A kick-off fundraiser for the restoration and beautification of the Smithville Town Cemetery is only two weeks away.
The event is set for Thursday, March 20 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Harvester Event Center downtown. Proceeds from the event will go toward the campaign to revitalize the cemetery. The fundraiser will include an auction, food and LIVE entertainment. You can make donations now to benefit the cemetery. For more information and to donate visit www.fb.com/SmithvilleTCA or call 615-597-2000.
Founded in 1838, this historic cemetery, located directly east of the public square, has primarily undergone only basic maintenance in recent years. The late Tommy Webb, county historian, had overseen the cemetery. Before his death in October 2019, Mr. Webb asked Bethel Thomas, Jr. to lead a campaign to restore some of the original beauty to the cemetery. Initial funds raised allowed for the beginning of the restoration of the iron fence. Then came Covid.
Thomas, in a recent interview with WJLE, said a renewed effort has now begun with a larger group of community volunteers taking an interest in the historic cemetery.
“Tommy Webb had overseen the cemetery for several years, but the cemetery association itself had been inactive for some time. I went to Tommy and said I wanted to do something to honor my parents and other people who are buried there. He asked me to lead a campaign to help restore the cemetery and I agreed but then Covid came along but now there is a group of people that are getting together and are really engaged,” said Thomas.
Trees donated by Bert Driver Nursery (Yoshino Cherry) and Pine Creek Nursery (Sweet Bay Magnolias) were planted last month lining the cemetery along North Congress Boulevard. The effort was supported by the city and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Thomas gave his vision of what the historic cemetery needs most.
“The thing Tommy was most concerned about was the condition of the original wrought iron fence around the cemetery. We were able to get a welder to gradually restore some of the original fence on the Congress Boulevard side. Most of the fence on that side can be restored but we will probably have to get new wrought iron fence to put across the north end. The fence on the back side may have to be taken down because it has deteriorated so badly. If so, we have thought about putting up a stone fence to replace it on the Bright Hill Road side,” said Thomas.
“Another concern is the driveway through the cemetery. We want to make a beautiful entrance and instead of having an asphalt drive use brick and or gravel. Then the retaining wall at the corner of the cemetery near the highway 56 & 70 intersection is cracked and broken. It basically needs a new retaining wall which may be the most expensive item but that has to be redone. This project is much bigger than I first imagined with the fencing, drive through, fixing that retaining wall, and then adding some park benches, and maybe a walkway through the cemetery. Thanks to the Diver family with the support of the city and TDOT we have been able to line the cemetery on Congress Boulevard with some trees and we hope to eventually convince people who own property on the other side to allow us to put some trees there also. But its going to be beautiful,” said Thomas.
Anyone who has family or friends buried in the cemetery, as well as any civic-minded person interested is invited to join the Smithville Town Cemetery Association.