SITE DIRECTORY
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Booker T. Washington Cemetery
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON CEMETERY
FOUNDED: 1919
ADDITONAL NAMES: Washington Cemetery; Booker Washington Cemetery
AFFILIATION(S): N/A
HISTORY:
Booker T. Washington Cemetery is located off Illinois Route 163 (aka Millstadt Road) near the intersection with Illinois Route 157 in Cahokia Heights (formerly Centreville), Illinois. The cemetery is also known as Booker Washington Cemetery and Washington Cemetery. The cemetery was founded by Russie McCullen “R.M.C.” Green, an African American undertaker, on September 10, 1919. A plat of the cemetery dated January 30, 1920, contained 9 sections and 548 lots, and was recorded by the St. Clair County Recorder on March 17, 1920. An addition to the cemetery was platted in November 1966 by Gertrude A. (Hudson) Green, daughter-in-law of the founder and spouse of Edgar H. Green (son of R.M.C).
The cemetery did not have a perpetual care program for the graves. The present ownership of this cemetery is unknown. The cemetery is in poor condition and has been for decades. Weeds cover the graves. The property suffers from flooding, criminal activity, and illegal dumping. Booker T. Washington Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 12,000 African Americans including freed slaves, military veterans, and prominent East St. Louis residents.
BCN Contact Information:
St. Clair County Genealogical Society
sccgsoffice@stclair-ilgs.org
McWorter Cemetery
MCWORTER CEMETERY
FOUNDED: 1836
ADDITONAL NAMES: Old Philadelphia African American Cemetery / New Philadelphia African American Cemetery
AFFILIATION(S): N/A
HISTORY:
The McWorter Cemetery, also referred to as Old Philadelphia Cemetery and New Philadelphia African American Burial Ground is located in rural Pike County, Western Illinois. According to cemetery records, the earliest burial occurred in 1851 with the death of Francis McWorter. The McWorter family owned the land on which the cemetery was established. Mr. James Washington who died in 1950 is believed to be the last known burial in the cemetery.
The McWorter African American Cemetery is historically significant as the final resting place of Free Frank McWorter, founder of the first known town in the United States to be platted and legally registered by a freed African American prior to the civil war. Free Frank's wife, Lucy, seven of their adult children, and grandchildren. Members of the African American community of New Philadelphia and Hadley Township, Illinois are interred in the cemetery. There are several star-shaped metal Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Veterans grave markers in the cemetery. In 1988, Free Frank's gravesite was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
BCN Contact Information:
Lonie M. Wilson
loniewilson@yahoo.com