The sign at the entrance.
Fairland Cemetery has served the Backbone Valley area since the mid 1800's. The historical marker onsite and online resources differ on when the cemetery was first used. Dates range from 1857 to 1872. The earliest visible headstone marker was dated 1872.
A wide view of the cemetery. Note the Crownover Chapel and school building in the background.
One of the gravesites at Fairland includes a feature you won't see much elsewhere - a metal roof covering. Also of interest is some border stonework in which extra mortar was used to join blocks together. It almost brings to mind igneous lava which creep through weaker stone and hardened.
As is typical with cemeteries containing graves from about 100 years ago, there are numerous markers for children. Perhaps none more sad than the three identical markers for the Edwards family children who died between 1892 and 1900. None older than 3 years of age.
A wide view of the cemetery, showing the flowers in bloom.
The small church next to the cemetery was the first public building in the area. Known as Crownover Chapel, it was named for the Rev. Arter Crownover, a Methodist minister who preached here.
The church displayed a list of local residents who were serving in the military and this showed a potentially interesting trend for the community. The list that appeared to be for World War I had many more names than the list that appeared to be for World War II. This seems to indicate a depopulation of the area unless the second list was not complete. Some resources bear this out. The estimated population in 1925 was 200, but had fallen to 50 by 1939.
The cemetery is in active use and appears to have a working board of directors who keep the place up quite nicely.