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'''East Lake Cemetery''' is a two-acre cemetery located along [[78th Street North|78th Street]], straddling [[Division Avenue]], in [[Birmingham]]'s [[East Lake neighborhood]]. It was established in the early 1830s, long before the establishment of "East Lake" as a streetcar suburb of Birmingham and was associated with [[Ruhama Baptist Church]]. The first parcel was donated to the church by [[Richard Wood]] and his wife, [[Harriet Bradford Wood]].  
[[File:East Lake Cemetery.jpg|right|thumb|450px|View of East Lake Cemetery in May 2020]]
'''East Lake Cemetery''', also called '''Ruhama Cemetery''', is a two-acre cemetery located on [[Division Hill]], along [[78th Street North|78th Street]], straddling [[Division Avenue]], in [[Birmingham]]'s [[East Lake neighborhood]]. It was established in [[1836]], long before the establishment of "East Lake" as a [[streetcar suburb]] of Birmingham, and was associated with [[Ruhama Baptist Church]]. The first parcel was donated to the church by [[Richard Wood]] and his wife, [[Harriet Bradford Wood]].  


In [[1884]], [[Jemison Realty]] donated several additional lots to the cemetery before it went to a stock company, where shares were bought by several people and interests, including the [[Jemison Company]] and [[Ruhama Baptist Church]]. The shares were eventually sold in [[1900]] to [[William Williams]], who looked after the property until his death in [[1931]]. It was then sold twice more before coming into the possession of [[John Lavender]], who is now deceased.  
In [[1884]], [[Jemison Realty]] donated several additional lots to the cemetery before it went to a stock company, where shares were bought by several people and interests, including the [[Jemison Company]] and [[Ruhama Baptist Church]]. The reorganization, formally transacted on [[July 19]], [[1890]] marked the beginning of a period of much greater utilization of the cemetery.


The cemetery holds the graves of at least 60 Confederate soldiers, one Union soldier. The [[Alexander H. Stephens Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy]] began planning a memorial to Company C of the [[20th Alabama Regiment]] which was raised at the campus of [[Howard College]] in Marion, Perry County. Since the college had moved to East Lake in the late 1880s, the memorial was to be located at East Lake Cemetery. By the time it was finally completed in [[1951]], the chapter had decided to also honor veterans of the [[Spanish-American War]], [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] with a four-sided "[[Soldiers' Monument (East Lake)|Soldiers' Monument]].
The shares were eventually sold in [[1900]] to [[William Williams]], but no endowment was preserved. An [[East Lake Cemetery Improvement Association]] organized to preserve and manage the cemetery. That group commissioned a "wall committee" to make plans to enclose the property in [[1918]]. After Williams' death in [[1931]] the cemetery became the property of [[Curtis Shugart]]. Later it was owned by long-time sexton [[John Lavender]], who died in [[1949]]. [[Olin Kelso]] succeeded him.


In April [[1955]] the cause of preserving and beautifying East Lake Cemetery was undertaken by a newly-formed [[Division Hill Memorial Garden Club]]. The organizers of the club included [[Olin Kelso]], [[G. A. Waters]], and Mrs [[Leon Palmer]] and the group planned to hold annual memorial services on Easter Sundays, to include a reading of a roll of the names of all those interred there. The first gift to the club was a [[crape myrtle]] donated by Mrs [[C. T. Hutchens]], daughter of [[Mary Echols]], in honor of [[W. H. McDaniel]].
In April [[1955]] the cause of preserving and beautifying East Lake Cemetery was undertaken by a newly-formed [[Division Hill Memorial Garden Club]]. The organizers of the club included Kelso, [[Robert Galbreath]], [[G. A. Waters]], and Mrs [[Leon Palmer]] and the group planned to hold annual memorial services on Easter Sundays, to include a reading of a roll of the names of all those interred there. The first gift to the club was a [[crape myrtle]] donated by Mrs [[C. T. Hutchens]], daughter of [[Mary Echols]], in honor of [[W. H. McDaniel]]. The group, which continued at least through [[1958]] under the leadership of [[A. W. Hawley]], compiled a history of the cemetery, including records of burials and planned to produce a map of plots.
 
The cemetery holds the graves of at least sixty Confederate veterans and one Union soldier. The [[Alexander H. Stephens Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy]] began planning a memorial to Company C of the [[20th Alabama Regiment]] which was raised at the campus of [[Howard College]] in Marion, Perry County. Since the college had moved to East Lake in the late 1880s, the memorial was to be located at East Lake Cemetery. By the time [[Hattie Williams]] succeeded in completing the project in [[1951]], the chapter had decided to also honor veterans of the [[Spanish-American War]], [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] with a four-sided "[[Soldiers' Monument (East Lake)|Soldiers' Monument]].
   
