Woman's Christian Temperance Union Cemetery
Also known as Woman's Christian Temperance Union Pauper's Cemetery , W. C. T. U. Cemetery , Pauper's Cemetery
Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland, USA
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- This cemetery is marked as being historical or removed.
- No longer accepting burials
- Cemetery ID:
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Add PhotosAccording to articles written in The Crisfield Times newspaper over the years, the Crisfield chapter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (itself organized in December 1895) had the cemetery founded sometime around 1902 after they found out there was no proper cemetery dedicated to the "Christian burial" of white people "who died without means in the city." The group of women hosted fundraising events in order to gather up close to $100, using the money to buy a roughly-1/2 acre of land from Ananias Crockett (1832-1909) "in the old Brick Kiln vicinity" & behind the property of the old Baptist Church on Maryland Avenue.
The W. C. T. U. also erected a fence around the grounds, being described as a "strong board fence and gate." Over time, the fence was lost & may have been replaced at least once before disappearing again.
Most burials at this cemetery were white people who had drowned, unknown people who couldn't be identified, or others just too poor to be buried elsewhere. It's mentioned that "a number" of people of color were buried there "without the consent of the W. C. T. U.," it's directors stating that they were committed to the burial ground's original purpose for the burial of the "White Pauper Dead" ("not because of any personal animosity or prejudice which any members of the W. C. T. U. have for the people of the colored race").
The GPS location on map is an estimate using information from the newspaper articles.
According to articles written in The Crisfield Times newspaper over the years, the Crisfield chapter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (itself organized in December 1895) had the cemetery founded sometime around 1902 after they found out there was no proper cemetery dedicated to the "Christian burial" of white people "who died without means in the city." The group of women hosted fundraising events in order to gather up close to $100, using the money to buy a roughly-1/2 acre of land from Ananias Crockett (1832-1909) "in the old Brick Kiln vicinity" & behind the property of the old Baptist Church on Maryland Avenue.
The W. C. T. U. also erected a fence around the grounds, being described as a "strong board fence and gate." Over time, the fence was lost & may have been replaced at least once before disappearing again.
Most burials at this cemetery were white people who had drowned, unknown people who couldn't be identified, or others just too poor to be buried elsewhere. It's mentioned that "a number" of people of color were buried there "without the consent of the W. C. T. U.," it's directors stating that they were committed to the burial ground's original purpose for the burial of the "White Pauper Dead" ("not because of any personal animosity or prejudice which any members of the W. C. T. U. have for the people of the colored race").
The GPS location on map is an estimate using information from the newspaper articles.
Nearby cemeteries
Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland, USA
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- Percent photographed100%
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Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland, USA
- Total memorials11
- Percent photographed36%
Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland, USA
- Total memorials7
- Percent photographed0%
- Added: 13 Sep 2023
- Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2785731
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