SITE DIRECTORY

To learn more about any of the BCN sites listed below, click “Read more” to view individual site briefs. To search for a specific BCN site, use the search bar below:

alanah cooper 3/26/24 alanah cooper 3/26/24

Rest Hill Cemetery

REST HILL CEMETERY

FOUNDED: 1867 - 1869

ADDITONAL NAMES: N/A

AFFILIATION(S): N/A

HISTORY:

The Rest Hill Cemetery on Trousdale Ferry Pike in Lebanon, Tennessee was included on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 for its significance in the African American community during the Reconstruction Era. Established in 1867-69, the burials reflect the original African American community in Lebanon which grew with the assistance of the Freedman's Bureau and the racial segregation of the Jim Crow period. Rest Hill served as the only African American burial ground in Lebanon from 1869-1933 when African American were banned from burial in the city cemetery. To this day, Rest Hill still serves the community.

Our goal is to put head stones on all the unmarked graves.

BCN Contact Information:

Harry Watkins

wccl5353@gmail.com

Kaleigh Hoyt 2/5/22 Kaleigh Hoyt 2/5/22

Odd Fellows Cemetery

ODD FELLOWS CEMETERY

FOUNDED: 1890s

ADDITONAL NAMES: Rountree Cemetery, Rountree-Vick Cemetery

AFFILIATION(S):

African-American Cemetery Coalition

HISTORY:

Odd Fellows Cemetery is at the center of three adjoining historic African-American cemeteries, each founded around the turn of the 20th century. (Rountree Cemetery is easternmost. Vick Cemetery is westernmost. Colloquially, and confusingly, all three cemeteries are collectively known as “Rountree Cemetery.” The City of Wilson erroneously refers to Odd Fellows and Vick cemeteries jointly as “Rountree-Vick Cemetery.”) Established as a burial ground by members of Hannibal Lodge #1552, Odd Fellows was active into the 1950s, though most burials were before World War II. It holds the remains of many early 20th century businesspeople and artisans, including Samuel H. Vick, arguably the most powerful, politically connected, and certainly the wealthiest African-American in Wilson from about 1890-1930.

Odd Fellows was abandoned circa 1960. The local lodge is defunct. Three-quarters of the two-acre is completely overgrown. Lane Street Project began leading volunteer cleanups in December 2020.

BCN Contact Information:

Lane Street Project

lisayhenderson@gmail.com