[Hollynla]

Originally Posted by Old Fossil

I read in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper that they have estimated there is almost $300,000 in physical damage.

Very sad for the families who have loved ones buried there. Why would anyone purposely do such a thing. Disgusting.

[Old Fossil]

Originally Posted by Old Fossil

Montgomery County - Here is a small cemetery I was shown several years ago but never took any photos, so in November I decided to go do that and found it was not listed on any maps I had at that time, but is well maintained. That got my curiosity up so I started digging. I got the latest available topo map and find it is listed on it as the Ellis Cemetery. As I continued to dig I find lots of wonderful associated history and will file an archeology report on it with the recommendation that it be placed on the National Register. Now I gotta get back over there, map it, and get my paperwork done.


It is west of Black Springs, at the intersection of Arkansas Highway 8 and North Polk Creek [county] Road/Forest Service Road 73. Here are introductory photos but there will be more later.

Today I went back to map this cemetery and take one specific photo. A perfect day for it. In my research after the above Post I found that John Scott acquired 160 acres on which this cemetery is located, with a United States Warrant for his military service in the Alabama Volunteers during the Florida War. "Florida War" was officially known as the Second Seminole War during 1835-1842. He acquired the property in 1854. His wife died in 1858 and was the first buried here, so I suspect as often happened back then, a family burial place evolved into a community cemetery. The cemetery is well maintained and still being used. In fact, it was given a "final touch-up" a couple days ago getting it ready for Mother's Day.


The photo of "Sam's Leg" is unusual. The only other similar marker I have ever seen was in a cemetery near Gatliff Kentucky and it was only the profile of a whole leg, with no data. Anyway, Sam's Leg belonged to Sam Swindle, 1910-1973. Oral history implies his family had a genetic problem with their feet and/or legs and Sam chose to have his amputated. Sam is also buried in this cemetery but I ran out of time before I found his grave.


Oh! I messed up in my original Post above. I Posted that the topo map listed it as the "Ellis Cemetery" but it is listed as the Scott Cemetery. My train/brain jumped the track. Gee

[mannettefuselier]

Scott Cemetery is kinda 'my front yard'. I am from New Orleans and have lived next or near NoLA's above ground tombs. I am thrilled to know more about the history of Scott Cemetery. And, I did so enjoy a chat with the 'Old Fossil'.

[Old Fossil]

Originally Posted by mannettefuselier

Scott Cemetery is kinda 'my front yard'. I am from New Orleans and have lived next or near NoLA's above ground tombs. I am thrilled to know more about the history of Scott Cemetery. And, I did so enjoy a chat with the 'Old Fossil'.

I enjoyed my visit with you and your husband. Y'all gave me some missing info about the cemetery. Thanks. I will send you copies of the info we talked about.

[Old Fossil]

Nathan, west Pike County - My archeologist friend and I were out and about yesterday and it was a perfect day for our type photos; cloudy/overcast, no sharp shadows as with sunshine. We had two objectives. He had been asked to look at an abandoned cemetery that was being damaged but was not told what kind of damage or how extensive. The other was some "grooved rocks" he had been told about, in the vicinity of the cemetery. The Indians would find a large sandstone rock, or an outcrop, and use them to sharpen/smooth their stone axes and the process would leave grooves in the rock.


When we got to the rock location the property was posted so we will have to find the owner and get permission to go in. Seeing the thickets from the road, it will be better to search in the winter anyway.


The cemetery is in a cow pasture and cows can destroy grave markers in no time by rubbing on them or by bedding down by them and knocking them over. The cemetery had a couple or three dozen grave markers and I didn't see a single one that wasn't broker or knocked over. The attached photos show only a small portion of the cemetery. It extends farther left, and above left. It's probably at least 50/75 meters square. More photos will follow.


On the trip we also saw an early 1900s/late 1800s house in "downtown" Nathan, found a small cemetery we didn't know about, and a railroad cut through the hill where the damaged cemetery is located. We haven't yet found the to/from of the RR. More photos to follow.


Oh - we had a great, late, lunch at Pinkies Café in Delight. In the past we always ate at Mom's Diner but it is now closed.

[mannettefuselier]

Originally Posted by Old Fossil

I enjoyed my visit with you and your husband. Y'all gave me some missing info about the cemetery. Thanks. I will send you copies of the info we talked about.

Thank you!!! I am looking forward to gettting this! I do so cherish that partof the planet.

[Luvvarkansas]

Originally Posted by Old Fossil

On the trip we also saw an early 1900s/late 1800s house in "downtown" Nathan,

Was it this one?


https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1048...7i13312!8i6656

[Old Fossil]

Originally Posted by Luvvarkansas

Was it this one?


https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1048...7i13312!8i6656

Yep, I'll post it later. You really work that Google Earth, don't you Luvv?

[Luvvarkansas]

Originally Posted by Old Fossil

Yep, I'll post it later. You really work that Google Earth, don't you Luvv?

It's the only way I can afford to wander as much as I'd like.

[Old Fossil]

Nathan, west Pike County - I found a contact who knows all about the damaged cemetery because she has ancestors there. She said it was the Ione Cemetery. She also said this (damaged knocked over) tombstone is an ancestor of Governor Asa Hutchinson and the cemetery has over a dozen of his ancestors buried there. She said she had written Governor Hutchinson about the condition of the cemetery but got no response. She has also written several groups who clean up such cemeteries as a public service, but got no response from any of them. It's a sad situation.