This small cemetery is located along Quicksburg Road in Shenandoah County. Once known as Sam Moore's Slave Cemetery, it lay forgotten and overgrown until recent years. Researchers located it in 1984, but not much happened until a nonprofit purchased the land as part of a spiritual retreat. About nine years ago, an effort was organized to restore the cemetery. Volunteers, students, and members of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners got busy clearing out brush, and were supported by various organizations.
I decided to go find it in order to do a Tuesday Treasures post during Black History Month. I found the parking lot and a picnic shelter next to a house near Quicksburg. A sign explained that the graveyard was past the barn.
This graveyard holds the final remains of enslaved persons associated with a nearby plantation. It is sad to think that people were held in bondage here until the Civil War. It is moving that the community came together to honor those people.For those who are wondering, today's African-American population in Shenandoah County is small (2.33% per 2020 census).
Many gorgeous treasures for sure!
ReplyDeleteI am glad the graveyard and place are being taken care of, it is an interesting place to explore. Take care, have a great day and happy week ahead.
ReplyDelete...most slave cemeteries have been lost to history.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful that this piece of history has been preserved and that some insensitive, despicable governor like DeSantis (your own governor is not much better) has not been able to suppress its restoration and censor the history of the dreadful events leading up to it. And kudos to you, Linda, for your visit, and sharing it with us on your blog.
ReplyDeleteIt's fitting to preserve this.
ReplyDeleteI find it sad they were treated like that and their graves just forgotten about, hopefully they will be remembered now
ReplyDeleteA perfect post for Black History Month and perfect treasure for Tuesday and any day; I'm glad you went looking and told us about it. I'm very glad it is being preserved. We have to remember our sad history! (Although as I'm sure you've read the Governor here where our winter home is located does not agree. He and his believers make me so terribly sad.)
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