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Church Building at Second Site
The first location of Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, which was founded in 1770 and originally called Clear Creek Presbyterian Church, was a log structure located 8851Brief Road in Mint Hill, Mecklenburg, NC. After the Rocky Spring Meeting House building burned in 1779 or 1780, the church built the second building two miles away at the Second Site Cemetery on the Matthews-Mint Hill Road with the building located along the north rock wall of the cemetery. The front door or doors opened toward the road (now Matthews-Mint Hill Road, NC-51), and a side door would likely have provided access to the cemetery, with space between the church and road providing ample room to hitch horses and leave wagons and conveyances. It also provided for "dinner on the grounds" between morning and afternoon services. The church house was build of logs and perhaps covered with boards, and had small glass windows, a floor, and benches for seating. Erection of this second church building took place in 1779 or 1780. The church name changed from Clear Creek Presbyterian Church to Philadelphia Presbyterian Church after moving to this second site, likely since it was no longer in the Clear Creek watershed basin. (This building information was gathered from the late Rev. Russell Kerr's 2001 book, The Presbyterian Gathering on Clear Creek).
More history on the cemetery and Philadelphia Presbyterian Church can be found in book The Presbyterian Gathering on Clear Creek, by the late Rev. Russell M. Kerr, published 2001 by Philadelphia Presbyterian Church. The book is available for purchase for $25 from the church office at the address below.
Recent History
It is not known when the Second Site cemetery became neglected, and we were unable to locate a deed for the property. The surrounding property was owned at one time by Mr. Rice and became commonly known as the Rice Cemetery. At some previous time some records show it was also known as Hartt Cemetery. In 1988-89 Dr. Christopher Hood had the cemetery surveyed and registered with Mecklenburg County; however, a deed was not obtained. With the development of the adjoining property in 2002, the developer Mr. Lat Purser agreed to donate the cemetery property to Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, and the cemetery was transferred to the church in 2003. The church is appreciative of Mr. Purser's generosity in assuring the cemetery property was finally returned to the church. In 2002 Philadelphia Presbyterian Church assigned responsibility of this cemetery to the church's Historical Committee, led by Amelia Ford. In 2003 a Historic Cemeteries Subcommittee (of the Historical Committee) was formed and assigned responsibility for both Second Site and Rocky Spring cemeteries.
A primary goal is the completion of a wrought iron security fence around the servant section of the cemetery, and the repair of additional grave markers. A partial wrought iron fence was installed along the west and south sides of the Servant Section in the fall of 2004 using the funds donated to date. Additional donations are needed to complete the remaining 145 feet along the east side.
Current Work and Plans
The Historic Cemeteries Volunteers are continuing work to restore and maintain the cemetery. During the summer of 2005 five headstones were repaired and reset and an additional three have been repaired. In 2005 work also began on the cleanup of Rocky Spring Meeting House Burial Ground, and this work continues in 2006.
Volunteers
The current volunteers working weekly since 2003 are Harry Hood, Bill Hawkins, Charlie Burdick, and Scot Treadwell. The continued work and dedication of these volunteers is much appreciated. Additional volunteers are always welcome for the Thursday afternoon workdays. The volunteers alternate workdays between the Second Site and Rocky Spring.
Information
For more information regarding the cemetery, contact the church office 704-545-6172, cstokesppc@bellsouth.net, or jclintonppc@bellsouth.net.
Donations may be sent to Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, Historic Cemeteries Fund, 11501 Bain School Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227-0272, www.philadelphiachurch.org, 704-545-6172.
Reference Articles:
Hallowed History, by Carol Timblin, Our State Magazine, January 2004.
Cemetery Restoration Uncovers Old Gravestone, by Ellen Poteet, Olde Mecklenburg Genealogy Society Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 4, 2003.
Elvis Presley: A Hood Descendant, by Rustee Lane, Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 3, 2004.
Broken But Not Forgotten: Saving the Tombstones of Our Ancestors, by N. Scot Treadwell, Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 23, No. 4.
Restoration Thursdays: Volunteers piece together historic Mint Hill cemeteries, The Mint Hill Times, March 9, 2006.
GAT Rev 4-22-2006
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