Jackson Street Cemetery
Encyclopedia
The Jackson Street Cemetery, also known as Old Athens Cemetery, was the original cemetery for Athens
, Georgia
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. It was in official use as the town cemetery from about 1810 to 1856, until the Oconee Hill Cemetery
opened. The last known burial was not until 1898, however.
The cemetery is situated on the University of Georgia
(UGA) campus adjacent to the Lamar Dodd School of Art
(Visual Arts Building to the north) and Baldwin Hall (to the south) Jackson Street (to the West), and Thomas Street (to the East), "on land that was originally part of the University’s land grant from the state legislature, and the school apparently donated it to the city of Athens, though Duncan says there’s no official record of the transaction". The cemetery land was deeded back to UGA in 2004. The University encroached on the cemetery's original six acres, reducing it to the two and one-half acres it now occupies. The University had wanted to build on the land and tried to assert title to it in 1890, but opposition scuttled their plans.
In the 1920s plans to take over the Old cemetery were again proposed, and when Baldwin Hall was built (opened 1938) a couple of acres were indeed taken from the south end of the cemetery (and more for its parking lot). The cemetery was also targeted for use as a site for the Visual Arts Building (opened 1961), but this was "fended off" by the Athens Historical Society (while another slice of land was taken from the north end of the cemetery, as shown by old aerial photographs).
In the fall of 1980 the University again proposed moving the graves to Oconee Hill, this time so that the cemetery land could be used for a parking deck. The coalition that fought this proposal "was the nucleus of the Old Athens Cemetery Foundation, Inc." It argued that the legal problems that would result from the proposal would be stupendous."
The Old Athens Cemetery consisted of 'about six acres' in 1906 and now comprises two and a half acres. It has been a victim of the ravages of time and weather, as well as deliberate vandalism, and is the subject of an ongoing restoration project by Janine Duncan, of the University of Georgia Grounds Department.
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It was in official use as the town cemetery from about 1810 to 1856, until the Oconee Hill Cemetery
Oconee Hill Cemetery
Oconee Hill Cemetery is an American cemetery in Athens, Georgia. The cemetery opened in 1856 and is located just off the University of Georgia's campus....
opened. The last known burial was not until 1898, however.
The cemetery is situated on the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA) campus adjacent to the Lamar Dodd School of Art
Lamar Dodd School of Art
The Lamar Dodd School of Art is the art school of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States.-History:...
(Visual Arts Building to the north) and Baldwin Hall (to the south) Jackson Street (to the West), and Thomas Street (to the East), "on land that was originally part of the University’s land grant from the state legislature, and the school apparently donated it to the city of Athens, though Duncan says there’s no official record of the transaction". The cemetery land was deeded back to UGA in 2004. The University encroached on the cemetery's original six acres, reducing it to the two and one-half acres it now occupies. The University had wanted to build on the land and tried to assert title to it in 1890, but opposition scuttled their plans.
"Cramped for campus space, the University vigorously pursued [the land title] idea under Chancellor Hill. Graves were to be moved to Oconee Hill and the site used for building, but his death in December, 1905 ended this campaign."
In the 1920s plans to take over the Old cemetery were again proposed, and when Baldwin Hall was built (opened 1938) a couple of acres were indeed taken from the south end of the cemetery (and more for its parking lot). The cemetery was also targeted for use as a site for the Visual Arts Building (opened 1961), but this was "fended off" by the Athens Historical Society (while another slice of land was taken from the north end of the cemetery, as shown by old aerial photographs).
In the fall of 1980 the University again proposed moving the graves to Oconee Hill, this time so that the cemetery land could be used for a parking deck. The coalition that fought this proposal "was the nucleus of the Old Athens Cemetery Foundation, Inc." It argued that the legal problems that would result from the proposal would be stupendous."
The Old Athens Cemetery consisted of 'about six acres' in 1906 and now comprises two and a half acres. It has been a victim of the ravages of time and weather, as well as deliberate vandalism, and is the subject of an ongoing restoration project by Janine Duncan, of the University of Georgia Grounds Department.
External links
- Old Athens Cemetery Historical Marker
- Jackson Street Cemetery, Clarke Co. GA transcription of Mar 11, 2001 by Natalie Davis and Rhonda Moore
- Photographs of Old Athens Cemetery at graveaddiction.com