negotiate the times of access, the route to be taken over the property, and what the descendant proposes to do in the cemetery. Common sense and respect for others' rights, just as we want our own rights respected, should guide these negotiations. The full text of Georgia statutes protecting human burials is available online at http://w3.lexis-nexis.com/hottopics/gacode/ default.asp (Official Code of GA 36-72-1 through 36-72-16; 31-21-6; and 31-21-44 through 31-21-45). The case law supporting descendants' rights can be found in Appendix B of Grave Intentions: A Comprehensive Guide to Preserving Historic Cemeteries in Georgia, and is excerpted with permission from Pindar's Georgia Real Estate Law and Procedure With Forms by Daniel F. Hinkel, Fifth Edition, Volume 1. To summarize, the Georgia statutes protecting human burials provide for the following: 36-72-1 through 36-72-16 give local government authority to take over care of an abandoned cemetery, state that cemeteries or burial objects will not be disturbed without obtaining a permit from the local governing authority, set out specific requirements for obtaining a permit, and establish penalties for those who are convicted of violating the law. 31-21-6 requires persons to notify their local law enforcement agency immediately if they believe that human remains have been disturbed without a permit or if they accidentally discover human remains. 31-21-44 through 31-21-45 state that it is unlawful for any person to disturb the contents of any grave, to deface a dead body or throw away/abandon a human body, and to display American Indian human remains, and violation of these code sections constitutes a felony. n 14 Historic Preservation Division Show Me the Money: Finding Funds for Cemeteries T here is almost never a question about whether or not an old cemetery needs care--they usually do. But there is nearly always a question of how the needed care will be financed, and the answer to that question depends on the type of cemetery it is, who owns it, and who is interested in helping maintain it. Large city-owned cemeteries often have a dedicated source of funding. Money may be allocated in the city budget; additional financial support may come from a "cemetery friends" group, interested local historical or genealogical group, and/or a cemetery foundation or trust set up to ensure the continued maintenance into the future. These auxiliary groups often carry out fundraising to supplement the city's annual budget allocation for the cemetery so more can be accomplished. However, the small family cemeteries that dot the landscape all across Georgia are a bit more challenging. These cemeteries are usually on land privately owned by someone other than a descendant and may have not been visited or maintained over the years. Often the cemetery only comes into the spotlight when a development is planned there or descendants have found it while doing their genealogical research. Protection, cleaning, and repair of the cemetery Lott Cemetery, Waycross, Ware County become immediate pri- orities; thus the ques- tion arises of finding money to pay for what is needed. While there used to be a Southern tradition of families visiting their ancestors' graves several times a year for clean up and even a picnic on the cemetery grounds, we've moved away from that practice in our fast-paced, 21st century mobile society. Many of us no longer even live near the graves of any of Summerville Cemetery, Augusta, Richmond County our relatives. That leaves the responsibility for their care to members of the community where the cemetery is located. Some of the best candidates to take up the cause are local historical or genealogical societies--they already have an es- tablished member base, the ability to take on the cemetery as a long-term project, and can accept donations (perhaps even tax deductible donations) to help fund the activities. Also, interested people could form a volunteer "friends of the cemetery" group, which would operate in the same way and have the advantage of having just the cemetery as that group's entire focus. A cemetery friends group can be fair- ly loosely organized or more formal, whatever works best for the interested parties. There are several of these friends groups in Georgia and their experiences might be useful to people interested in forming a new one. (For example see the Coleman-Leigh-Warren Cemetery case study, page 4.) So where will a group get the money needed to care for their cemetery? For general clean up and ongoing maintenance, it is necessary to generate donations from u Bibliography, con't. National Trust for Historic Preservation, P.O. Box 96056, Washington, DC 20077-7272; phone (202) 588-6296. The following National Trust publications can be ordered from Preservation Books, National Trust for Historic Preservation, www.nthpbooks.org. "Preservation of Historic Burial Grounds" by Lynette Strangstad. Information Series #76 "Organizing Volunteers for Preservation Projects" "Quest for Funds Revisited: A Fund-Raising Kit." Preserving Georgia's Historic Cemeteries "Share Your Success: Fund-Raising Ideas." "Using Professional Consultants in Preservation." Strangstad, Lynette. A Graveyard Preservation Primer. Sponsored by The Association for Gravestone Studies. