The Freedman's Cemetery Project
| The goal of this project is to erect an
appropriate marker on the site of an African- American cemetery dating to the
mid-eighteenth century. The Freedman’s Cemetery, which through the research process,
has been identified as Oak Grove Cemetery, will consider proposals from artists to
construct a memorial to honor the burial place of early African American residents of
Salisbury. Representatives from Livingstone College, the Rowan Public Library, the Waterworks Visual Arts Center, numerous African American churches and the general public have worked together to research the history of the site and to develop criteria for the memorial’s design. Numerous people have brought forward family histories and information regarding the activities of African Americans in the Salisbury community. Widely renowned theromographer, Bob Melia, has surveyed the property using thermal imaging equipment to determine the location and approximate number of graves on the property. The next step in this process will be to identify an artist and to raise funds for the construction of the memorial. For more information on this project, contact Joe Morris, Urban Resource Planner. (704) 638-5324, or, jmorr@ci.salisbury.nc.us |