Greenwood Cemetery, St. Louis, MO

GivingTuesday, December 1, 2020. Please remember Greenwood Cemetery and donate. Go to our website: www.greenwoodstl.org

James Henry Canford was one of the thousands of African-American refugees who escaped the South and came to St. Louis during The Great Migration in the early 20th Century. African-Americans left in search of better jobs and to escape violence perpetrated by domestic terrorists like the Ku Klux Klan. They often found white supremacy just as strong in the Northern cities as it was in the South. Canford settled on La Salle Avenue and worked as a porter to support his daughter, V...iola, and his widowed mother, Sarah. Military service was part of the Canford family legacy. Canford’s father, James Canford, was born into slavery in 1843 in Kentucky. After liberating himself, he enlisted in Company I of the 8th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery in Paducah, KY, and later promoted to sergeant. He survived the war and was one of over 200,000 African-American soldiers to serve in the Civil War. On June 5, 1917, at the age of 29, James Henry Canford, Jr. began his service with the 92nd Division, one of two all-Black combat divisions during The Great War. Pvt. Canford and the men of his unit trained at Camp Funston, Riley, Kansas. Shortly after arriving at camp, he became ill with pneumonia during training and died in 1918, of pneumonia. He never left camp. His service was not forgotten by those who knew him. His name is listed on the cenotaph at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum with 1,075 other St. Louisans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Great War. Ironically, the first known case reported in the United States, of the worldwide influenza pandemic, also known as the Spanish Flu, was at Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kansas on March 11, 1918.

Friends of Greenwood Cemetery, Someone calling himself Tattoo Tony Alton has posted what I feel is a very discouraging video about Greenwood on UTUBE. I was try...ing to attach it to this post but my tech skills are limited at best. You can find it on UTUBE as "Abandoned Historic Cemetery Greenwood St. Louis Missouri". Tattoo Tony showed only the parts of the cemetery that have not been reclaimed which as you will see by the comments is leading people to believe that Greenwood is just another piece of property that is not being cared for and is basically just history that is being thrown away or ignored. (He has apparently read some of our literature because it sounds as if he was quoting from a piece that I wrote when he mentions that the cemetery was founded to serve the needs of the African American community after the civil war) I have many issues with the video. The first being that Tattoo Tony had to had to drive past acres of cemetery property that has been reclaimed to get to the part that he chose to film. He chose not to video of the approx 17 acres that have been cleared and cleaned but focused on a section that has not been reclaimed. Another issue that I have is that he mentions our Facebook page so he is very likely aware of our ongoing cleanup effort. Also, as far as I know, he did not consult with any of our board members prior to publishing his UTUBE video. Would you please take a look at the video. Tattoo Tony Alton has a Facebook page. If you agree with me that his video is misleading, please let him know. We are all working very hard to remedy years of neglect at Greenwood. Things like Tattoo Tony's unauthorized and unwelcome video are not at all helpful. This video was posted about a month ago.

It has truly been a pleasure sharing with everyone the lives and stories of a few of the notables who are interred in Greenwood Cemetery during Black History Month. Being affiliated with this wonderful place has touched my life and the lives of countless others in so many ways. All of the shared stories have been compelling and inspiring, giving us a better understanding and appreciation for just how much our ancestors were able to achieve under such adverse circumstances. Et...ta and Shelley did a masterful job of opening a window into their lives for all to see. In 2004 Greenwood Cemetery was added to the National Registry of Historic Places, and it became a St. Louis County landmark in 2016. Unfortunately, there is still such an informational and historical knowledge deficit about this wonderful place that can be very frustrating at times. When we started this reclamation project in 2015, I would actually have people living in the community approach me and say that they had no idea that it was a cemetery due to years of neglect. We have never had any type of plaque that recognizes Greenwood as a national historic site or any type of prominent signage and that is something that I would like and plan to address this year. As with just about everything that we do, this will entail a fundraising effort to make this dream a reality. Attached is an example of just one of the ideas being discussed for our National Registry designation. We are very excited about the possibilities going forward, and hope for the community's support to make this a reality. If you would like to donate to this goal, click on the donate button. You can, also, mail in your donation to: GCPA P.O. Box 266 Florissant, MO 63033 Thank you for supporting Greenwood Cemetery.

