Friday's Internet Edition, May 09, 2008.
Joppa Cemetery Site Of Archaeological Visit
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| State archaeologists and local historians walk by Joppa Cemetery in Mocksville, looking at a rough road an adjoining property owner built, disturbing the tree line and rock fence. - Photo by Mike Barnhardt |
So are many others who shaped the future of an emerging nation, state, county and town.
Among them are Joannah Smith, who in 1827 bequeathed money for a pastor for what was then Joppa Presbyterian Church on the site. A new monument recognizes her gift.
The historic value of the cemetery, located on Yadkinville Road in Mocksville sandwiched between a shopping center and other businesses, across the road from even more businesses, with surrounding land around it ripe for development, attracted two members of the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology last month.
Witnessing trees next to the cemetery that had been cut, and the old rock wall that had been disturbed, they said the problem isn’t confined to Mocksville.
“Cemeteries all across the state are affected,” said Stephen R. Claggett, state archaeologist, “but because of the Boone connection, but not exclusively, many early settlers are buried here, this place is important.”
His office offered advice to locals with an interest in preserving the cemetery, including Cyrette Sanford and other members of the Joppa committee, charged with caring for the cemetery. It is kept by the group, she said, with funds going through Mocksville First Presbyterian Church.
There were members of the committee working to establish a museum here, and members of the Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society.
All had one goal in common - a desire to preserve Joppa Cemetery - perhaps Davie County’s most visited and most important historical site.
Sanford said regularly, she gets calls from people in other counties and states who are descendants of those buried at Joppa, including the Boones. They share information, and many travel to Mocksville because they want to be close ... subscribe to the Davie County Enterprise Record, P.O. Box 99, Mocksville, N.C. 27028.