Fence Stones and Grave Stones

Hello friends!

I wanted to share a lovely old stone fence that I discovered a couple of years ago

and thought that Tex's Good Fences was the perfect place.

~

This great old stone fence surrounds a family cemetery,
some stones dating back to the early 1800's, even earlier possibly.

It's a few miles from where our son and his family live near Spring Hill, Tennessee

and I made a special effort to stop there when we visited a couple of weeks ago.

As I was taking photos, my DIL was going around reading what she could on the stones.

Many of them were so weathered and worn, it was hard to read them.

As she began to read the names, we soon realized that a great number of them 

were young women and children's graves.

How terribly sad that these folks died so young.

The sun was beginning to set, casting a bright orange reflection on the fence and the markers.

It almost looked unnatural, the way it outlined the tombstones in an orange hue.

It was really quite beautiful.

I would love to know more of the history surrounding this family cemetery...

...and especially what caused such untimely death of so many during that time.

I have a feeling I will be doing some research to satisfy my curiosity. 

Have a blessed weekend.

UPDATE:
One of my sweet blogging friends found a cemetery online that she thought might be this one.
I checked out the link and it was the same one!
The links below will take you to more information,
including a complete list of those who were buried there so long ago.
Thank you, Donna!

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maury/cemetery/AlexanderCemetery/AlexanderAreaPhotos.htm
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maury/cemetery/AlexanderCemetery/AlexanderCemList.htm

Stainback General Store

I am just automatically drawn to old, broken down buildings. They are wonderful reminders of a simpler time, when the world was a kinder place... ...at least, that's the way I look at it. ~ I have loved seeing this old store building for many years. I could have just taken my photos of it and slapped them on my post without elaborating... ...but I thought, why not tell the story about it? This is the old Stainback General Store, which is currently being restored... ...notice the new porch with new tin roof. This old store is an historical landmark in the town where I live in North Carolina. source This is the way it has looked for many years, before the restoration was started. Currently, the historical society has purchased it, is restoring it and will be making it into a museum. I don't know though...I kinda like it all broken down, don't you? ~  I have passed by this old place quite often over the past fifteen or so years... ...since the birth of my first grandson. His other grandma (Nana) lives right through the group of tree surrounding it. The other day when I took the boys to her house, I decided to stop and take some pics. The Stainback General Store is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It was that smart, oldest grandson of mine who told me this... ...having done all of the research about it since he has spent much of his life, just a hop, skip and a jump away from it :)  It was built in 1891 from the remnants of the old Cross Roads Presbyterian Church (which stood directly across the road), after the new church was constructed. I just love the rusty old Coca Cola and Pepsi signs covering the windows. Across the street, was the local sawmill and the caskets that were made there and were stored right up here on the second floor. source The original church was equipped with a slave gallery, I assume something common in churches during that time period. The photo below is what the church looks like today. source The cemetery that makes up part of the churchyard, has over 250 stones, the earliest dating from 1796.  Because the slave graves are unmarked, there are many more people buried than there are markers.  source Now, comes really the cool part... ...author Alex Haley of “Roots” fame visited Cross Roads and researched his ancestors who lived in this very county in North Carolina.  In 1977, one year after the mini-series “Roots” debuted on television,  a documentary entitled “Roots—One Year Later” was filmed at Cross Roads.  ~  Wouldn't you love to know all of goings on behind those doors? This is an old photo I discovered online of a couple of locals playing checkers out front of the store. How cool is that?  source The old building has served multiple purposes over the years, from a photography studio, a shoe and clock repair shop, post office and of course, a general store. They closed the doors in 1973 due to the condition of the building. ~ Here, I added some effects to "olden" it up a bit. So now you know a few things about the old Stainback General Store, and some NC history...whether you wanted to or not. I hope you have enjoyed your history lesson :)

Fancy Gap Fences



I really like a good fence, don't you?

This one is six feet tall and separates my yard from my neighbor's.

Actually, no one is living next door at the present time.

But it's still a nice fence...that is, if you don't want to see your neighbors...

...if they lived there.

This past weekend, we were at our cabin in Fancy Gap and let me tell you,

I was never more aware of all of the fences!

Today, I'd like to share a few of them at Theresa's Good Fences link-up.



This little waterfalls is part of the creek that runs along the gravel road.



This is the same part of the fence, as you come down the road.

The creek is on the right, through those trees.

Directly opposite the creek on the other side of the road,

 is a hill where some friendly cows always are usually grazing.

They must have thought I had something good to eat.

One by one, they all came down the hill to see me.

They gave me dirty looks when they found out that I had nothing to offer them.

So...here are a few more random shots from around the area.



I loved finding this old fence all covered with twisted vines.

...and finally, I loved the quiet sense of peace I felt when I came upon this place.



It was a beautiful weekend in Fancy Gap.

So, until next time...