Oakwood Cemetery

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Oakwood Cemetery is the final resting home for many of Charlottesville's citizens. The cemetery, which is located on Elliot Avenue, is owned by the city of Charlottesville. It has been Charlottesville's primary public cemetery since Maplewood Cemetery reached capacity in the mid-1800s. [1]

Oakwood Cemetery

Background

Oakwood Cemetery dates back to the 1860's and is located on 14 acres of land that was formerly part of Oak Hill, an estate owned by Alexander Garrett. [2]

Oakwood technically includes a 2-acre section that was originally called the Daughters of Zion Cemetery, even though it is located on Oak Street across Ridge Street. This cemetery was created in 1873 and was the burying place for many prominent African-American citizens such as Benjamin Tonsler. [2]

City Council allocated $1,000 in February 1957 to purchase more land for the cemetery from the estate of Hugh R. Hawkins. [3] In May 2012, City Council sold this land to Southern Development.[4]

Recent Developments

Southern Development partnered with Habitat for Humanity and proposes to build 47 mixed-income housing units on 3.5 acres adjacent to the Oakwood Cemetery property.[4] The two parcels were bought by the city in 1957 and 1944. The original purchasers intended purpose for the property is unclear. [4] The property was sold by the city for $10 because of the extensive cleanup costs associated with the property. City Council stated that, at some point in its history, this property was used to bury construction debris. [4]

Map

Coordinates:Erioll world.svg.png 38°01′30″N 78°29′11″W / 38.024937°N 78.48635°W / 38.024937; -78.48635

References

  1. Web. Oakwood Cemetery, City of Charlottesville, retrieved 18 May 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Web. Oakwood Cemetery, Neighborhood Development Services, State and National Historic Districts, Resources & Surveys in Charlottesville, City of Charlottesville, retrieved May 7, 2012.
  3. Web. Charlottesville City Council meeting minutes, .pdf, Council Chambers, City of Charlottesville, 4 Feb. 1957.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Web. City Council agrees to sell Oakwood Cemetery expansion area, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, 9 May 2012, retrieved 16 May 2012.

External Links

City of Charlottesville's site for Oakwood