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Old Clarkesville Cemetery

Old Clarkesville Cemetery

The mission of Historic Clarkesville Cemetery Preservation, Inc. is to restore, enhance and preserve this important cultural landmark as a vital part of Clarkesville’s history and as a botanical sanctuary and resource for visitors and residents.

  • About us
    • Board of directors
    • Board meetings
    • Contact
  • News
    • Gallery
  • Related links
  • Who’s Who
    • Frederic Eugene Durbec
    • Calvin J. Hanks
    • Moses Harshaw
    • Jarvis Van Buren
  • Fundraising

Related links

Old Clarkesville Cemetery Master Plan
City of Clarkesville
Find A Grave
Historic Oakland Cemetery
National Register of Historic Places-Map
National Register of Historic Places-Map

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Are you curious about the history of this simple white chapel located adjacent to Sam Pitts Park in downtown Clarkesville? Deas Chapel was the first black church established in Habersham County. The land and the church were gifted to the community by Mrs. Amanda Deas in the late 1800s. She and her husband, Charles, prominent business owners, sleep in unmarked graves in the Old Clarkesville Cemetery. This chapel served the African Methodist Episcopal Church congregation for decades. Worship, song and fellowship happened here. With the help of caretakers through the years, it has stood the test of time. It was purchased and renovated several years ago with the hope it could again serve as a community gathering spot. The future of the chapel is uncertain but if you want to learn more about the significance of Amanda’s story, join us for the upcoming History among the Hemlocks event. #Idigthedead #Wherehistoryneverdies #HistoricPreservation #DowntownClarkesville #AMEChurch #BlackHistory #SavetheDeas
We often refer to Mrs. J.T. Pittard and her Oct. 27, 1927 article in The Tri-County Advertiser — “Who’s Who in the Old Cemetery.” We’ve been working with a photocopy but today we discovered the bound copy at the Clarkesville 📚 Library. Join us for the upcoming History among the Hemlocks event to hear from Mrs. J.T. (McMillan) Pittard. She’ll be there to greet you with newly discovered details to share. #idigthedead #wherehistoryneverdies #hiddeninplainsight #historicpreservation #newspaper #firstdraftofhistory #nationalnewspaperweek #smalltownstories
History among the Hemlocks – A Spirited Stroll through the Old Clarkesville Cemetery • Oct. 25-26 • 5:30-7:30 p.m. $25/person Four life stories resurrected by Historic Clarkesville Cemetery Preservation, Inc. A live-action version of long-buried history is being brought to life this fall at the Old Clarkesville Cemetery. History among the Hemlocks – a Spirited Stroll through the Old Clarkesville Cemetery offers a glimpse into the historic cemetery to learn more about four individuals who sleep underneath the towering native trees. Slated for two nights only, Oct. 25-26, the tours will last approximately 30 minutes. Guests will be met at the cemetery entrance by a Victorian-era grave digger who will share a brief history of the site and its significance in Clarkesville's history. Another character draped in Victorian mourning garb will also act as a guide. Four actors portraying residents [or relatives of] the Old Clarkesville Cemetery will share tidbits of history not captured through an online gravesite listing but passed down through oral history and verified through modern research methods. For this inaugural event, visitors will learn more about Moses Harshaw, remembered as “meanest man in Georgia,” Amanda Deas, a pioneering African-American businesswoman whose grave is unmarked but whose tangible legacy is visible nearby, Calvin Hanks, a local attorney who was stabbed to death in the Clarkesville square in 1834 and Rev. Hugh Hawthorne, a visiting Presbyterian minister who drowned at Tallulah Gorge in 1837. Proceeds from ticket sales and all donations will continue to fund the restoration and preservation work at the Old Clarkesville Cemetery. The cemetery is located just off Jefferson Street, with the entrance arbor accessible on the E. Morgan Street side. Parking is available downtown and at Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church. Note: Not recommended for children 10-under. #OldClarkesvilleCemetery #IDigtheDead #WhereHistoryNeverDies #HistoricPreservation #HistoryTours #NortheastGeorgia #CemeteryPreservation

Site Map

  • About us
  • Board meetings
  • Board of directors
  • Calvin J. Hanks
  • Contact
  • Frederic Eugene Durbec
  • Fundraising
  • Gallery
  • Jarvis Van Buren
  • Moses Harshaw
  • News
  • Related links
  • Who’s Who

Location

Corner of East Morgan and Jefferson streets, Clarkesville, GA 30523
706-754-4216
The cemetery is open to the public from dawn until dusk.
Guided tours are available by appointment.
Email contact@oldclarkesvillecemetery.com for details.
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