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1988. Available from Alta Mira Press, 4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706; phone (800) 462-6420; www. altamirapress.com. n 15 private individuals or organizations. n Even though governments likely can- Federal, state, and local-level government not fund routine maintenance, do ap- agencies do not usually fund routine proach the city or county government care for the estimated 40,000+ privately authorities and ask about getting their owned cemeteries in Georgia. Here are assistance through a special allocation some ideas for raising money: or under grants available to govern- n Descendants who live away could be ment agencies, such as Community contacted and encouraged to send an Development Block Grants (cdbg) annual donation to cover the care of or even the Georgia Heritage Grant their ancestors' graves. An organized or Historic Preservation Fund Grant group should set up a bank account, through the Historic Preservation be able to produce evidence of how Division of dnr, if the cemetery is eligi- the money is spent, and consider in- ble for or listed in the National Register corporating as a Georgia non-profit of Historic Places. See information on corporation and obtaining non-profit hpd's grants at www.gashpo.org. status under the U.S. Internal Revenue Of course some things are free. Labor Service 501(c)3 guidelines so donations is always needed in cemetery cleanup proj- will be tax-deductible. For examples of what some cemetery friends groups have done, see Sylvester Cemetery at Statuary in a cemetery in Lula, Hall County (Photo by Ray Luce) ects and there may be a ready pool of volunteers from the community, churches, historical or genealogical societies, Boy www.sylvestercemetery.org, Coleman-Leigh-Warren Scout and Girl Scout troops, or other local organizations. cemetery at www.colemanleighwarren.org, or Roseland Master gardeners, who give up to 500 hours of volunteer Cemetery at www.roselandcemetery.org. service through the University of Georgia's Agricultural n Be creative with fundraising ideas: host a tour in the Extension office, may be another source that can help. cemetery highlighting famous people, interesting Also, don't overlook giving retail outlets such as garden or markers or plantings/flowers; sell note cards or calen- hardware stores, the opportunity to donate items like yard dars with photographs from the cemetery; host a "fun tools, trash bags, bottled water, sunscreen, and herbicides, run" or bird watching event in the cemetery; have a to aid volunteers working in the cemetery. A note of cau- scavenger hunt with epitaphs or specific kinds of mark- tion: whenever volunteers will be working in a cemetery, ers as the items to be located. Even a bake sale by cem- they should be well informed about proper work methods etery "friends" in conjunction with some other com- and tools; and, particularly in the case of young people, munity event would raise awareness of the needs in the they must be supervised by adults well-versed in cemetery cemetery and result in some donations. "do's and don'ts." n n Perform research to find grants available for specific projects in the cemetery, such as masonry or fence re- pair, tree replacement, or educational/tourism programs using the cemetery. For researching grant opportuni- ties, see The Foundation Center at www.fdncenter.org. Some organizations that give grants for specific types of projects are: the Historic Chattahoochee Commission at www.hcc-al-ga.org, The Watson Brown Foundation at www.watson-brown.org, and the Georgia Humanities Council at www.georgiahumanities.org. n If there is or has been a church affiliated with the cem- etery, initiate a discussion with the church officers or congregation representatives about collaborating on the care of the cemetery. In some cases, an individual reli- gious sect may have a program for helping their churches take care of church-related cemeteries. See The Georgia Baptist Foundation at www.gbfoundation.org. Chattahoochee Methodist Church Cemetery, Helen, White County (Photo by Ray Luce) 16 Historic Preservation Division