Looks like an ordinary shopping center but look closely, it’s built around an old cemetery!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Built nearly two centuries ago, this little grave yard went almost unnoticed during the last 100 years in the city of Middleburg Hts., OH.   But in 1995, commercial development of the area ‘re-discovered’ the family plots that hold the remains of two families.

The Hickcox family came to the area in 1809 and were the first white settlers of this area. Rachel Hickcox Fowles gave birth to the first pioneer child born in the area. The other family is the Hepburn family, who’s graves are (atleast now) unmarked.

The plot now known as Hickcox Park or Meditation Hill sits on the original hill in the middle of the shopping centers parking lot. The shopping center had to be built around the cemetery which is now nicely fenced in and properly maintained.

The large pillars seen inside the cemetery (dark sandstone) are the original pillars that marked the large plot.

More history on this here.

 
                                              
I’d like to thank Alyson for re-sparking my interest in lurking around cemeteries!
I visited her blog for the first time and to my surprise found a great article on Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.  So I’ve got the ‘bug’ again and rekindled my passion for the stones!  My kids who pretty much grew up visiting cemeteries in my genealogy days loved this little ‘jaunt’ and are excited about grave hunting again.  (The weirdness is genetic)

If you are looking for ghostly posts or those with orbs, click HERE

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