Greenwood Cemetery: African American History Remembered and Reclaimed In Celebration of Historic Greenwood Cemetery Greenwood Cemetery was organized in 1874 to... serve the needs of the growing black population of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Greenwood was the first commercial and non-sectarian cemetery for African Americans in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Burial at Greenwood did not depend on residency, acquaintances or religion. The requirement was simple $5.00 for adult burials and $2.50 for children. For the first time, in an era when segregation in the area was literally cradle to grave, African Americans who did not live in the right town, know the right people or belong to the right church, were given an opportunity to be buried with dignity in a beautifully maintained and peaceful rural setting. By the early 20th century, Greenwood had become such a source of pride in the black community that it was frequently reported in black newspapers of the day that the deceased had been buried in his/her family plot at Greenwood Cemetery. The 31.85-acre property was divided onto 20 burial section or lots which would over the course of its years as an active burial ground, become the final resting place of more than 50,000 St. Louis area residents, 99.5% of whom were of African descent. Today, Greenwood is recognized by two decorative stone gateposts flanking the entrance but they were not always there. The cemetery entrance was originally located in the middle of the area of the cemetery that now faces St. Louis Avenue. It was here that horses towing hearses and carriages bearing mourners entered. They would stop at a farmhouse that doubled as the cemetery office and be directed to burial locations. In 1908, the first motor vehicles started to arrive at Greenwood and the entrance we are now familiar with was created since it was an easier route for automobile traffic to navigate. One of the distinguishing features between Greenwood and many African American cemeteries of Greenwoods’ age is the number is the number and variety of existing headstones. Headstones dating from the 1870’s through the 1990’s are visible. Combined with historical records such as burial records, maps and oral histories, headstones can provide information about a community’s demographic composition; age, sex, occupation, status, etc. Headstones also point to the development and stability of the African American community. The value of family relationships is represented by still existing family plots that date back to the 1890’s. Even the large number of unmarked graves tell a story indicating a lack of resources needed to provide purchased commercial markers. Many of these graves were probably marked by stones, shells, plantings or other forms of commemoration that have been lost over the years. Headstones and headstone art give information about changing trends and use of materials as time passes. Particular symbols on headstones can be used to associate a burial with a particular profession, avocation, group, religious belief, or ideology. For example, the Masonic symbol of the Freemasons and the Star symbol of the Order of Eastern Star are prolific at Greenwood. Indications of Masonic affiliation on headstones at Greenwood date back to the late 1800’s. Grave goods and other decorations referencing African American traditions have also been found at Greenwood. Shells, particularly conch shells, have been found around the cemetery grounds. In addition to the markers that were actually manufactured on the cemetery grounds, there are examples of beautiful commercial stones as well as touching examples of handmade grave markers. Other grave markers and grave goods include statuary, flower pots and decorative masonry. Photographic documentation of headstones is an ongoing part of our work at Greenwood. In addition to documenting headstone, we also attempt to document the lives of as many of the people buried at Greenwood as possible through obituaries and stories about their lives. For some, these obituaries and stories are among the few written remembrances of their time on this earth. For the past month we have presented 28 obituaries or stories of people buried at Greenwood including; military veterans, musicians, community leaders, freemasons, ministers, professionals, entertainers, business owners, people born during slavery, civil rights pioneers and just plain folk. Hopefully these brief biographies will add to your knowledge of African American life in St. Louis during the 19th and 20th centuries. Greenwood is no longer an active burial ground. We see its future use as a place to reflect on and share the African American experience in the St. Louis region. From the well-known to the unknown, everyone has a story. As a St. Louis County Landmark, there is no doubt of Greenwoods historic, cultural and social importance to the St. Louis region and particularly to St. Louis African Americans. Despite the physical conditions of the cemetery and many of its stones, Greenwood offers enormous promise as an educational and tourist resource. Greenwood is a non-endowed cemetery that for the past 20 years has depended solely on contributions and volunteers for reclamation, maintenance and research. We invite you to join us in continuing to support this physical tribute to people, organizations, circumstances and events that helped shape the St. Louis area community. Both financial contributions and physical support would be very welcome. We offer a heartfelt thank-you to the thousands (literally) who have answered our requests for help over the years. We are not where we want to be, but we are where we are because of each of you. Greenwood Cemetery was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on February 24, 2004.

