Phase 1 of the Vick Cemetery Plan is underway.

One of New South Associates’ early recommendations was placement of markers to signal the presence and boundaries of the cemetery. The casual or unfamiliar passerby would not necessarily understand that the entire green field they see is a 113 year-old cemetery packed with more than 4200 graves. Wilson City Council voted to use state grant funds for the manufacture and installation of the markers, and that grant expires June 30. Thus, the City is moving ahead with this part of the project.

The markers will be cut from blocks of granite. The placement of the markers will be guided by New South Associates to avoid further disturbance of graves. The old granite pillars, erroneously labeled “Rountree-Vick Cemetery,” will be removed. Monument 1, the principal marker, will carry lettering visible from both directions and will be placed to the extent possible on high ground closer to the front edge of the cemetery than the current common monument. The narrower Monument 2s will be placed close to the corners of the cemetery.

They will look something like this (without, perhaps, the scrollwork):