Father Dickson Cemetery

Father Dickson Cemetery
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Crestwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, U.S.
Coordinates	38°33′57″N90°23′09″W / 38.5658°N 90.3858°W / 38.5658; -90.3858
Area	12 acres
Built	August 30, 1903
NRHP reference No.	14001125
Added to NRHP	October 6, 2021

Father Dickson Cemetery is a historic African-American cemetery located on 845 South Sappington Road in Crestwood, St. Louis County, Missouri.

It has been listed as one of the National Register of Historic Places since October 6, 2021. ^{[1] [2]}

History

The cemetery is named after abolitionist Moses Dickson, who is buried at this cemetery. ^[3] It sits on more than 12 acres and roughly 12,000 people are buried there. ^[1] Many of the burials include black military veterans, leaders within the Underground Railroad network, formerly enslaved people, and lynching victims. ^[1]

In 1988, the Friends of Father Dickson Cemetery group was started in hopes of maintaining the aging cemetery and preserving history. ^[4] Other nearby historic African American cemeteries include Washington Park Cemetery (1920), Quinette Cemetery (1866), and Greenwood Cemetery (1874). ^[4]

Notable burials

• Moses Dickson (1824–1901), his body was moved here in 1903 with the dedication of the cemetery ^{[4] [3]}
• Henry Q. "Steamboat" Lewis (1886–1965)
• Pinetop Sparks (1910–1935), he was buried in an unmarked grave, although a headstone was added in 2014 ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• James Milton Turner (1840–1915) ^[3]

See also

• List of cemeteries in Missouri
• National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Louis County, Missouri

References

1. "How volunteers brought a historic Black St. Louis cemetery back from the brink". STLPR. NPR. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
2. "Father Dickson Cemetery added to National Register of Historic Places". Fox 2. October 20, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
3. "Concerns rise over maintenance of historic Black cemetery in south St. Louis County". ksdk.com. KSDK-TV. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
4. Holleman, Joe. "'Still a struggle': Against odds, Father Dickson Cemetery preserves Black history". STLtoday.com. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
5. "Headstone Project Brings Recognition to Long-Forgotten Blues Musos". Billboard. December 30, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
6. "Stories of Standards: Every Day I Have the Blues". KUVO Jazz. 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
7. "Headstones Placed". Killer Blues. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

External links

• Father Dickson Cemetery at Find a Grave