Established 1831  NATIONAL REGISTER of  Historic Places

Corner West Church St & Virginia Ave. Sandersville, Georgia  

CONTACTS:

WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY:

BROWN HOUSE MUSEUM                             268 North Harris Street  478-552-1965

GENEALOGY & RESEARCH CENTER        129 Jones Street  478-552-6965

WASHINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE   131 West Haynes Street    478-552-3288

ADDITIONAL  ATTRACTIONS

Charles Edward Choate, Architect and Builder, Exhibit and official State of Georgia Historical Plates Display at the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, 131 West Haynes Street, Sandersville.

Walking and Driving Tours, Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Brown House Museum, private residence at time of Civil War where General Sherman spent the night of November 26, 1864, 268 North Harris Street, Sandersville.

Revolutionary War Park, State Route 15 South of Tennille.

Genealogy Research Center, 129 Jones Street, Sandersville.

Georgia?s Oldest  Jail on State Route 15 North in Warthen.

LODGING

DAYS INN OF SANDERSVILLE  128 Commerce Street, Sandersville, GA 31082 478-553-0393

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS - 508 S Harris St., Sandersville, 478-553-1414

VILLA SOUTH MOTOR INN- 725 S. Harris St., Sandersville, 478-552-1234

HISTORY

Sandersville's Old City Cemetery first documented burial in 1831 was that of "Reuben B. Barney who departed this life 10^th of Oct in the 27^th year of his age".  For thirty seven years burials continued in the portion of what is still the same cemetery .

No wooden headboards survive; however, upright fieldstones or "domicks" still serve as markers for some graves in the older north-central section of the cemetery.

Federal Era Grave Markings

The oldest inscribed marker in the cemetery is a broken, dislocated headstone marking the grave of Reuben B. Barney, less than two inches thick which was cut from a poor grade of marble and bears the date 1831.

Greek Revival Grave Markings

In the center of the cemetery, a Greek Revival mausoleum with Romanesque and Baroque influences is located on lots 79-82.  Most Romanesque inspired structures in Washington County date from the 1840-60s.

Victorian Grave Markers

Many markers are of Victorian Design - an eclectic blend of different architectural elements and different styles of monuments.  Although Queen Victoria ruled from 1819-1901, Victorian architecture had a longer influence in cemeteries. A particularly fine grouping is found on lot 131.

Greek Revival

There was a return to Classical styling between 1900 and the mid 1920s.  With some exceptions, the erection of large monuments ceased in the cemetery by the 1930s.

Historical Figures  (No other site)

Thomas W. Hardwick, Governor of Georgia                1921-1923   (Row 9, Lot  201)

William Rawlings, MD, World Renowned    surgeon     (Row 2, Lot 30)

Benjamin James Tarbutton, President,          Central of Georgia Railroad                              January 1951- July 1954 (Row 9 Lot 103)

Rev. J.D. Anthony, saved Sandersville from burning by Gen Sherman   (Row 1 Lot 42)

Coleman R. Pringle, Father of Prohibition in              Georgia   (Row 7 Lot 79 & 81)

Confederate Memorial

Confederate  Veterans History

Significant Civil War activity took place around the site of the Methodist Church, the first church in Sandersville (now marked by a cross), built on a knoll adjacent to the original part of the cemetery. The original road, to Sandersville from Milledgeville, now defined by wooden posts,  ran through the cemetery by the side of the church.   

Major Henry Hitchcock, a member of General William Tecumseh Sherman's staff, in Marching with Sherman  states:

"Sandersville, Georgia,  In Camp, In open field Saturday, November 26, 1864 11^th  day                                                            Left camp by 6 ? AM-Wheeler's cavalry in our front, undertook to skirmish Slocum's 1^st Brigade advanced skirmishers and before long we heard their firing.   General and staff rode forward-road narrow for some distance and through pine woods and across low ground through which ran creek.  Road full  of troops, wagons, camp followers had to go slow?we entered town passed Church with 'Grecian Front' and from a distance, cross road, saw dead rebel laying on the portico."

The cavalry skirmishing referred to took place in the cemetery and in the short half-block between it and the Courthouse square.     Sandersville Herald  May 3, 1877 states "... Alonzo Moore of the Texas cavalry and John P. Brunson of the Tennessee cavalry, both having fallen in a skirmish, in this city, between Gen. Wheeler's cavalry and Gen. Sherman's advance, were buried in one grave.  Mary C. Brunson, wife of John, wrote from Pulaski, TN that her brother-in-law had returned home and "It nearly broke my heart when I heard how the Yankees treated his (John's) body."  "With artistic skill our fair ladies beautified the 'silent home' of these sleeping braves..." which is believed  to be one of the brick cradles

Sandersville Herald :  November 26, 1896 "The Ladies Memorial Society has $51 in hand and $100 subscribed which they will  give to the Confederate Veterans to erect a monument."   

Sandersville Herald:  April 22,1897 "Confederate monument to be unveiled."