Historic Duffield Colored Cemetery
Bowls and Pens in Locust From A Once Neglected Final Resting Place Of Local African-Americans
Gallery
Ink Pen of Locust wood; shown in Black Titanium with Platinum Accent - see "Unique Gifts Under $50" for details
About Historic Duffield Colored Cemetery
According to research of local records done in 2010, the Duffield Colored Cemetery, at the intersection of Route 230 and Melvin Road, is unique in that it doesn't seem to belong to any one person or entity. Indeed, when it came time to clean the overgrown, weedy site in 2010 as part of a local Eagle Scout Project (see below), there was no legal entity to sign off on the project as required by scouting procedures. The cemetery is the final resting place for approximately 63 individuals, including a World War I veteran as well as other veterans and at least two former slaves, although in 2010 only 32 tombstones and 22 unmarked graves were found. There are graves in the cemetery that date back to 1858, prior to West Virginia's admission to the Union.
A Worthy Eagle Scout Project
On November 17th, 2010, the Spirit of Jefferson and Farmer's Advocate newspaper reported the conclusion of Eagle Scout Travis Barnette's months-long project to clean up and research the Duffield Colored Cemetery, which had long gone uncared for and was a total mess. According to Travis' report on the project:
"The...(Cemetery)..is in desperate need of care. The graves are sunken and covered with weeds and tall grass. The offspring of those buried there cannot find their loved ones because the tombstones have been moved or destroyed."
Supervising the work of members of his group, Barnette, along with adults including his Grandfather Stephen Brooks, oversaw the clean-up and clearing, mowing, and leveling of ground and even learned how to clean and repair tombstones. When it was done, the project had re-opened a piece of Jefferson County History, and passersby and County residents were quick to praise the Eagle Scout for his service in the name of Jefferson County history. Ironically, however, the issue of ownership and responsibility for the Cemetery was never resolved, and Stephen Brooks, who owns the home located next door to the site, continues to keep it mowed and kept up. Indeed, the day I stopped by, Mr. Brooks was preparing to remove a toppled Black Locust Tree from the Cemetery, hence the pieces from this historic series.
"The...(Cemetery)..is in desperate need of care. The graves are sunken and covered with weeds and tall grass. The offspring of those buried there cannot find their loved ones because the tombstones have been moved or destroyed."
Supervising the work of members of his group, Barnette, along with adults including his Grandfather Stephen Brooks, oversaw the clean-up and clearing, mowing, and leveling of ground and even learned how to clean and repair tombstones. When it was done, the project had re-opened a piece of Jefferson County History, and passersby and County residents were quick to praise the Eagle Scout for his service in the name of Jefferson County history. Ironically, however, the issue of ownership and responsibility for the Cemetery was never resolved, and Stephen Brooks, who owns the home located next door to the site, continues to keep it mowed and kept up. Indeed, the day I stopped by, Mr. Brooks was preparing to remove a toppled Black Locust Tree from the Cemetery, hence the pieces from this historic series.
