Shared memories of the Rondo Cemetery east of Texarkana, Ark., has inspired volunteers to start revitalizing the historical cemetery and write a book in 2017.
A sense of peace has been created by the stories about Rondo Cemetery, according to Nikki Furlow, a member of the cemetery association.
"People have shared memories of the cemetery as children. One thing all stories have in common is the sense of peace. Even though pain is associated with the place, an undeniable sense of peace exists there as well," said Furlow.
"We want to restore the place to its original design and historical significance. Many people remember picnicking and gathering for family days in the past. We want to bring that back to the community and we need help to make that happen. We welcome any group or organization that needs a project and likes to be outside to form teams and come out and support this cause," she said.
"Rondo All But Forgotten Arkansas History Southwest of the Red River" is the title of a book written by Ed Black of Texarkana who is the president of the Rondo Cemetery Association.
"The cemetery is rich in history and deserves all the preservation the community members can give," said Furlow.
"There is an old chapel on site that has been destroyed by a wind storm. It needs proper removal and disposal. There is talk of raising funds to have it rebuilt. Several trees are needing to be cut down and improvements to the fences and roads are needed in order to maintain proper drainage. These are some of the bigger issues," said Furlow.
"There is also the issue of routine maintenance at this time. The association is accepting bids for the long term care and maintenance of the grounds," she said.
"Another immediate need of the association is new membership and participation. Recent changes to the association by-laws now include any member of the community with a small donation. So anyone who wants to join is encouraged to do so at the upcoming event," Furlow said.
"In September, a group of about 25 volunteers gathered for a clean-up day and were able to remove years of over growth from the front stone fence and entrance," said Furlow.
"It was a major improvement but was not enough. We need workers who want to give back to the community even if they have nothing to gain personally. This is about preserving local history," Furlow said.
The association will have a clean-up day Nov. 17 starting at 8 a.m.
"There is an old chapel on site that has been destroyed by a wind storm. It needs proper removal and disposal. There is talk of raising funds to have it rebuilt. Several trees are needing cut down and improvements to the fences and roads are needed in order to maintain proper drainage. These are some of the bigger issues, said Furlow.
"There is also the issue of routine maintenance at this time. The association is accepting bids for the long term care and maintenance of the grounds, she said.
Another immediate need of the association is new membership and participation. Recent changes to the association bi laws now include any member of the community with a small donation. So anyone who wants to join is encouraged to do so at the upcoming event.
Local historians have illuminated stories about the Rondo community and the history of the cemetery.
In 1836, the Owens Family donated a portion of their land to the Rondo community.
"In an unfortunate turn of events their own 6-year-old daughter would be the first person interred there. The article describes how the grave marker for little Susan I. Owen, was ordered by her father from St. Louis and shipped down the Mississippi River to Red River and unloaded at Dooley's Ferry Crossing. From there it was brought by land and placed on Susan's grave in 1836 according to an article written by Wallace A. Ely in 1950.
Old Rondo Cemetery-Confederate Section, located at 1612 Smith Road in Rondo (Miller County), commemorates Confederate soldiers from Texas who died of disease in Rondo in 1862. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 22, 2004, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.
On June 12, 1862, Brigadier General Henry Eustace McCulloch ordered all Confederate troops located east of Tyler, Texas, to march to Little Rock (Pulaski County), which was threatened by Samuel Curtis's Union army. These troops included the Nineteenth Texas Infantry Regiment under Colonel Richard Waterhouse. At least seven companies of the Nineteenth were stationed at Rondo, just past the Arkansas-Texas state line, from July through early September.
While the men were camped at Rondo, measles struck, killing dozens of Waterhouse's soldiers. After the war, the remains of 85 Confederate soldiers who died in the measles epidemic were disinterred from their original burial site and reburied side by side in a common grave in the Old Rondo Cemetery. The remainder of the unfortunate Nineteenth Texas was later transferred to Camp Nelson near Cabot (Lonoke County), where still more men died of measles.
The Albert Pike Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy was organized in Texarkana (Miller County) in 1931 and immediately began efforts to recognize the unknown soldiers in the Old Rondo Cemetery. Working with Congresswoman Effiegene Wingo, a granddaughter of Confederate soldiers, the group sought to acquire the plot in which the Confederates were buried, as well as place marble markers for the grave site. There were seventeen markers placed, one for every five of the unknown soldiers.
The Old Rondo Cemetery-Confederate Section was sold for $1 to the Albert Pike Chapter on December 7, 1934. The first Rondo dedication ceremony was conducted in 1934. In 1962, the Albert Pike Chapter placed a sandstone and marble marker in the center of the Confederate Section in honor of the eighty-five men buried there. The chapter also holds a memorial service at the cemetery every May.
The association has monthly meetings and the Facebook page Rondo Cemetery Association keeps the community updated on events and clean-up days. "We also have a fundraising account set up at Commercial National Bank P.O. Box 1998 Texarkana TX 75504 acct. 1697. Our mailing address is Rondo Cemetery Association P.O. Box 3443 Texarkana TX, 75504," said Black.
"We're trying to get younger people involved in the maintenance of the cemetery and we're trying to encourage the next generation to take an interest in history," Black said.