Historical Marker Information:
Marker Dedication or Erection Date: November 2, 1997
SIDE
1: PINE HILL CEMETERY
Pine Hill was established in 1837 and is the oldest cemetery in Auburn. Judge
John J. Harper, Auburn?s founder, donated almost six acres to the new town to
be used as a community burying ground for white settlers and their slaves. The
original part of the cemetery lies to the north and contains the oldest marked
grave ? 1838. Early cemetery records are non-existent as the fist survey was
conducted in the 1950?s when over 1,100 marked graves were cataloged. Of this
number, only one black grave is identified. A cross section of Auburn Citizens
are buried here including University presidents and slaves.
Erected by the Auburn Heritage Association and the Historic Chattahoochee Commission, 1995.
SIDE 2: PINE HILL CEMETERY
In the 1870?s a separate cemetery, Baptist Hill, opened to the southeast. For
decades Pine Hill served as the primary burying ground for whites in the area.
The city?s Confederate marker rises at the rear of the cemetery over the
common graves of 98 Texas soldiers who died in a temporary hospital housed in a
college building known as ?The Main.? Pine Hill suffered from vandalism and
neglect until 1995 when the Auburn Heritage Association launched a restoration
of the cemetery. It was placed on the Alabama Register in 1978 and is owned and
maintained by the City of Auburn.
Erected by the Auburn Heritage Association and Historic Chattahoochee Commission, 1995.