Cemetery Study
Project Description
Under a contract with Chicora Foundation, Inc., a phased study was conducted to serve as a framework for conservation, restoration and stabilization of three City-owned cemetery sites. The first phase of the project is the development of a strategic plan that will assist the City in outlining the needs over the next several years. The study will also give the City guidance on future policies and governance and possible fundraising. In addition, the study will include recommendations for the process of inventorying and assessing the cemeteries and make recommendations on what work may be undertaken by volunteers or must be done by professionals. Phase 2 of this study is planned to commence as soon as possible after the plan has been drafted. The plan will assist staff in coordinating future steps to take.
Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) Districts:
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City Cemetery: South Central
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Mount Hope Cemetery: Southwest
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O'Rorke Catholic Cemetery: North Central
Background
City Cemetery, Mount Hope Cemetery, and O’Rorke Cemetery are some of the oldest cemeteries in Raleigh and many important historical figures are buried at each site. These cemeteries are currently administered by the Cemeteries Unit of the Parks Division in the Parks and Recreation Department. The parks and recreation department performs general maintenance for the cemetery grounds and the landscaping of burial plots. However, the city does not currently acknowledge any responsibility for maintaining gravestones, monuments, or burial plot enclosures. Due to the destruction of burial records and the age of many of the burials, it is difficult to know and contact those responsible for burial plots. A 1930’s fire at City Hall put an end to sales of burial plots in the original sections of City Cemetery and Mount Hope, but burials continue there when families can demonstrate their ownership of burial plots. A damage assessment was performed on City Cemetery and Mount Hope in 1997 as a result of Hurricane Fran. Some repair work did occur subsequent to this report.
- City Cemetery : 7.68 acres
City Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Raleigh. It was established by an Act of the North Carolina General Assembly in 1798. It began as a four acre tract: two acres for burial of local residents, one acre for visitors, and one acre for blacks. Land was added in the 1840’s establishing its current boundary which encompasses more than 7 acres. Actual records of the cemetery were destroyed by fire in the 1890’s and again in the early 1930’s. The only existing records are those made by past Superintendents. The City Cemetery is surrounded by an iron fence that once was located at the State Capitol.
- Mount Hope Cemetery : 34.3acres
Mount Hope opened in 1872 when African American residents complained that the black section of the City Cemetery was full and more land was needed. Additional acreage has been added to the original land more than once.
- O’Rorke Catholic Cemetery : 0.99 acres
O’Rorke Cemetery was established by a Catholic Church benefactor, John O’Rorke, in 1858. From 1858 to 1938 it was known as the Catholic Cemetery. The cemetery was given to the City in 1938 and renamed in 1979. Our records indicate that this cemetery was surveyed in 1940 and again in 1996.
Status
Staff has completed the "Strategic Plan for the Inventory, Conservation, and Management of Raleigh's Historic Cemeteries" report and is currently meeting with a City Council approved stakeholder group on implementing its recommendations.
Final Report By Chapters:
Phase 1 includes :
- Historical Research
- Legal Research
- Review and Research of Genealogical Inventory Practices
- Site Assessment of the Three Cemeteries
- Stakeholder Meeting and Funding Issues
- Development of a Management Plan for the three City-Owned Cemeteries
Last Updated: July 9, 2009
For More Information Contact:
Stephen Bentley
Senior Parks Planner
Parks and Recreation Department
333 Fayetteville Street, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-996-4784
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