Elyton Cemetery: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Elyton Cemetery 2020.jpg|right|thumb|375px|View of Elyton Cemetery in 2020]]
[[File:Elyton Cemetery 2020.jpg|right|thumb|375px|View of Elyton Cemetery in 2020]]
'''Elyton Cemetery''', often called '''Old Elyton Cemetery''' is a small cemetery located on a one-acre plot at 426 [[2nd Avenue North]] near [[Arlington Home and Gardens]]. It is known as the oldest cemetery in the present limits of [[Birmingham]]. The land that the cemetery is on was purchased by Colonel [[John Dupuy]] in [[1821]] as part of a 40 acre tract of land. Colonel Dupuy bought the land from [[William Ely]], for whom the city of [[Elyton]] was named. The cemetery was donated to the city of Elyton before Dupuy's death in [[1856]].  
'''Elyton Cemetery''', often called '''Old Elyton Cemetery''' is a small cemetery located on a one-acre plot at 426 [[2nd Avenue North]] near [[Arlington Home and Gardens]]. It is known as the oldest cemetery in the present limits of [[Birmingham]]. The land that the cemetery is on was purchased by Colonel [[John Dupuy]] in [[1821]] as part of a 40 acre tract of land. Colonel Dupuy bought the land from [[William Ely]], for whom the city of [[Elyton]] was named. The cemetery was deeded to the city of Elyton before Dupuy's death in [[1856]].  


There are 142 burials recorded at this cemetery, the oldest belonging to an "Infant Son" who was born and died in [[1805]]. Elyton Cemetery is also the burial place of [[Joab Bagley]], the first probate judge elected by [[Jefferson County]] voters. Most of the cemetery's burials predate the founding of [[Birmingham]] in [[1871]]. The latest burials were those of [[Agnes Nicholson]] in [[1919]] and [[Velma Mae Melton]] in [[1987]]. Even as early as [[1872]] there were reports that the cemetery was in a, "very dilapidated condition."
There are 142 burials recorded at this cemetery, the oldest belonging to an "Infant Son" who was born and died in [[1805]]. Elyton Cemetery is also the burial place of [[Joab Bagley]], the first probate judge elected by [[Jefferson County]] voters. Most of the cemetery's burials predate the founding of [[Birmingham]] in [[1871]]. The latest burials were those of [[Agnes Nicholson]] in [[1919]] and [[Velma Mae Melton]] in [[1987]]. Even as early as [[1872]] there were reports that the cemetery was in a, "very dilapidated condition."

Revision as of 15:31, 25 April 2020

View of Elyton Cemetery in 2020

Elyton Cemetery, often called Old Elyton Cemetery is a small cemetery located on a one-acre plot at 426 2nd Avenue North near Arlington Home and Gardens. It is known as the oldest cemetery in the present limits of Birmingham. The land that the cemetery is on was purchased by Colonel John Dupuy in 1821 as part of a 40 acre tract of land. Colonel Dupuy bought the land from William Ely, for whom the city of Elyton was named. The cemetery was deeded to the city of Elyton before Dupuy's death in 1856.

There are 142 burials recorded at this cemetery, the oldest belonging to an "Infant Son" who was born and died in 1805. Elyton Cemetery is also the burial place of Joab Bagley, the first probate judge elected by Jefferson County voters. Most of the cemetery's burials predate the founding of Birmingham in 1871. The latest burials were those of Agnes Nicholson in 1919 and Velma Mae Melton in 1987. Even as early as 1872 there were reports that the cemetery was in a, "very dilapidated condition."

In 1891 a fund of $450 was raised to restore the aging plot, but by 1904 the Jones Valley Times was again bemoaning that, "cattle browse in its silence, the hog roots among the tombs, and everything has a neglected aspect as though among the living there was no one who loved them, no one who remembered the precious dust. No fence; the earth full of caves where graves have sunk down, giving the whole place the appearance of having been forgotten long ago."

In 1914 an Elyton Cemetery Memorial Association was formed to clean and restore the cemetery. In 1951 the state of the cemetery was again a cause for concern, with weeds and vines covering the ground, markers toppled and broken, fences left in remnants, and a small baseball diamond in use by neighborhood children, with marble markers used for bases.

A historic plaque was dedicated at Elyton Cemetery by Mayor George Seibels on December 14, 1969. The headstone of pioneer Williamson Hawkins, who died in 1875 and was buried on a family plot, was relocated to Elyton Cemetery in 1970.

In the brick courtyard of the cemetery was a marble statue known as the "Laughing Girl", though it has not been seen intact since the mid- to late 1970's. According to the Birmingham History Center, there is a chance that the statue was sculpted by Giuseppe Moretti.

The cemetery has a long history of neglect. As far back as 1891, area groups were raising money to clean up the plots, and the area currently lies in a state of disrepair.

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Notable burials

References

External links

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