Overgrown wild strawberries hint at secrets here at the Ball Burial Ground. This seemingly ordinary patch of land holds the remains of some of Arlington County’s earliest settlers. Welcome to the Robert Ball Sr. Family Burial Ground.
The Ball family’s story is deeply intertwined with the history of this area. Their prominence in civic affairs led to the naming of Ballston. This small cemetery represents the antebellum rural nature of the community. Robert Ball Sr. established it.
Did you know this ¼-acre graveyard was platted in 1865? The first known burial took place in 1854. The neighborhood was almost entirely farmland back then.
In 1923, the land was partially conveyed to the Central United Methodist Church. They built the present-day church there. Now, the Ball Burial Ground measures just 502 square feet. Dense urban development surrounds it.
Imagine this area in the early to mid-19th century. Family graveyards like this one were common. They illustrate the self-sufficiency of rural landowners. It was an early American tradition to have such burial plots.
Today, the Ball Burial Ground faces challenges. Development surges around it. The county can’t legally access it for maintenance. The land was deeded to John Ball’s heirs in the 1700s.
The problem is that no one knows who those heirs are. A secret Samaritan has been mowing the plot. Broken branches rest on the mossy gravestones. Trash accumulates.
The Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board has asked the county to hire a genealogist. They want them to locate the Ball family heirs. They also recommend a fund for land maintenance. A study could reveal who else might be buried here.
Currently, there are no plans for a direct path to the gravesite. This is to preserve its historical integrity. Visitors can access it by squeezing past cars at an auto body shop. They head through a break in a chain-link fence.
The county designated the Ball Burial Ground as a local historic district in 1978. Another Ball family cemetery near the Central United Methodist Church has also been discussed for historic designation.
The Robert Ball Sr. Family Burial Ground stands as a testament to the past. It connects us to the early settlers of Arlington County. May their stories and contributions never be forgotten.