Blue grass memorial CEMETERY
What is the bluegrass memorial cemetery?
What are the Blue Grass Memorial Cemeteries? In response to the United States’ entry in World War II, the US Army developed facilities to store conventional and chemical weapons. These new weapons depots required specific geographic qualities—the land needed to be rural, undeveloped, isolated, and have access to local low-cost civilian labor. One such location was identified in Madison County, Kentucky, just south of Richmond, which became the Blue Grass Army Depot. To create the Depot, over 14,000 acres were purchased from local landowners via eminent domain to create the military facility. More than 150 landholders were displaced and relocated—and, along with them, over 2,000 exhumed human remains from dozens of informal family cemeteries, some with burials dating back to the 18th century. To address this issue, the Army created two new cemeteries for reinterment. And, to comply with the Jim Crow segregation norms of the time, the Army designated separate burial grounds—for one whites and another for African Americans. “Cemetery A,” today known as the Blue Grass Memorial Cemetery, was established for white burials, and is located in close proximity to the Depot. “Cemetery B,” renamed the “Speedwell Cemetery,” was developed three miles away on Speedwell Road. Among those who were reinterred in the two cemeteries include veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War, as well as hundreds of unnamed slaves.
Why Are These Cemeteries Important? Both cemeteries have geographic and historic significance for Madison County and Kentucky. The burial plots include the remains of pioneer settlers, veterans, slave owners and slaves. And many of their descendants live in Madison County today. In addition to local history, the cemeteries also reflect sacrifices made on the home front by civilians to win World War II—including Madison Countians who gave up land, which, in many cases, had been owned by their families for generations. Finally, the cemeteries are a reflection of the story of slavery in Kentucky and the struggle for Civil Rights. The long list of “unknown” African American remains that were reinterred at the Speedwell Cemetery is a stark reminder of the inhumanity of slavery and the long road to equal rights that is still being traveled today.
What has happened to these two cemeteries over the past 75 years? Unfortunately, the promises of perpetual care by the US Army and local citizens did not stand the test of time. Today, the Blue Grass Memorial Cemetery is an orphaned property in legal and physical disarray. And, although the Speedwell Cemetery is in much better condition than the BGMC, its caretakers are elderly and future care of the property is uncertain. But there is hope on the horizon. Efforts are underway to form plans to restore these historic properties and seek social justice for the persons interred there as well as their descendants.
How can geographers and the public contribute to the project to rehabilitate and reinterpret the BGMC and the Speedwell Cemetery? Stayed tuned to this web page and follow us on Facebook at the “Friends of the Blue Grass Memorial Cemeteries.”
Why Are These Cemeteries Important? Both cemeteries have geographic and historic significance for Madison County and Kentucky. The burial plots include the remains of pioneer settlers, veterans, slave owners and slaves. And many of their descendants live in Madison County today. In addition to local history, the cemeteries also reflect sacrifices made on the home front by civilians to win World War II—including Madison Countians who gave up land, which, in many cases, had been owned by their families for generations. Finally, the cemeteries are a reflection of the story of slavery in Kentucky and the struggle for Civil Rights. The long list of “unknown” African American remains that were reinterred at the Speedwell Cemetery is a stark reminder of the inhumanity of slavery and the long road to equal rights that is still being traveled today.
What has happened to these two cemeteries over the past 75 years? Unfortunately, the promises of perpetual care by the US Army and local citizens did not stand the test of time. Today, the Blue Grass Memorial Cemetery is an orphaned property in legal and physical disarray. And, although the Speedwell Cemetery is in much better condition than the BGMC, its caretakers are elderly and future care of the property is uncertain. But there is hope on the horizon. Efforts are underway to form plans to restore these historic properties and seek social justice for the persons interred there as well as their descendants.
How can geographers and the public contribute to the project to rehabilitate and reinterpret the BGMC and the Speedwell Cemetery? Stayed tuned to this web page and follow us on Facebook at the “Friends of the Blue Grass Memorial Cemeteries.”
