Mulberry Street Cemetery Restoration Project Commences

Published 8:30 am Thursday, August 8, 2024

Visit LaGrange announces the first details of the Mulberry Street Cemetery restoration project, a major initiative aimed at revitalizing, preserving and highlighting the historical significance of the Mulberry Street Cemetery. The restoration project officially commenced with a Blessing Ceremony yesterday, Aug. 6.

Three main areas of the cemetery include more than 300 Confederate veterans, more than 1,000 unmarked graves of people believed to be African American, the burial site of renowned bridge builder, legislator and architect Horace King, and a King covered bridge. This project incorporates educational elements, showcases regional and local history, and creates a space for shared community engagement.

The Mulberry Street Cemetery holds a special place in the heart of LaGrange, serving as a poignant reminder of the city’s rich heritage. Dating back to 1863, it has been the final resting place for individuals from diverse backgrounds, including soldiers from all 13 states of the Confederacy including enslaved orderlies who played a vital role during the Civil War.

Through meticulous research and collaborative efforts among the City of LaGrange, Visit LaGrange and the Troup County Archives, approximately 1,000 unmarked graves have been identified.  Those laid to rest are believed to be African Americans who were buried between 1863 and 1930. While the people interred here cannot be exhumed and identified, each will be honored with a marker as part of the restoration initiative. The Troup County Archives has taken measures to work with the local community to identify possible living relatives of those laid to rest and will continue to build on these efforts as the project progresses.

“The City of LaGrange should be proud of the time and effort invested to revitalize and to convey the full significance of the Mulberry Street Cemetery,” said Mary Joseph, African American Programs Coordinator at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. “This effort is vital for all to enjoy the space and also to understand its important history.”

Notably, the cemetery is home to the grave of Horace King, a renowned 19th-century bridge builder, architect and legislator. Born into slavery, King’s remarkable journey from bondage to becoming one of the most respected builders in the South is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit. King’s legacy includes the construction of at least 125 bridges across the region, highlighting his engineering prowess. One major project was the Wehadkee Covered Bridge, built by King in Troup County in 1873. Although destroyed by a flood in 1886, King’s son George reconstructed it using his father’s design, and part of the bridge was later relocated to Callaway Gardens in 1965 to preserve it further. In 2022, the bridge was returned to Troup County and installed at the Mulberry Street Cemetery to connect LaGrange’s recreational Thread trail to the cemetery over Cary Branch Creek. Horace King’s legacy, along with that of his son Marshal, is immortalized at the Mulberry Street Cemetery, marked by a distinguished granite monument.

As part of the restoration project, the Mulberry Street Cemetery will undergo extensive revitalization efforts, including the installation of a boardwalk, landscaping enhancements and the preservation of existing historical markers. The project will incorporate educational components to promote a deeper understanding of the cemetery’s significance within the context of LaGrange’s history. The cemetery is expected to open to the public in Spring 2025.

The revitalization of the Mulberry Street Cemetery exemplifies the City of LaGrange’s dedication to preserving its rich history and creating inclusive spaces for all members of the community to gather, reflect and learn. Visit LaGrange received a $1.8 million grant from the Governor’s Office of Georgia for the development of the project.

For more information on the Mulberry Street Cemetery project, please visit www.mulberrystreetcemetery.org.