Preserving history

There are still many unidentified graves in the County Home Cemetery, but the Town of Wentworth’s Historic Preservation Committee and volunteers are working to clean it up and possibly give someone peace of mind concerning a lost loved one.

A dedication was held Sunday afternoon to dedicate a brick and marble marker for the cemetery and recognize volunteers who helped clean the area and facilitate the project.

James Kallam, chairman of the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners, said it was a great collaboration among many different groups to preserve a piece of the county’s history.

“If we forget our history, we forget everything we are, so we have to get out here and support these projects that preserve our county’s history,” he said. “There’s no way in the world anyone standing here can’t be proud of where we come from and proud of what our volunteers have done for this cemetery and this community.”

Eagle Scout Geoffrey Haigler did much of the cemetery’s cleanup with his Boy Scout Troop 797. He said he contacted Rockingham County Historian Bob Carter about an Eagle Scout project he could do for the Rockingham County Historical Society Museum and Archives group after going on a class field trip to a historical cemetery.

“We heard stories about grave robbers (and) I thought it was a shame…,” he said. “After speaking with Bob Carter, he was really interested in working with me and said the cemetery really needed a sign or something permanent to mark the space.”

Haigler said after working with his troop to clear brush and clean up trash, they wrote letters and found people in the community willing to donate their money and time.

He said it took nine to 10 hours to finish the brick portion of the marker with materials donated from Pine Hall Brick. Volunteers built the structure along with others who helped engrave a piece of granite recycled from a kitchen project at Haigler’s home.

Many members of the group who gathered at the cemetery Sunday afternoon expressed their thanks to Haigler for his hard work, including Wentworth Mayor Robert Aswell.

“I am proud of our clerk, Brenda Ward, who got the historical committee up and running again, and I’m proud of the committee members and our Eagle Scout who contributed their time and worked hard to build this monument,” he said. “The cemetery was overgrown and the sign was in bad shape – people forgot the cemetery was even here. We now have a neat and attractive space. We’re glad we could help facilitate these improvements.”

The Wentworth Historic Preservation Committee will also be working with the GIS Department at Rockingham County to map the cemetery and others in the area.

A brief history on the County Home building and cemetery was presented by Carter. Where the building now stands, there used to be several log buildings that served as a place where those who were poor, orphaned, sick or homeless could go.

The current building was constructed in 1913 for $21,690, according to Carter. It was updated in the 1950s for $90,000 so Rockingham County could use it for offices.

Hundreds of people were buried in the cemetery across the street for many years. It’s estimated that 250 residents, both black and white, were buried in the cemetery but many grave sites are unmarked.

Carter said it was a dream of his to have a structure mark the cemetery and pay tribute to those buried.

“People pass by this every day and probably don’t even think about the history that’s here,” he said. “It’s a great thing that we now have a well-built and well-designed marker that should last for many years.”

The inscription on the cemetery marker was also written by Carter. It’s as follows:

“Rockingham County operated a home for its elderly, homeless, sick, insane and destitute residents from 1828 until 1955. The last County Home, built in 1913, stands 600 feet southwest. The remains of an estimated 250 residents, both African-American and white, lay buried in the cemetery. They are in anguish no more; their afflictions are ended. May they rest in peace.”