Cemetery Shamefull Mismanagement

[L Verge]

Elizabeth Keckly's original place of burial suffered much the same fate when it was taken over for development. A Metro station now sits on that land. For years, historians believed that Mrs. Keckly might be lost, but the detective work of Rich Smyth of this forum and a caring employee of a newer cemetery not far from Surratt House found the records and verified where her unmarked grave was. About a decade ago, the Surratt Society joined forces with The Lincoln Forum and a very active group of African American women to raise over $6000 to provide Mrs. Keckly with a new headstone. Visit surrattmuseum.org to see the story.

Some of the original stones from the old cemetery were found being used as bulkheads along local rivers to protect the shoreline of residents. In other instances, old stones have been found as pavers in garden paths, etc. No respect for the dead.

I am the caretaker for the Huntt family cemetery (first burial in 1858) which is now surrounded by development, but once was on the long drive to the plantation house in Charles County, Maryland. About 20 years ago, vandals climbed an 8-foot chain-link fence and opened an interior gate of the ca, 1890, Victorian, wrought-iron fence. They then proceeded to knock over or break about ten of the stones - including the one from 1858. Three elderly ladies and myself contributed about $5000 to repair the damage.