Tag Archives: Muscogee County

Black History, Cemeteries, Georgia, National Register of Historic Places, Vernacular Headstones

Porterdale Cemetery-Columbus, Georgia

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Porterdale Cemetery was the first cemetery for African Americans in Columbus, Georgia. The oldest known burial occurred in 1836. Town plans from 1826 show the cemetery on a map. Initially, it was known simply as the “Colored Cemetery.” It was then named Porterdale after a long serving sexton, Richard Porter.

Professor William Spencer (1858-1925)

Many people important to the history of Columbus are buried here. The most famous burial would be Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (1886-1939). She is buried there with several of her family members.

Professor William Spencer was an educator who served as the Superintendent of Colored Schools. He worked to get an accredited Black high school. His dream was realized after his death when Spencer High School was opened and named in his honor.

This was the oldest marker I photographed. It says, “Little Jenny, Kizzie’s Baby. May 30-Sept. 19, 1858.” In 1860, there were only 141 free Black people listed in the census. There were 3,547 enslaved people listed. The fact that there is a marker could mean “Little Jenny” was born free. However, it seems more likely that since a last name was not included, Kizzie was likely enslaved.

CME preacher Reverend Washington “Old Wash” Allen was born in South Carolina. In 1936, he was interviewed as part of the Slave Narratives Project. His interview can be read on the Library of Congress’s website.

Robert Booth (1867-1931) was the Past Master of the Lewis Hayden Lodge No. 6, Prince Hall Affiliated.

This bench honors the Charleston family. Samuel Charleston was an educator and activist.

Julius Wise served in the 24th Infantry. For more history on the 24th Infantry and Black soldiers, this website provides an excellent introduction.

George Hill
Dr. Charles Swann, 1962-1910
Dora O’Neal, 1896-April 25, 1918

Additional land was added to the cemetery. A grove of trees separates it. This section includes a “Babyland” section, where many infants and young children are buried. There are also several vernacular markers. On my last visit to the cemetery in 2021, there were many newly buried graves. I assume that they were for people who died of COVID.

This is only a handful of the new graves.
Babyland
Steven Pate
James Henry Marks
There was no name on this grave.
This is a close-up of the vignette.
Alabama, Black History, Cemeteries, Famous People, Georgia, Historic Photos, National Register of Historic Places, South Carolina

Horace King-The Master Bridge Builder

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Horace King, 1807-1885, was considered the preeminent bridge builder in the South. It is believed he built over 100 bridges, most of them being in Alabama and Georgia. King was born into slavery in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. His enslaver, John Godwin, earned a bid to build a bridge over the Chattahoochee River. King moved with Godwin to Girard, Alabama, to begin the project.

In 1846, Godwin decided to no longer hold King in bondage. I have also read that King purchased his freedom. At this point, King’s services were in high demand to build bridges. He moved freely throughout the South. He is credited with building bridges at many points over the Chattahoochee River and other rivers. Outside of bridges, he built homes and warehouses. He also built the freestanding spiral staircase in the Alabama State Capitol.

Spiral staircase at Alabama State Capitol. (Photo credit- Library of Congress, HABS)

In 1839, he married free woman, Frances Gould Thomas. They had four boys and one girl. For whatever reason, the grave markers for the four boys have the birthdate of 1844. Based on census records, which can be incorrect, I believe Washington King was born in 1840, Marshall in 1842, John in 1846, and George in 1850. All of the children were involved in the construction company that they called the King Brothers Bridge Company.

He also built homes. There is at least one surviving example in Opelika.

The long approach of the Red Oak Covered Bridge is located outside of Woodbury, Georgia in the community of Imlac. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The graves of Horace and Marshall King in the Mulberry Street Cemetery complex are located in LaGrange, Georgia. The city of LaGrange has been restoring this part of town and recently added a covered bridge to honor King.
Johnson Mill Bridge in Harris County, Georgia (courtesy Digital Library of Georgia
Black History, Cemeteries, Famous People, Georgia, National Register of Historic Places

Ma Rainey-Columbus, Georgia

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Muscogee County

Gertrude “Ma” Rainey Pridgett (1886-1939) is considered the “Mother of Blues.” Columbus, Georgia was her home which is where she was born.

She started performing by the age of 14 and began touring as part of vaudeville and minstrel shows. Known for her dynamic performances, Ma Rainey made a name for herself as she toured the country.

The Ma Rainey house, now a museum, was the home that Ma purchased for her mother and where she moved into upon her return to Columbus. Initially, the home was the typical shotgun that can still be seen in the neighborhood, but Rainey had a new two-story home built. She lived there until her death in 1939. The house was saved from demolition by neglect by committed Columbus preservationists. It was put on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1992.

Ma Rainey rests in Porterdale Cemetery, which was once known as the Colored Cemetery. It was put on the NRHP in 1980.

Opened in 1924, the Liberty Theatre was a segregated theatre that hosted Ma Rainey and other Black artists. Rainey eventually purchased the theater. It was put on the NRHP in 1984.

Black History, Famous People, Georgia, Houses, National Register of Historic Places

Alma Thomas’s Childhood Home-Columbus, Georgia

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Muscogee County

Alma Thomas (1891-1978) was a Black artist known for her colorful and impressionist work. Born in Columbus, Georgia, she and her family lived there until she was sixteen. In 1907, they relocated to Washington, DC to escape the racial hostility and threats of violence that were directed towards the Black community at the hands of whites.

She was considered a member of the Washington School of Color. A lifelong art teacher, she was the first graduate of the art department at Howard University.

Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
The Eclipse

Suggested books

Painter and Educator

Alma Thomas Children Book

Cemeteries, Georgia, Symbolism

Circus Train Wreck Memorial-Columbus, Georgia

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On November 22, 1915, the Con T. Kennedy Carnival Show left Atlanta for a show in Phenix City, Alabama. Unfortunately, over 50 passengers were killed when their train collided with a steel passenger train, which was significantly stronger than the carnival train. After a mass service at the Columbus First Baptist Church, there was a large funeral procession to Riverdale Cemetery, where the carnival show members were laid to rest. The Con T. Kennedy erected the “Under the Big Tent” monument in memory of those who lost their lives.

Cemeteries, Famous People, Georgia, National Register of Historic Places

Dr. John Pemberton at Linwood Cemetery-Columbus, Georgia

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Dr. John Stith Pemberton (1831-1888) was a pharmacist, inventor, and Confederate States Army veteran. In 1886, he created an early version of a drink that evolved into what we know as Coca-Cola. His version consisted of alcohol and cocaine and was called, “Pemberton’s French Wine Coca.” He made this drink to help manage his pain after receiving a saber wound during the Battle of Columbus of the Civil War.

While he died in Atlanta, he is buried in Linwood Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia. Whenever I visit, someone has left a memento on his marker. It’s usually a bottle of Coke.