Oak Hill Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)
Encyclopedia
Oak Hill Cemetery, located just north of downtown, is Birmingham, Alabama
's oldest cemetery
. Originally 21.5 acres (87,007.5 m²) on the estate of James M. Ware, it was already a burial ground by April 1869 when it served as the resting place for the infant daughter of future mayor Robert H. Henley. It was marked as "City Cemetery" on the original plats for Birmingham laid out by the Elyton Land Company and was formally sold to the city on December 29, 1873 for the sum of $1,073.50.
Most of the 10,000 or so burials at Oak Hill were interred before 1930, including nine of the ten landholders who founded the city, many early mayors, a Revolutionary
soldier, numerous American Civil War
veterans, and the first male child born in the city. Although few records exist from the time, most believe the "Potter's Field
" section was also used as the final resting place for many victims of the 1873 cholera
epidemic.
In 1889 Judge A. O. Lane purchased 200 acre (0.809372 km²) on the southern slopes of Red Mountain (Birmingham, Alabama), now Lane Park
, for the burial of paupers, thereby ending the use of Oak Hill's "Potter's Field". In 1928 the caretaker's cottage near the center of the property, was removed to the southwest corner of the cemetery and a new "Pioneer's Memorial Building" was constructed of Indiana limestone
, designed by Miller & Martin Architects with William Kessler, landscape architect.
In 1977, Oak Hill Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. The Oak Hill Memorial Association keeps an office in the former caretaker's cottage and published a quarterly newsletter, the Oak Hill Pioneer, from Winter 1999 to Fall 2006, with articles about the history of the city in the context of the lives of those buried at Oak Hill.
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
's oldest cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
. Originally 21.5 acres (87,007.5 m²) on the estate of James M. Ware, it was already a burial ground by April 1869 when it served as the resting place for the infant daughter of future mayor Robert H. Henley. It was marked as "City Cemetery" on the original plats for Birmingham laid out by the Elyton Land Company and was formally sold to the city on December 29, 1873 for the sum of $1,073.50.
Most of the 10,000 or so burials at Oak Hill were interred before 1930, including nine of the ten landholders who founded the city, many early mayors, a Revolutionary
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
soldier, numerous American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veterans, and the first male child born in the city. Although few records exist from the time, most believe the "Potter's Field
Potter's field
A potter's field was an American term for a place for the burial of unknown or indigent people. The expression derives from the Bible, referring to a field used for the extraction of potter's clay, which was useless for agriculture but could be used as a burial site.-Origin:The term comes from...
" section was also used as the final resting place for many victims of the 1873 cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic.
In 1889 Judge A. O. Lane purchased 200 acre (0.809372 km²) on the southern slopes of Red Mountain (Birmingham, Alabama), now Lane Park
Lane Park
Lane Park is a large park located in Birmingham, Alabama. The park is home to the Birmingham Zoo and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The park is located between Mountain Brook and Homewood on the southern slope of Red Mountain and is adjacent to U.S. Highway 280....
, for the burial of paupers, thereby ending the use of Oak Hill's "Potter's Field". In 1928 the caretaker's cottage near the center of the property, was removed to the southwest corner of the cemetery and a new "Pioneer's Memorial Building" was constructed of Indiana limestone
Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone, also known as Bedford Limestone is a common regional term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana between Bloomington and Bedford....
, designed by Miller & Martin Architects with William Kessler, landscape architect.
In 1977, Oak Hill Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Oak Hill Memorial Association keeps an office in the former caretaker's cottage and published a quarterly newsletter, the Oak Hill Pioneer, from Winter 1999 to Fall 2006, with articles about the history of the city in the context of the lives of those buried at Oak Hill.
Notable burials
- William S. Mudd (1816–1884), builder of Arlington Antebellum Home & GardensArlington Antebellum Home & GardensArlington Antebellum Home & Gardens is a former plantation house and of landscaped gardens near downtown Birmingham, Alabama. The two-story frame structure was built between 1845-50 and features antebellum-era Greek Revival architecture. The house serves as a decorative arts museum, featuring a...
