Dublin rededicates historic pre-Civil War Black Cemetery

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) — The city of Dublin on Friday officially righted a wrong committed more than 150 years ago. And for descendants of a family of Black landowners, it means their legacy will be remembered.

It was a beautiful gesture from the city, celebrating and acknowledging the mistakes of the past. Mayor Chris Groomes believes the ceremony speaks volumes about the character of the city.

“It’s important because it shows who we are, it shows our priorities. It shows our dedication to all people and everyone who calls Dublin home,” said Groomes. “Everyone who has done it and everyone who will do it.”

The dedication ceremony was held for the Brown and Harris families on a piece of land between U.S. Route 33 and Shier Rings Road in Dublin. The families originally owned the land from the 1840s until 1915.

“Today is just a blessed day,” Groomes said. “It’s a wonderful celebration that this site is coming full circle and that we’re really honoring and respecting the heritage that was here long before us.”

The land was partially a historic black cemetery with at least 22 confirmed graves, one of which dates back to 1854. The land was purchased by a white farmer in 1915, at which time the headstones were removed. Diamond Crowder, a national registry manager with the state historic preservation office, says this type of erasure is not uncommon for black historic sites.

“When we look at historic sites in Ohio and across the country, less than 3% represent the significance of these places to black people,” Crowder said. “Places where African Americans once stood.”

It wasn’t until April 2020, four years after Dublin City Council purchased the land in 2016, that city staff found part of a headstone with the inscription “H.” The discovery confirmed that the ancestors of the Brown-Harris families are buried on this land. Archaeologist Joel Brown called Joe Howard, a descendant of the Harris family, about the discovery.

“I got a call from Joel Brown and almost hung up. I thought it was a scam and he told me that they found this cemetery and some of my relatives were buried there and some of the Brown family too. That’s where it all started,” Howard said. “I’m really glad Joel reached out to me and I didn’t delete his call.”

The families became involved in the project, contributing to the design elements of the memorial and landscaping. A replica of the stone “H” is now on display as part of the cemetery’s memorial. Theresa Dearing, another descendant of the family, says this dedication emphasized the importance of knowing where you came from.

“We all need a foundation to build on. And if we know our past, we can point the way to the future,” Dearing said.

State Senator Stephanie Kunze also presented the family with a proclamation at the ceremony, and the family told me they were happy that their ancestors finally have a recognized resting place.