Thursday, July 30, 2015

Marietta City Cemetery Founded in 1831

Marietta City Cemetery is less than a mile from the famous Marietta Square in Georgia. I've driven by it countless times and finally decided to stop by.

Photo Credit: CK Worley

Some of the most influential families from the area are buried there. The Chastains, Samfords, Whitlocks and Dobbins among many others.
Photo Credit: CK Worley
In 1913 Mary Phagan who at the age of 13 was murdered in the Atlanta Pencil Factory is buried there. Leo Frank was convicted and then lynched for that murder but was found not guilty and posthumously pardoned in 1986. A very sad time in the history of Marietta.

Photo of Mary Phagan from the AJC
This cemetery has a slave section which was unusual for the times. Although there are several slaves buried there only four are named. They were servants of Mrs. Eliza G. Robarts; Clarissa, Hannah, Nancy and Peggy.

Here is a convenient  web site that shows you who is buried where in the cemetery. You can also find a map for trees, plots as well as grave markers.

http://cityofmarietta.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=545f1b0ff22242519a7a0a00b05fa539


Red Cedar photo credit: CK Worley
The cemetery is full of Water Oaks, Pecan, Cedar, Cherry Laurel, Sugar Maple, Magnolia, Black Locust and Mulberry trees. Many are old and very impressive.

You can also participate in the many Marietta Ghost Tours including a Ghost Pub Crawl. You can find information by following this link.

http://ghostsofmarietta.com/

In 1863 the land began to be used to to bury Confederate war dead. And since Marietta was a major hospital town for the Confederacy the occupancy of this cemetery began to rise quickly. Marietta National Cemetery includes the bodies of men who died on both sides during The Atlanta Campaign and The March to the Sea.


Photo Credit: CK Worley
They even have a cannon that was captured by Shermans men on their March to the Sea displayed on the property. It was returned to the city in 1910.
Photo Credit: CK Worley

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
By Mary Elizabeth Frye

2 comments:

  1. Is that the one off of Polk? If so, it's where JonBenet Ramsey is buried.

    ReplyDelete
  2. No, It's the one off of Powder Springs Road just off the South Loop

    ReplyDelete