- Robert Henley, First mayor of Birmingham
- Frank M. DixonFrank M. DixonFrank Murray Dixon was an American Democratic politician who was the 40th Governor of Alabama from 1939 to 1943. Born in Oakland, California in 1892, he died in Birmingham, Alabama in 1965. His interment was located in Birmingham's Oak Hill Cemetery.Dixon took part in World War I and served as an...
, Governor of Alabama - Louise WoosterLouise WoosterLouise Catharine Wooster , better known as Lou Wooster, was a famous madam in Birmingham, Alabama. Her colorful character and her care for the sick and dying during the cholera epidemic of 1873 endeared her to the Birmingham community...
, famed Madam - Mortimer Jordan, health care pioneer
- William Hugh SmithWilliam Hugh SmithWilliam Hugh Smith was the first Republican and the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama, serving from 1868 to 1870 during the period of military reconstruction. A former slave owner, he opposed secession from the union on the grounds it would imperil slave property...
, Governor of Alabama 1868–1870 - Rucker Agee (1897–1985), banker and map collector
- Edmund RuckerEdmund RuckerEdmund Winchester Rucker was a Confederate officer during the American Civil War. He was given the title of "General" as an honorary award after the war, when he became an industrial leader of Birmingham, Alabama. Fort Rucker was named in honor of him...
, Civil War general - Charles LinnCharles LinnCharles Linn born Carl Erik Engelbrekt Sjödahl was a sailor, wholesaler, banker and industrialist. He was one of the founders of Birmingham, Alabama.-Background:...
, industrialist and financier - John T. Milner (1826–1898), railroad engineer, pioneer
- Henry F. DeBardeleben (1840-1910), industrialist and developed BessemerBessemer, AlabamaBessemer is a city outside of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States eight miles west of Hoover. The population was 29,672 at the 2000 Census, but by the 2009 U.S...
- Ellen Pratt DeBardeleben (1844-1894), daughter of Daniel PrattDaniel PrattDaniel Pratt pioneered ventures that opened the door for industry in the U.S. state of Alabama. Prattville in Autauga County and Birmingham's Pratt City in Jefferson County are both named for him...
- James SlossJames SlossJames Withers Sloss was a planter, industrialist, and the founder of the Sloss Furnaces, and a leading figure in the early development of Birmingham, Alabama.-Early life:...
, railroad magnate, founder of Sloss FurnacesSloss FurnacesSloss Furnaces is a National Historic Landmark in Birmingham, Alabama in the United States. It operated as a pig iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971. After closing it became one of the first industrial sites in the U.S. to be preserved for public use... - Walter Henley, coal baron, banker, philanthropist
- F. B. Yielding (1864–1948), founder of Yielding department store chain
- Henry M. Caldwell, president of Elyton Land Company, owner of Peanut Depot building
- Arthur H. Parker (1870–1939), educator, namesake of A. H. Parker High SchoolA. H. Parker High SchoolA.H. Parker High School is a public high school located in Birmingham, Alabama. The school educates over 1,000 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Birmingham City Schools district.As of 2010 the principal is Cedric Tatum.- History :A.H...
- William E. B. Davis, pioneer gynecologist
- Frank P. O'Brien, manufacturer, mayor, industrialist, developer and opera-house owner
- Fred ShuttlesworthFred ShuttlesworthReverend Fred Shuttlesworth, born Freddie Lee Robinson, was a U.S. civil rights activist who led the fight against segregation and other forms of racism as a minister in Birmingham, Alabama...
(1922-2011), civil rights leader
External links
- Oak Hill Cemetery at USGenWeb (rootsweb.com)
- The Oak Hill Pioneer newsletter
- "Oak Hill Website" website