PRAIRIE VIEW CEMETERY UPDATE

For several months, the FHPL has been involved with a project to “spruce up” Prairie View Cemetery on the east side of town and to find and mark graves that have never had, or have lost, their markers. The project has moved ahead well with the help of several folks and groups and is also striving to find where there are open spots for more burials, while making sure not to disturb present and/or unmarked burial sites. The following article has been prepared by Board Member, Charles Beason, to update what has been accomplished and to alert visitors to the cemetery concerning what they may encounter and to ask that metal disk markers of any type be left undisturbed. Please read and take note, and “thanks” in advance for your cooperation. (Themer) **Anyone who has recently driven by Prairie View Cemetery on East Broad Street in Forney may have noticed that the grounds of this historic African-American cemetery are nicely mowed and much overgrowth has been cut, especially on the west end and along the railroad side. There are many unmarked graves throughout this historical property, and the cemetery is beginning to run out of known available space for future interments. However, a recent project has been concluded that will make it possible to provide some additional lots for burials.

A work crew consisting of L. C. Randolph, Charles Beason, and Bill Crawley, all residents of the Forney area and Directors for the Forney Historic Preservation League, worked over the past few months to trim trees, mow, and haul off loads of brush to prepare for the next step of locating unmarked graves. Additional mowing was provided by Richard Cunningham.

The Forney Historic Preservation League applied for and received a grant to fund the hiring of a professional company to use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to identify unknown graves throughout Prairie View Cemetery. GPR uses radar waves to locate disturbances of the earth that show a likely grave site. A GPR survey was recently conducted by Wood Inspection Services, Inc., and no graves were disturbed in the process. A metal disk on a short stake was used to mark the location of 249 previously unknown burials. Visitors to the cemetery are requested to leave the disks undisturbed. (9.10.2022)