Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/502893
16 UCW APRIL 29-MAY 5, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Many residents don't realize it but Fayetteville is a city steeped in history and tradition. Amongst all the modern amenities and the hustle and bustle of the grow- ing city are landmarks that preserve the cities almost forgotten history. One such landmark is the city's old- est municipal cemetery Cross Creek #1. In an effort to preserve the history and to educate citizens about the incredible city they live in, the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum will host Civil War Cemetery Tours. "The Civil War Cemetery tour on Sunday, May 10 at 2 p.m. is a wonderful opportunity to explore Cross Creek Cemetery No. 1 with an eye to the Civil War 150th Anniversary. Staff at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum are always excited to offer tours and opportunities for the public to learn local history and this is one of those times," said Museum Specialist Heidi Bleazey. "This tour will focus on the history of the Confederate Monument located at the back of the cemetery which was the first Confederate monument in North Carolina, as well as the numerous graves of Civil War soldiers. The stories of local citizens and soldiers high- lighted on the tour will offer a look back on the resolve, bravery and efforts of the community during the turbulent time of the Civil War." The Cross Creek Cemetery is divided into five sections. Section #1 is the oldest section. It was established in 1785 and was expanded in 1833. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 1998 and in 2003 the City Council named it a local landmark. There are Fayetteville citizens buried in plots here that date from 1785 to 1964. There are an estimated 1,170 grave markers in this sec- tion of the cemetery alone. The people buried here range from Civil War soldiers to free African-Americans and locally famous individuals like E.E. Smith. Another significant historical aspect of the Cemetery is that is contains the oldest confeder- ate monument in North Carolina. This monument was created by George Lauder. He was a Scottish mason who was rather famous for his work in North Carolina at the time. He also worked on the State Capitol in Raleigh. The monument honors all of the Confederate and Union soldiers who are buried in the area in unmarked graves. The existence of this memorial is particularly spectacu- lar because after the Civil War most of the South was facing financial crisis. There was simply no money to build monuments. However, here in Fayetteville local ladies raised the funds and had the monument built 3 years after the war ended. The group raised the money by raffling off tickets for their handmade silk quilts. It was dedicated on Dec. 30, 1868. The stories of the people buried in Cross Creek Cemetery are as varied as the decades in which they lived. This tour, however, will focus mainly on Confederate soldiers who fought in the Civil War and the Civil War monument. While the Civil War was a dark and tumultuous time in our nation's history, it was also a defining time in many aspects. There were sacrifices made on both sides of the conflict and learning about the local soldiers who bled for their beliefs can teach us about not only the time period as a whole but also about the influences that helped to shape Fayetteville into what it is today. Bruce Daws will lead the tour. He is the Historic Properties Manager and has a wealth of information regarding all of the spectacular old places in Fayetteville. The tour is free and open to all ages. It is taking place on May 10 at 2 p.m. Cross Creek Cemetery is located at Cool Spring Street and Grove Street. For more information visit http://www.fcpr.us/ transportation_museum.aspx or call 910-433-1457. Cemetery Tour Offers a Peek into the Past by ERINN CRIDER The May 10 Cemetery Tour will focus on the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. COURTNEY BAUGHARD, FTCC Program Coordinator, Community Services, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200 pizzeria & restaurant L i t t l e I t a l y Casual Atmosphere • Parties & Catering RIGATONI BOLOGNESE with Veal/Pork/Beef 1400 Walter Reed Road, Suite 130 (All American Expressway & Owen Drive) HOURS: Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. www.LittleItalyFay.com 910.867.8700 ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200