Greenwood Cemetery: African American History Remembered and Reclaimed In Memory of: Albert I. Holman 1916-1980 The late 19th and early 20th century has been re...ferred to as A Time of Joining. Most of our ancestors joined a society of one type or another. The societies they belonged to tended to fall into one of two categories; Fraternal organizations or Benevolent organizations. Both played an important role in the growth and development of African American St. Louis. The benevolent organizations tended to be open to everyone but the fraternal organizations were pretty much by invitation only. The benevolent societies were at their core, insurance or death benefit organizations that had developed after the civil war as a means of paying for funeral expenses and headstones or ensuring income during times of illness. Dues were paid in to a central fund to pay these costs when the need arose. By the early 1900’s most of the societies had become reputable long-term businesses and as they grew, they expanded to fulfill other needs. Their activities often included social gatherings, bands, drum and bugle corps and drill teams. Many of them patterned themselves after masonic groups, adopting military style regalia, forming local lodges, sponsoring entertainments and grand balls all designed to give members a visible and desirable place in society. There were many such benevolent societies in St. Louis with the most popular being; The Knights of Tabor and the Daughters of the Tabernacle, The Mosaic Templers of America, The Grand United Order of True Reformers and the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten. The origins of the fraternal societies were much older. Many of them were extensions of Prince Hall Masonry which had begun in St. Louis in 1859 with the establishment of the Prince Hall Lodge #1. Prince Hall Lodge #1 was the first black masonic lodge to open in St. Louis and one of the first to be established west of the Mississippi. Unlike the benevolent organizations, membership in the Prince Hall and other fraternal organizations was more selective and their outreach more focused on personal and community development. To be a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the Ancient United Order of Knights and Daughters of Africa, the Royal Arch Masons, the Heroines of Jericho, the Knights of Pythias, the Order of the Eastern Star, the "Grand United Order of Oddfellows", or the Order of Elks required study, dedication and commitment. Among the men and women buried at Greenwoods are many members of fraternal societies. These organizations helped African Americans, especially immigrants to the city, establish themselves by finding jobs and homes. They engaged in relief efforts and supported schools and charities that benefited the black population. Their membership included many of the most prominent men and women in the St. Louis black community. All promoted values of honesty and hard work. More than any other fraternal organization, the Prince Hall Masons supported and furthered the betterment of African Americans in St. Louis. Albert I Holman is one of the numerous members of this organizations and its affiliates buried at Greenwood Cemetery. Previously employed by the WPA, Albert Holman came to St. Louis from California in the 1960’s. He worked a variety of jobs from cab driver to delivery man. He married and had five children. Through his dedicated membership in the Prince Hall Masons, Holman recruited new members and helped to coordinate service and charity efforts. To the East.

Greenwood Cemetery: African American History Remembered and Reclaimed In Memory of: Addison Red Burnett 1885-1977 In 1913, Charles Turpin, brother of Redbud ...Café owner Tom Turpin opened the Booker T. Washington Theater at 2248 Market Street. It was an African American owned theater that seated upwards of 500 and featured vaudeville acts such as; Do Do Green and Company in a jazzy conglomeration of fun and frolics, music , dances and pretty girls, Princess Mysteria the Wonderful Telepathic Artist as well as nationally known entertainers such as Ethel Waters, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and a relatively new to the stage performer, Josephine Baker. Sometimes there were Ragtime piano contests accompanied by ragtime steppers. On days when there were no live performances, the theater ran popular movies of the day. The Booker T was located a block west of Union Station and just east of a heavily frequented strip of bars, saloons and clubs with names like the Gilt Edge Bar, The Four Deuces Saloon and the Hurrah Sporting Club. Also close by were restaurants, billiard parlors, small businesses and various other activities. The theater was often filled to capacity with people waiting for their train departures. Or sometimes, just people wanting to escape the heat of St. Louis summer weather since the theater advertised temperatures twenty degrees cooler than outside due to its Typhoon cooling system that generated absolutely pure air that was changed every five minutes. The Booker T opened at 10 in the morning and operated until well after midnight. Due to its location, its clientele and its entertainment, the theater gained the reputation of being boisterous. But when things got a little more boisterous than need be, Turpin called on his friend and employee Red Burnett to get and keep things in line. Red’s strong-arm tactics were well known and universally feared. Addison Red Burnett migrated to St. Louis from Tennessee. He initially found work as a factory laborer and later became a hotel waiter. But it was Red’s experience with the Booker T led him to a career in hotel and club management. Years after his bouncer days at the Booker T, the St. Louis Argus would report: Addison Burnett, who is manager of the Hotel Calumet and was recently made manager of the West End Hotel also, is no novice at the job of managing having been manager of the old Jazzland, the Booker Washington Theater and Club Hollywood. When the Odeon Theater was turned over to colored, Mr. Burnett was house and stage manager, and it was he who had charge of the Negro Walkathon which he held at the Palladium several years ago. (The Odeon Theater was located just off Grand in what is now known as the Theater District. Black patronage was not especially welcome in the area and the Odeon mysteriously burned to the ground shortly after management changed from white to black.) With all this experience behind him, Mr. Burnett was well qualified for the positions he held. Besides being manager of the West End Hotel and the Calumet, he had also served in the capacity of supervisor at the Grand Central Hotel once the largest hostelry for colored people" in the city of St. Louis. According to an interview with one of Mr. Burnett’s daughters he became lifelong friends with Josephine Baker during the years she played the Booker T. Although Mr. Burnett’s wife Ada, his daughters Addlene and Elsie, his sons Warren and Walter are all deceased, many of his direct descendants and relatives still live in the St. Louis area including well-known entertainer Denise Thimes. Red Burnett was buried at Greenwood Cemetery on November 28, 1977.