   
==Notable Burials==
==Notable Burials==
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* [[George Bayless]], first clerk of the Ruhama Baptist Church  
* [[George Bayless]], first clerk of the Ruhama Baptist Church  
* [[Magnolia Ellard]] (1885–1904)
* [[Magnolia Ellard]] (1885–1904)
* [[James Glosson]] (1843–1938)
* [[John Huey|John Marvin Huey]], minister
* [[John Huey|John Marvin Huey]], minister
* [[John Lavender]] (1862–1949)
* [[Louiza McDaniel]] (1820–1891)
* [[Louiza McDaniel]] (1820–1891)
* [[W. H. McDaniel]]
* [[W. H. McDaniel]]
* [[Bob McKinley]] (1846–1913), Postmaster and [[Mayor of East Lake]]
* [[John McPhaul]] (–1928), [[L & N Railroad]] engineer
* [[George Macon|George W. Macon]] (1861–1931), [[Howard College]] professor
* [[James Moor]] (1853–1904)
* [[James Moor]] (1853–1904)
* [[Martha Jane Moor]] (1855–1901)
* [[Martha Jane Moor]] (1855–1901)
* [[Joseph Moor]] (1856–1899)
* [[Joseph Moor]] (1856–1899)
* [[Theodrick Moor]] (1841–1911)
* [[Theodrick Moor]] (1841–1911)
* [[James Mullin]] (1857–1903), [[Birmingham Police Department|Birmingham Police officer]] [[List of Birmingham Police officers killed on duty|killed in the line of duty]]
* [[Solomon Palmer]] (1839–1896), president of [[East Lake Atheneum]]
* [[James Russell]] (1851–1931), attorney
* [[John Shugart]] (1852–1906), attorney and homicide victim
* [[John Shugart]] (1852–1906), attorney and homicide victim
* [[James D. Truss]] (1861–1925), civil engineer and politician
* [[William Williams]] (1841–1931), planing mill owner
* [[William Williams]] (1841–1931), planing mill owner
* [[William Wyatt]] (1829–1911)
* [[William Wyatt]] (1829–1911)


== References ==
== References ==
* "East Lake Cemetery Association Meets" (May 8, 1918) {{BN}}, p. 10
* "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/429 Monument In Cemetery To Veterans Of 4 Wars]" (n. d.) ''East End News'' - via {{BPLDC}}
* "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/429 Monument In Cemetery To Veterans Of 4 Wars]" (n. d.) ''East End News'' - via {{BPLDC}}
* "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/428 Memorial Garden Club Is Formed To Perpetuate, Beautify Cemetery]" (1955) unidentified newspaper - via {{BPLDC}}
* "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/428 Memorial Garden Club Is Formed To Perpetuate, Beautify Cemetery]" (1955) unidentified newspaper - via {{BPLDC}}
* "Old East Lake cemetery to be cleaned up, graves identified." (July 11, 1955) {{BN}}, p. 11
* Palmer, Mrs Leon (1956) "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/426 Historic East Lake Cemetery Has Memorial To Early Teacher]" ''East End News'' - via {{BPLDC}}
* Palmer, Mrs Leon (1956) "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/426 Historic East Lake Cemetery Has Memorial To Early Teacher]" ''East End News'' - via {{BPLDC}}
* Alexander, Lorine (October 12, 1958) "What's to be the fate of our old cemeteries." ''The Birmingham News Magazine'', p. 18–19
* "East Lake Cemetery" in {{HJC}}, p. 137
* "East Lake Cemetery" in {{HJC}}, p. 137


== External links ==
* [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/22602/east-lake-cemetery East Lake Cemetery] at Findagrave.com
[[Category:East Lake Cemetery burials|*]]
[[Category:Birmingham cemeteries]]
[[Category:Birmingham cemeteries]]
[[Category:1830s establishments]]
[[Category:1836 establishments]]
[[Category:78th Street North]]
[[Category:78th Street North]]
[[Category:78th Street South]]
[[Category:78th Street South]]
[[Category:Division Avenue]]
[[Category:Division Avenue]]
[[Category:Ruhama]]
[[Category:Ruhama]]

Latest revision as of 10:23, 10 May 2020

View of East Lake Cemetery in May 2020

East Lake Cemetery, also called Ruhama Cemetery, is a two-acre cemetery located on Division Hill, along 78th Street, straddling Division Avenue, in Birmingham's East Lake neighborhood. It was established in 1836, long before the establishment of "East Lake" as a streetcar suburb of Birmingham, and was associated with Ruhama Baptist Church. The first parcel was donated to the church by Richard Wood and his wife, Harriet Bradford Wood.

In 1884, Jemison Realty donated several additional lots to the cemetery before it went to a stock company, where shares were bought by several people and interests, including the Jemison Company and Ruhama Baptist Church. The reorganization, formally transacted on July 19, 1890 marked the beginning of a period of much greater utilization of the cemetery.

The shares were eventually sold in 1900 to William Williams, but no endowment was preserved. An East Lake Cemetery Improvement Association organized to preserve and manage the cemetery. That group commissioned a "wall committee" to make plans to enclose the property in 1918. After Williams' death in 1931 the cemetery became the property of Curtis Shugart. Later it was owned by long-time sexton John Lavender, who died in 1949. Olin Kelso succeeded him.

In April 1955 the cause of preserving and beautifying East Lake Cemetery was undertaken by a newly-formed Division Hill Memorial Garden Club. The organizers of the club included Kelso, Robert Galbreath, G. A. Waters, and Mrs Leon Palmer and the group planned to hold annual memorial services on Easter Sundays, to include a reading of a roll of the names of all those interred there. The first gift to the club was a crape myrtle donated by Mrs C. T. Hutchens, daughter of Mary Echols, in honor of W. H. McDaniel. The group, which continued at least through 1958 under the leadership of A. W. Hawley, compiled a history of the cemetery, including records of burials and planned to produce a map of plots.

The cemetery holds the graves of at least sixty Confederate veterans and one Union soldier. The Alexander H. Stephens Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy began planning a memorial to Company C of the 20th Alabama Regiment which was raised at the campus of Howard College in Marion, Perry County. Since the college had moved to East Lake in the late 1880s, the memorial was to be located at East Lake Cemetery. By the time Hattie Williams succeeded in completing the project in 1951, the chapter had decided to also honor veterans of the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II with a four-sided "Soldiers' Monument.

Notable Burials

References

External links

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