Cemetery Project
The Roswell Historical Society is committed to preserving and restoring the historic cemeteries of Roswell. Our primary focus is on those cemeteries which may not have an organization, such as the city or a church, caring for them. For those, we seek to record the information on those buried there. We schedule monument cleaning events to help slow the erosion of the information.
Currently, our focus is on the Old Roswell (aka Methodist) Cemetery. In 2014, the Roswell Historical Society and the City of Roswell agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding Old Roswell Cemetery. The City through the Roswell Rec and Parks Department will maintain the grounds. The Society may coordinate volunteer efforts to preserve and restore the cemetery. These activities may include recording the data, cleaning the monuments, and fundraising to restore the monuments.
Methodist Cemetery (aka Old Roswell Cemetery) was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in February, 2021. This prestigious designation was the culmination of five years of work on this nomination by members of the Roswell Historical Society.
Beyond My Stone
Interactive Tour
A vital part of our mission is to share the history of Roswell with the public. To achieve this goal, we are developing biographies of many of the residents resting there and showcase them during “Beyond My Stone,” an interactive tour featuring a number of notable Roswell citizens buried at Old Roswell Cemetery. “Beyond My Stone” is a presentation of true stories by costumed interpreters. In addition, we have plans to design a walking and/or audio tour of the cemetery as well. This event may be virtual due to COVID 19.
Adopt A Stone
Preserve History
Have you ever visited an old cemetery and seen damaged or vandalized headstones and wished there was some way for you to help? Whether the damage is from weather, vandalism or just old age erasing the names of our ancestors, the sight of a headstone in disrepair tugs at our sense of humanity and steals a piece of history from us, even if it is the headstone of a stranger! You can now Adopt a Headstone in need of repair at a local cemetery before the erosion of time takes a permanent toll. Please consider donating.
Wreaths Across America
Annual Remembrance
Since 2015, the Roswell Historical Society's Cemetery Committee has raised funds to purchase wreaths to be placed on 270 veterans' graves in four cemeteries: Lebanon Baptist Cemetery, Pleasant Hill Historical Cemetery, Mount Oliver Baptist Cemetery, and Old Roswell Cemetery. Roswell volunteers join with thousands of other Wreaths Across America volunteers who simultaneously place wreaths on veterans' graves in communities across the U.S. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you who sponsored wreaths to make this event possible again this year.
Accomplishments
To-date
268 monuments professionally restored.
Over 1,200 monuments properly and safely cleaned.
Over $57,000 raised since 2015.
Over 95 organizations have volunteered their time, donated funds or professional talents.
Over 1,300 subscribers to our quarterly newsletter.
Over 200 descendants of Old Roswell Cemetery families located.
