Oolenoy Baptist

Today's post is going to be a bit of history and a bit of picnic.

The youngest and I had a day together last week and we agreed to do something outside.  We packed a picnic and drove over to Pumpkintown to see what we could find.  Pumpkintown is one of those places, that if you look down to change the radio station, you missed it.  If you want to find the good stuff, you'll have to leave the main highway cutting through town.

We initially stopped over at Soapstone Baptist church.  There is some history there, but there was also a dog sitting beside the building.  I didn't see much of interest in the new-ish building and decided not to get out of the car.  Of course, my four year old daughter wanted out to pet the dog, but I over-ruled her.

Next we stopped at Oolenoy Baptist church.  No dog in their yard, so we hopped out and started exploring the cemetery.

Oolenoy church was founded in 1795.  When Rev John Chastain organized the church, a community had already been established.  Cornelius Keith was likely the first white man to live in this Cherokee area when he settled in 1743.

The cemetery holds some very interesting markers and is the resting place of some significant people that first settled the area. The Oolenoy Baptist Church Cemetery is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

 Cornelius Keith.  One of the first settlers in this area.

 Babies.

 Interesting design with the peak along the center line of the stone.  This was a pair, placed next to each other.

 Look at the battles that this man was a part of:  (stone on the left)-

 Here is the sign near the parking lot.  Double sided.

 We found an open area of grass near the cemetery and had our picnic. . . briefly.  The wind was blowing her hair into her face and her dad wasn't smart enough to bring some sort of hair clip, so we moved our picnic into the car.  Having a picnic in a car was such a novelty that it became one of the headlines of the day.

Our short walk around the Oolenoy Baptist cemetery was just enough to get build my interest.  It's on my list to revisit and learn more about the people buried there and how they shaped this area. It's also on my list to travel with a hair bow in my pocket when the youngest is with me.