Opelika in Lee County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Old Rosemere Cemetery

Lee County

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 6, 2014

1. Old Rosemere Cemetery Marker

Inscription.
Side 1
On July 23, 1869, the City of Opelika purchased ten acres of land for a cemetery from Dr. A.B. Bennett for $100 an acre. On November 23, 1869, he accepted his choice of a lot in exchange for the debt. The earliest marked grave is dated September 25, 1854, for Nelson Clayton, the four year old son of H.D. & V.V. Clayton. This grave was moved from the Clayton plantation. 34 grave markers have death dates prior to 1869, and all of these burials were moved here. The first internment may be James DeVane who died on August 17, 1869. His burial is located just inside the gates.The Genealogical Society of East Alabama canvassed Rosemere from November 1999 to November 2002 to reestablish lost burial records. The Society gave the paper records they created to the City of Opelika. This triangular area of the cemetery is the original portion. There are 64 blocks including 9 partial blocks. A full block is 80 ft square with spaces for 128 graves. The Ladies Memorial Association tended and beautified the original cemetery. In February 1916, the City built the Cemetery House as a restroom and shelter for the Ladies. Also in

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1916, the Ladies Memorial Association named this place "Rose Cemetery."
(Continued on other side) Side 2
(Continued from other side) Unknown Confederate Soldiers are honored in Block 11. In 1899, the United Daughters of the Confederacy erected marble headstones with the inscription "Unknown CSA." These markers were later replaced with the 14 stamped crosses that now stand here. Block 12 in Rosemere is called "Baby Land." Most of these babies died at birth or only lived a day or two. The city did not collect fees for burials in Block 12. Only a few of these graves were ever marked with inscribed stones. The longest epitaph is the account of a drowning of Berry and Olivia Edwards in 1865. Their father, Loxia Edwards, served as Opelika's mayor. Over 200 veterans are interred in this section of Rosemere. They include veterans of the Indian, Civil, and Spanish American Wars, WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Resting here are 97 National, State, County, and City elected officials including Congressmen, a Governor, Legislators, Judges, Sheriffs, Commissioners, a District Attorney, Mayors, Aldermen and Councilmen.
Listed in the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register, June 14, 2011

Erected 2013

Old Rosemere Cemetery Marker (reverse) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 6, 2014

2. Old Rosemere Cemetery Marker (reverse)

by the City of Opelika.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1916.

Location. 32° 38.124′ N, 85° 23.217′ W. Marker is in Opelika, Alabama, in Lee County. It can be reached from Long Street 0.2 miles north of Auburn Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1544 Long Street, Opelika AL 36801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Alabama and in Greater Columbus.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: New Rosemere Cemetery (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); African-American Rosemere Cemetery (about 700 feet away);

LMA Cemetery House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 6, 2014

3. LMA Cemetery House

Darden House (approx. ¼ mile away); Bobby James Freeman (approx. ¾ mile away); Killgore Scholarships / Some Terms of Scholarships (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Lee County Courthouse / Lee County Probate Judges (approx. 0.9 miles away); Pepperell Manufacturing Company (approx. 0.9 miles away); Lee County World War II Honor Roll (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Opelika.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Lee County Courthouse / Lee County Probate Judges (was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Opelika's Rosemere cemeteries dedicated to state historic register oanow.com. (Submitted on July 6, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Old Rosemere Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 6, 2014

4. Old Rosemere Cemetery

Rosemere Cemetery Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 6, 2014

5. Rosemere Cemetery Sign

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,727 times since then and 112 times this year. Last updated on July 12, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 6, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.