Near Hollywood in Jackson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Bellefonte Cemetery / Town of Bellefonte
Before the courthouse was completed, the community selected a location for a cemetery. The highest elevation in Bellefonte's corporate limits was chosen as the town's burial place. The earliest inscribed marker in Bellefonte Cemetery bears the date 1826.
The Civil War exacted a heavy toll on Bellefonte. The Federal Army burned the courthouse and the town never recovered. The town square was sold at public auction in 1878. Only the Bellefonte Cemetery remains of the bustling river port town which was Jackson County's seat of justice from 1828 until November 1868.
A 1936 TVA Survey identified 229 grave plots and 57 inscribed markers in the cemetery. Recent surveys of the cemetery show many graves with plain limestone rocks and numerous unmarked graves.
The Jackson County Historical Association began efforts to preserve the Bellefonte Cemetery in 2005. They placed the marker here to honor those individuals who established the 19th century town of Bellefonte, Alabama.
The Alabama Historical Commission listed the Bellefonte Cemetery in the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register in 2006.
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The Alabama Legislature established Riley's on Mud Creek as a voting site five days after Jackson County was created on December 13, 1819. Shortly thereafter, Stephen Carter and George W. Higgins purchased James Riley's 640-acre Cherokee Reserve. According to local history, Carter and Higgins renamed Riley's on Mud Creek to Bellefonte after the spring which served as the town's water supply and sold lots in the town.
On December 15, 1821, the Alabama Legislature incorporated 60 acres in Bellefonte. Six years later, the Legislature extended Bellefonte's corporate limits to include 100 acres of land donated to the county by Carter and Higgins.
Bellefonte was selected as Jackson County's first permanent seat of justice and a two-story, brick courthouse was erected in 1828.
Erected 2007 by Jackson County Historical Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is November 25, 1868.
Location. 34° 42.76′ N, 85° 56.814′ W. Marker is near Hollywood, Alabama, in Jackson County. Marker is on Bellefonte Road (County Road 33) 0.8 miles east of Lee Highway/John T Reid Parkway (U.S. 72), on the left when traveling east. Marker is on the road leading to the TVA's Bellefonte nuclear power plant. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hollywood AL 35752, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Old Baptist Cemetery (approx. 2 miles away); Robert Thomas and Elizabeth Scott, Sr. Memorial (approx. 5.2 miles away); Friendship Park / The Decision That Saved the Sons of Scottsboro (approx. 5.2 miles away); Robert Thomas Scott, Sr. (approx. 5.2 miles away); College Hill Historic District (approx. 5.6 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 5.6 miles away); a different marker also named Robert Thomas Scott (approx. 5.7 miles away); Gen. Andrew Jackson (approx. 5.7 miles away).
Additional commentary.
1. Old Martin Inn photos
The old Martin Inn chimney is approximately 0.2 miles East of the marker on County Rd 33. It is on the property of a local business and may not be accessible, but is easily viewed from the road.
— Submitted April 27, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 3,228 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on May 28, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on April 26, 2010, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.