A local group will be fundraising this Thursday to help restore the Smithville City Cemetery.
Smithville Town Cemetery Association Member Bethel Thomas Jr. said the restoration project is called Project 1838. That’s when the cemetery was founded, around the same time Smithville became a community. Thomas said it is hard to find funds in small towns like Smithville to keep up a cemetery.
“There just haven’t been funds available to restore or beautify it even though it’s right in the heart of downtown Smithville,” Thomas said. “And much of the history in Smithville is buried in this unique space.”
Thomas said the restoration project will feature a new fence around the cemetery, adjusting gravestones, and building a new driving path throughout the cemetery. Thomas said he believes the cemetery and its history have been forgotten about due to its poor condition.
“People drive by it every day,” Thomas Jr. said. “Hundreds of people and it’s just been almost like people don’t notice it because it’s just been in disrepair for a long time even though it’s just two blocks from the courthouse in Smithville.”
Association Member Steve Cantrell said the cemetery has some familiar names, such as Former Congressmen Joe L. Evins and the Founder of Cracker Barrel, Dannie Wood Evins. Cantrell said having a nice cemetery could help locals understand the town’s history.
“It’s just kind of a neat place with history in it,” Cantrell said. “And as more and more people get into genealogy and other things, these are the places where we can find our heritage and you know our backgrounds.”
Thomas said the association is also trying to raise money for a maintenance fund and a column barrier where people can place ashes. Thomas said the timeline is funding-dependent, and the goal is to complete the restoration project within the next three years.
The Smithville Cemetery Association will host a fundraising kick-off from 5:30pm-7:30pm on Thursday at the Harvester Event Center.
