Man maintaining Garland County historic cemetery

Jimmie Weber is on a mission to ensure the historic Bassett, Belding, Gaines Cemetery is maintained as an historic cemetery should be.

The small family cemetery was begun in 1827 and was used until 1938. It is set on the north side of United States Route 270, about 5.3 miles east of downtown Hot Springs. It is a small wooded lot, about 1 acre in size, with 20 marked graves from the 19th century, and reported unmarked graves. Burials at the cemetery include those of some of the area's earliest settlers. Also buried there are Revolutionary War soldier Jonathan Bassett, and his son-in-law, War of 1812 soldier Ludovicus Belding. The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Contacted by the Daughters of the American Revolution for help, he visited the cemetery and was aghast. "The cemetery was in an overgrown state, in disrepair and derelict. After seeing this historic cemetery in this poor condition, it deeply concerned me and I took positive action with time and funding to rectify the situation and bring honor back to this final resting place of these veterans. Large dead trees were removed and underbrush cleared. Now that the BBGC could be seen from the road, I was determined to put up a flag pole and have a historic site road sign put in place on the road," stated Weber in the press release.

Weber is committed to bringing attention to the cemetery and will be placing small society banners of the DAR, Sons of the American Revolution and the United States Daughters of 1812 on the fence bordering the BBGC.

Weber is a former teacher and has a passion for history. He is a member of 11 lineage societies and is Arkansas State governor of the Mayflower Society. He can be seen at historic events in costume and has 11 authentic costumes and weaponry for soldiers of the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War and other historic time periods.

For information, call Weber at 262-0725.

Society on 07/08/2018

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