GAINESVILLE – Members of the Thompson Family (circa mid-1800s) appear to be headed to their final resting place after parties on both sides of an emotional issue reached agreement at Monday evening’s Hall County Planning Commission meeting.
Gainesville builder Richard Padgham’s request to relocate 24 graves at a house he is building on Dunlap Drive has twice been tabled to allow descendants of the two dozen interred in the front yard of the home site to reach an amicable agreement with the property owners on how to respectfully relocate their kin.
Timothy and Susan Carey, who purchased the lot last year, agreed when the application was first tabled in October to meet with as many Thompson Family members as possible in an effort to understand their concerns and satisfy their needs.
When the application appeared for the second time in November, it was decided additional discussion was necessary to reach an agreement with all parties involved and it was tabled a second time to December 16th.
In 1957 the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers moved the graves from a larger cemetery to the current site on Dunlap Drive as Lake Lanier was being constructed. That original cemetery is now beneath the surface of the reservoir. Family members want to make sure that if the tombs are moved a second time the new location, and the method of their transfer, is done in proper fashion.
Gainesville attorney Tyler Smith, representing Padgham and the Careys, told commission members, “After meeting with the descendants, in group, there has been some discussion to move the gravesites off this property and to a site on Alta Vista Cemetery.”
Alta Vista Cemetery is located in Gainesville and owned by the city.
Gainesville attorney Julius Hulsey, representing some of the descendants, said, “After discussing it with the city I put the archeologist and the city together to so they could determine what would be required or needed in terms of dimensions and space at Alta Vista.”
A site at Alta Vista with the required space to relocate the 24 tombs was available, Hulsey said, and then added, “The city requires the spaces taken would have to be paid for…and it’s my understanding that the property owners (Careys) have agreed to not only pay the archeologist for the relocation, but they’re also willing to pay the cost that the city is going to require.”
Hulsey told commission members he visited the proposed location and found it very suitable. “It’s a beautiful location…it is right below General Longstreet’s cemetery lot. To me, if this is approved, it will be a win-win situation for everybody.”
John Thompson Shope, direct descendant of Andrew and Cynthia Thompson, who are among the 24 individuals buried at the current location, agreed. “This is a win-win for Hall County. Andrew Thompson was one of the original founders of Hall County and had a trading post before the Cherokee re-location.”
Shope said Andrew Thompson is the namesake of Thompson Bridge Road. “I think it’s proper this become kind of a historic cemetery and Alta Vista is certainly a great location.”
Four other family descendants came forward to speak in support of the new relocation plan; no one spoke in opposition. That was enough for the Planning Commission as they voted unanimously to recommend approval of Padgham’s application. The matter now goes to the Hall County Commission for final approval on January 9th.
