Volunteers from the Daviess County Public Library’s Kentucky Room and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) General Evan Shelby Chapter teamed with radar specialists to investigate a little‑known burial ground behind Mount Zion Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Daviess County, Kentucky. Their ground‑penetrating radar survey revealed two mass graves containing a total of 29 people.
Discovery and community effort
While researching the county’s oldest churches for a DAR calendar, members uncovered a property map that showed a small, private square behind the church’s cemetery. Savannah Warren‑Lee, manager of the library’s Kentucky Room and a DAR member, described the site as “back behind the second part of their cemetery off in the woods.”
After clearing brush this spring, volunteers found two solitary headstones. Historian Sheila Pence of the DAR chapter recalled the moment: “It was unbelievable that we found something back there. We were so excited.” Librarian Alaina McDonald Esther added that the group had not expected to locate any tombstones at all.
Radar survey confirms mass graves
With permission from neighboring property owners, the volunteers called on the Simpson County Historical Society, which runs a ground‑penetrating radar program, to scan the area. The radar identified two distinct sections that the volunteers described as “mass graves,” meaning the remains are buried together without individual coffins or boxes. One section holds 17 individuals; the other holds 12.
“We were not expecting that at all,” Warren‑Lee said of the findings. The headstones date to about 1903, leading researchers to believe the graves date to the late 1800s or early 1900s, though the exact age remains unknown.
Future plans and preservation
The volunteers have named the site the Douglas Family Cemetery, after a cousin who lived next to the church and believed the area belonged to the Douglas family. They plan to return in the spring to clear additional overgrowth, map the full extent of the cemetery, and bring the radar expert back for further scanning.
One goal of the DAR is to install a historical marker that will inform descendants that their ancestors rest there. The library’s Cemetery Club, noting that many county cemeteries are in similar condition, has petitioned the fiscal court twice to create a cemetery board to oversee maintenance and pursue grant funding. Warren‑Lee said other Kentucky counties have such boards, which help secure resources for preservation.“We’ve gone and petitioned the court a couple times, but nothing has come of it yet,” she said, emphasizing the need for local government support.
Community significance
This discovery highlights the importance of local historical research and volunteer stewardship. By combining archival work, community outreach, and modern technology, the volunteers have shed light on a forgotten piece of Daviess County’s heritage and opened a path toward proper recognition and care for the burial ground.
As the work continues, the volunteers hope their efforts will inspire other groups to investigate and preserve historic cemeteries throughout the region.
Original reporting: 14 News WFIE Evansville (news) — read the source article.
