Gazing upon the quiet slopes of Black Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery, one can almost hear the whispers of history carried on the breeze. This cemetery, nestled on a rise in Waterford, Virginia, holds a unique place in the story of this village. The Black Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery takes its name not from the Civil War, but from its shared use by various denominations in Waterford. Since the early 1800s, it has served as the final resting place for members of all Waterford churches, except for the Quakers who had their own burial ground. The cemetery was strictly segregated, with distinct sections for Black and white residents. This segregation, a stark reminder of the inequalities of the time, is evident in the different types of grave markers. Fine marble monuments stand alongside simple fieldstones and weathered wooden markers. These markers offer a poignant testament to the economic disparities of the era. The Black Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery also tells a story of reconciliation. Veterans from both the Union and Confederate armies, both Black and white, rest side-by-side here. Military markers denote their service and sacrifice. One such marker belongs to James Lewis, a Black soldier born in 1844. He traveled to Pittsburgh during the Civil War to join the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, a Black unit whose story was immortalized in the film “Glory”. Every October, during the Waterford Fair, a wreath-laying ceremony honors the veterans buried within the Black Waterford Union of Churches Cemetery. It’s a moment of reflection, a reminder of the shared history, and a testament to the peace that eventually came.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to