The Heritage Alliance ishosting a Summer Social in the Old Jonesborough Cemetery on Saturday, August 12^thfrom 6:00-8:00 pm. “It used to be a common thing for families and friends togather in the cemetery and picnic, share stories of their loved ones, and relax,”shares Executive Director Anne Mason. “There was nothing odd about it. Cemeteriesare sacred spaces, but they’re also public spaces, and we want people to comeand tour the cemetery and learn more about the community they live in.”

Tour guides and people inperiod costume will be on hand to answer questions and share history from theRocky Hill and College Hill cemeteries. Ice cream will be available for $2.00 ascoop courtesy of MOM’s Ice Cream with Munchies on Main. Ice cream sales willbenefit the historic preservation of the cemeteries. You can also help handcrank your own ice cream for $2.00. Parking is available at the First BaptistChurch located at 201 E Main Street in their side parking lot. There is noparking at the cemetery. The cemetery is a short walk up from the churchparking lot. We’ll also have a golf cart shuttle available throughout theevening from the First Baptist Church parking lot.

During the evening, theHeritage Alliance will unveil a temporary marker honoring the victims of the1873 cholera epidemic and marking the mass grave from that historic event. Themass grave was re-discovered this March by Heritage Alliance volunteer Gordon Edwardsand Dr. Robert Jones with the Tilted Tavern Animal Sanctuary. They usedground-penetrating radar to locate the mass grave. The cholera epidemic movedthrough Jonesborough from mid-July to August of 1873, 150 years ago exactly.More information about the mass grave and the search to locate it will soon beincluded on the Heritage Alliance’s website at heritageall.org.

We hope you can join us onAugust 12^th for the Summer Social in the Cemetery.

The Heritage Alliance is dedicated to the preservation of the architectural,historical, and cultural heritage of our region and to providing educationalexperiences related to history and heritage for a wide range of audiences.  For more information, please call our officeat 423.753.9580, or contact the organization via email at info@heritageall.org.  Further information can also be found onlineat http://www.heritageall.org/.