October 26, 2024

Map it out

VA commission creating historical map to honor veterans, locate ghost towns

By AMY HANSEN

OST photo by AMY HANSEN Joella Perry with Clarke County Veterans Affairs Commission holds the current historical map of Clarke County. A new historical map will be presented at Clarke County Courthouse Sept. 16.

The graves of Clarke County veterans are getting mapped out.

Clarke County Veterans Affairs Commission is creating a map of historical and current cemeteries, as well as ghost towns, in Clarke County.

“Our goal is to get grave markers this year on every veteran in the county to identify them and give them the honors that they deserve,” said Joella Perry with Clarke County Veterans Affairs Commission.

Some of the veterans’ graves even date back to the Civil War.

Presentation

There will be a presentation at Clarke County Courthouse 11:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 16, for the new map. The map will be donated by Kale Funeral Home and White’s Woodworking. Clarke County Assessor’s and Emergency Management offices have done the mapping.

The map will be donated to Clarke County Courthouse for the citizens of the county to view.

Perry said commission member Doug Black did all the historical research for the map. Commission Chairman Jolleen Thacker also did a lot of work for the project.

Perry said she expects to add to the map as more people share information about the cemeteries and ghost towns.

“It seems like we’re always getting someone coming in saying, ‘OK, here’s one,’” Perry said.

Current map

According to Perry, the new historical map won’t look exactly like the current one being used, which was also put together this year. The new map will incorporate dots so it won’t look cluttered.

On the current historical map of Clarke County, Perry pointed out the town of Hopeville, which used to be one of the largest towns in Clarke County. That was many, many years ago.

“It had a hospital,” Perry said. “It had Civil War veterans there, and they took care of them, and they buried them there. It’s very, very interesting to see some of that stuff.”

The current historical map can be found at the courthouse. It has been on display at the auditor’s office.

“It’s an awesome project,” Perry said. “It’s something they don’t have to do. It’s something they’re doing because they believe in honoring our veterans. I’m really proud of my commission right now. I’m really, really proud of them.”