LA GRANGE, Ky. — For years, the La Grange Historic African American Cemetery was neglected, even though numerous Civil War and World War veterans are buried there.
Now, neighbors are stepping up to restore it.
“I highly respect [their service] because I know a lot of those people who fought for our freedom just for us to be standing here and have rights,” said Esia West, a volunteer.
A site holding so much Black history in La Grange was neglected for years.
“The trees and weeds had just taken over,” said Kenneth Powell, a member of the La Grange City Council.
La Grange Tourism and the Rotary Club of La Grange are stepping in, cleaning up and bringing respect to the historic site.
“This area hasn’t been maintained and is an important part of our county’s history,” said Amanda Connaughton. “It made me want to plug in and help out for just a few hours on Saturday.”
Now comes the hardest part: uncovering the cemetery’s history — with burials dating back to 1849.
“With this being a Black cemetery, historically, records weren’t kept very well for minority populations,” said Sarah Garrett, a volunteer. “So, digging in is going to be difficult. Even looking for pictures of folks.”
Until then, volunteers are honoring the veterans, placing American flags beside their graves.
“Ownership of the cemetery, that company is no longer in existence,” said Al Earley, of the Rotary Club of La Grange. “In the early 1900s, it seemed to have dropped out of ownership or control.”
Organizers said once the history is preserved, they plan to return it to the Black community of La Grange.
That includes a long-held tradition: If you can dig the hole, you can bury your loved one there.
“After the funeral service, then they would bury the casket and all that kind of stuff,” said Earley. “Today, I’ve been told that a Bobcat does the job a whole lot faster.”
But much about the site is still unknown, and residents are piecing together clues with the community’s help.
It’s a combined effort with local universities, neighbors and the historical society.
The Rotary Club of La Grange is now hoping to fund ground-penetrating radar to find more unmarked graves.
