Through the law offices of Hunter and Lee, Engelhard Corporation contracted with Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. to investigate a 9 .5 acre tract to determine if a cemetery is within the property. The tract is located on the east side of Savannah, adjacent to additional acreage owned by Engelhard. President Street borders the south side of the tract, and the east side is bordered by Wahlstrom Street. The Southern Chain Company tract forms the northern border.
Formerly, this was part of the Brewton Hill tract, which was an antebellum plantation. The archeological survey was conducted on September 13 and 14, 2000 by Chad Braley, Vice President and senior archeologist with Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. Research confirms that a cemetery is present on both the Engelhard and Southern Chain Company tracts. The cemetery served the community of LePageville, which was home to African- American railroad workers. From about 1920 - 1955 LePageville consisted of about 25 houses (1920 USGS Savannah topographic map; 1952 aerial photograph). Exactly when LePageville was established is unknown at this time. Most of the houses were situated in the southern half of the Engelhard property where ball fields are now located. As shown on the 1952 aerial photograph, the northern portion of the property, where the cemetery is located, was wooded. LePageville was dismantled in the late 1950s or early 60s.
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