Near Hoopersville, at Dorchester's remote southwestern edge, Donnie Willey is trying to save three old graveyards from going overboard into the Bay. One of the graveyards is on the James White Property located on the Chesapeake Bay side of Middle Hoopers Island. Family names are TYLER, RUARK, TRAVERS, COX, WROTEN. This graveyard needs help NOW. He now calls this the Anchor of Hope cemetery as it represents an anchor and needs help and hope.
Willey has worked hard on saving the graves. He wants these people remembered. "Every one of these people that's buried here, there's a story to be told about every single one of them," he said. There are at least 100 people in the cemetery, he estimates, including whites whose tombstones date to 1805 and African Americans whose graves are often marked only by shallow depressions in the earth.
One way to keep these memories is by remembering the War of 1812 veterans among those buried in these disappearing cemeteries. We will do that on August 31. The meeting point will be announced shortly. For now, contact Donnie at 410-397-3433 or drop him a note at 1208 Parks Road, Fishing Creek, MD. Offer your help and encouragement. Several volunteers helping for a day would be a great show of support and get the work moving.
Lynne Schulman
Program Manager, SDFM
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War 1812 Project |
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