Wherever I am hiking chances are that Ill be searching for a cemetery by a trail. Eager to learn about the history and who lived there before. In this case I had been hiking some trails in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia when I found this old cemetery. It is called Bolen Cemetery and from what I know it is some of the people who lived on the mountain before it became a National Park. In doing some research I came across this article about how they restored this place. This is from part of the dedication speech Four score and six years ago our forefathers who dwelled here in the Blue Ridge, set aside certain lands by metes and bounds for the particular purpose of a family cemetery. This action was recorded in the county records of Rappahannock for all posterity. Except, alas, the coming of Shenandoah National Park, to which passed all lands then condemned by the State of Virginia to the Federal Government for a national park. But, this did not stop this determined family. Generation after generation, decade after decade theyve returned to this scared spot, keeping alive the memory of our relatives and the former days when they had lived here. Keeping up the cemetery too, as far as was convenient. Now, today, after an idea born a year ago, with contributions which flowed in from kindred all across the United States, and with some long hard work on the parts of a few, the wall has been restored. Needless to say some did more than others, but each and every part made it possible to complete this undertaking. I might add, ahead of schedule, thanks to several in particular. So, to commemorate this day, we re-dedicate this same place to future generations and descendants of the Bolen family, Upon this re-dedication we proclaim the name of this spot as the Bolen Cemetery. This day then shall be henceforth remembered by the plaque installed inside the cemetery with the poem, Why the Mountains are Blue.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 23:59:39 +0000