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By Erica Van Buren
Over the past few years Washington Park Cemetery has seen its fair share of negative coverage regarding the deplorable conditions of the cemetery, yet not much has been done. Now there’s a call for action to preserve this historical treasure.
On Sunday, Aug. 30, the Missouri History Museum hosted a lecture by Jennifer Colten, senior lecturer in photography at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University, entitled Washington Park Cemetery: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Among those attending the lecture were John S. Parker, president of Evolution Communication Group; Molly Kodner, archivist of the Library and Research Center of the Missouri History Museum, Kevin Bailey, the current owner of Washington Park Cemetery, and concerned family members of those buried in Washington Park Cemetery seeking answers.
“I hope this will be an ongoing dialogue of awareness and how its specific history adds to a much larger narrative of the St. Louis region,” said Colten in her introduction to the lecture.
There was an embodiment of cultural, historical and ancestral heritage. Words spoken by Colten described Washington Park Cemetery. Colten’s photographs captured the natural beauty of the property, bringing to light the tall trees, bushes and flowers that have seemingly taken over the cemetery on land originally established for family members to bring their loved ones to rest in peace. Colten’s emphasis on how this is a place where the past reveals much about the present sheds light on the historical and cultural significance of this cemetery then and now.
Washington Park Cemetery was established in 1920 by Andrew Henry Watson and Joseph John Hauer during a time when even prominent African Americans weren’t given many options in life or in death. Washington Park Cemetery was a prestigious cemetery that operated from the 1920s until about the 1960s. According to the Missouri History Museum Collections section—during the time Washington Park cemetery was being developed— nearby Albert Bond Lambert, the Aero Club of St. Louis, and the Missouri Aeronautical Society were developing an airfield that would become Lambert International Airport.
In 1996 the City of St. Louis acquired the northern section of the cemetery for purposes of expanding a runway at Lambert International Airport. Human remains were then relocated to other cemeteries throughout the city. However, this wasn’t thefirst time this cemetery experienced such an injustice. In 1955 construction was done so that Interstate-70 could go through the cemetery, splitting and dividing the graveyard. There are those who believe that in preparing for the work done to accommodate I-70 in 1955, some of the human remains weren’t relocated and therefore the highway was built over countless graves.
President of Evolution Communications Group John S. Parker contends this was the case and believes his great grandparents are buried underneath the highway. “When they put 70 through here they paved over thousands of people. During the expansion of the airport, driving down the highway there were caskets stacked up along the road and because there were no records those bodies that didn’t go back into the ground were disposed of. We need to talk to the Missouri Highway Department,” said Parker responding to Kevin Bailey’s statement of there’s no need to place blame regarding the things that have gone wrong in the process of maintaining Washington Park Cemetery and in dealing with the many injustices the cemetery has faced.
Archivist of the Library and Research Center Molly Kodner offered her contact information to anyone looking for assistance locating their loved ones. On a personal note I decided to contact the Library and Research Center and received notification that my Great, Great Aunt Willie Lee Reece is buried at Washington Park Cemetery. Kevin Bailey, current owner of the cemetery, stayed afterward to answer specific questions and concerns regarding personal obstacles.
Regarding long-term plans, Colten is hoping to share the stories of those affected by the injustices at Washington Park Cemetery with the help of documentary filmmaker, Denise Ward-Brown, so that they can be added to the exhibit. Denise Ward-Brown is hoping to document the stories of those searching for the graves of their family members.
There is even discussion of adding Washington Park Cemetery to the National Registry of Historic Places but there’s no guarantee that it would bring funding to help support the property. After such an empowering lecture there was hope that the community will stand up for what’s right and help make a change for the good in preserving this piece of African American history.
Those seeking to locate loved ones at Washington Park Cemetery can contact the Library and Research Center at 314-746-4518. To volunteer, make donations and find out how you can help keep Washington Park a historical treasure, call Kevin Bailey at 314-322-1067.
Many of the graves are covered with weeks and vines as relatives search for names
