On November 20, a monument was dedicated at the Water Street Cemetery.
The history of this Cemetery began in 1818 when John and Margaret Devor deeded this cemetery grounds to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Although its history has been turbulent the attendees of this ceremony were there to remember the past and to embrace the present and future of this historical site as those before us have been dedicated in preserving.
As local historian Anita Short once said: “Although the growth and progress of a city and county-side is always good, it is sad that quite often much of the past has been lost along the way. To re-establish the burials in a pioneer cemetery is an almost insurmountable task. It is almost a certainty that many other pioneers and early residents of the City of Greenville lie buried in the quiet spot known as the Water Street Cemetery, their name and death dates probably never ascertainable.”
As not to forget those buried here, with this ceremony and dedication of the monument, the community keeps that memory alive and shows respect today and for future generations.
In memory of an unknown adult from the 1800s exposed by the EFI tornado on May 7, 2024 as a tree was uprooted.
The Fort Greenville Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is honored to be a part of this local historical moment and to work with the City of Greenville and all those that helped in making this happen: City of Greenville, Fort GreeneVille Chapter DAR, Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, Kiwanis of Greenville, Darke County Genealogical Society, Greenville Masonic Lodge #143, East Zion Church, Fort Black Eastern Star #336, Salem Stones, Inc., and Lasting Legacy Memorials. Also thank the Greenville Street Dept. for preparing the monument base.