Phase I Cultural Resouces Survey and Mapping of Historic Period Cemeteries at West Point Lake, Alabama and Georgia

Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted Phase I cultural resources survey of 16 cemeteries at West Point Lake, Alabama and Georgia, in February 2000 (Table I). Three of the 16 cemeteries surveyed are in Chambers County, Alabama ( 402-C, 402-C- 2, and 402-C- 3), six are in Heard County, Georgia (1934-C, 2201-C, 2301-C-1, 2301-C-2, 2301-C-3, and Philpott Cemetery), and seven are in Troup County, Georgia (102-C, 201-C, 1226-C, 1909- C, 1911-C, 1920-C, and 2000-C). Cemetery boundaries are delineated, sites are recommended as potentially eligible or ineligible for the NRHP, and long-term management recommendations are presented in this report. Cemeteries IO2-C, 201-C, 402-C, 402-C-2, and 402-C-3 no longer contain burials, and are recommended ineligible for the NRHP. Cemetery boundary adjustments are recommended at cemeteries lO2-C, 402-C-2, and 402-C-3 to clearly identify these areas as the former location of cemeteries. We recommend redefining the boundaries of 102-C, which would involve either reidentifying the location of Corps survey benchmark 102-C-A and restoring it, or changing the northern boundary of the cemetery. Permanent Corps benchmarks should be established at 402-C-2 and 402-C-3 to clearly identify these sites as the former locations of cemeteries. We also examined Tract 1226-C, and were unable to find evidence that a burial exists in this area. No further management considerations are recommended for this tract. 2000-C, 2201-C, 2301-C- The ten cemeteries which contain burials, 1909-C, 1911-C, 1920-C, and 1934-C, potentially eligible for the NRHP. Since these cemeteries should be considered potentially NRHP eligible, they should also be considered significant historic resources by Corps staff at West Point Lake. All of these cemeteries should be preserved in place (Georgia Abandoned Cemeteries and Burial Grounds Act §36- 72). West Point Lake Corps personnel should avoid any undertaking which would impact the cemeteries directly, or alter the setting of the area within 100 feet of the cemetery boundaries. Examples of such activities include controlled burning, clear cutting, and facilities construction. If any undertakings are planned within the view shed of any of these cemeteries in the future, Mobile District Cultural Resources Management personnel should be consulted to evaluate the potential effects of the proposed undertaking on the resource. Cemetery boundary adjustments are recommended at four of these cemeteries (1934- C, 2000-C, 2301-C-l, and Philpott). At 1934-C, transit data indicates that the present cemetery boundary cuts across the northernmost grave in the cemetery. The actual boundary lies about 2 meters northeast of the present benchmark 1934-C-C. At 2000-C, transit data indicates that the cemetery boundary cuts across a grave on the southeastern boundary of the cemetery, and one grave is outside the current boundary. The actual boundary lies about 7 meters southeast of the present southeastern Corps real estate survey marker. Apparently the Corps survey benchmarks in Cemetery 230 l-C-l are labeled incorrectly. The existing Corps survey benchmarks should be removed and replaced with markers which have the correct cemetery designation, 2301-C-l. The northernmost benchmark (which is now 2301-C-2-A) should be moved approximately 5 meters north, so that the cemetery boundary will fully include the two grave depressions in the northern portion of the cemetery. At the Philpott Cemetery, the northeastern Corps real estate survey marker should be moved east to fully enclose the boundary of the cemetery. No further management considerations are recommended.