CEMETERIES GETTING FACELIFT FROM AREA GRADUATE STUDENTS

COMMERCE -- When U.S. Rep. Dr. J.R. Coffman died over a century ago, special trains traveled to Commerce for his burial.

Those traveling from Washington were enticed by the magnificent view of the Mississippi River from the hilltop cemetery where Coffman was buried.

More than 100 years later, the river vista is blocked by trees and underbrush that have grown up and practically overwhelmed the cemetery. But, if Dixie High has her way, the view will be returned and the cemetery maintained.

On Saturday, High and a group of students from the Historic Preservation Association at Southeast Missouri State University worked to clear away vines and brush from tombstones and family plots.

The cemetery, known as the Old Commerce Cemetery, Anderson Cemetery or the Old Hilltop Cemetery, is like many cemeteries in Southeast Missouri that have been forgotten, abandoned or neglected. Groups are beginning efforts to reclaim the cemeteries.

Chadwick Boehlke, a historic preservation student, said reclaiming the cemetery is like digging for gold.

"We don't know what we might find," he said. "The cemetery has the whole history of the town etched in stone."

The Commerce Cemetery is more than 150 years old and has at least 800 graves. Fewer than 200 stones have been found.

As workers cleared away brush and vines, they uncovered elaborate tombstones and beautiful ironwork in family plots.

"I think the stone sculptures on these tombstones are better than those in an art museum," Boehlke said. "These were done to celebrate the life of a person."

The marker for Coffman, a 6-foot-high stone carving of a tree with a marker, has fallen over in the cemetery. "Look at the workmanship," said High, as she pulled vines away from the stone and brushed away leaves.

She said she would eventually like to see the stone set back in place.

Yucca plants, rose bushes and other unusual plants are growing in the cemetery. Boehlke said these special plantings were a common way to honor those who died.

High and the students agreed that reclaiming a cemetery is worth the effort.

"A cemetery has so much information," Boehlke said. "Genealogists use it. Historians use it."

Cemeteries tell stories, High said.

For example, the grave of Watson P. Riggs, a Civil War soldier, was uncovered in Commerce cemetery.

Riggs, who served in Company K of the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, died in 1897. He was 58 years old.

After the area is completely cleared, students plan to come back and plot the cemetery and research those who are buried.

At the same time, the historic association in Commerce is making plans to care for the cemetery from now on.

"We have set up a perpetual fund," High said. "We will have money to maintain the cemetery, but we needed some help getting it cleaned up the first time."

The goal is to raise $3,000 for the fund; so far, $1,500 has been collected.