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About LePageville 

LePageville Community

History of LePageville
History of LePageville holmes
LePageville Map

The workers' village, known as LePageville (known by many as Brewton Hill), was built in 1885 as company housing for employees of the Savannah, Florida, and Western Railway (SF&W) near what is known as President Street. It was owned by Henry B. Plant and designed by Robert LePage. African Americans hired as stevedores and as laborers at the SF&W wharf on the Savannah River needed inexpensive lodging within walking distance. The wharf manger, Robert LePage, designed the village that included affordable two-room houses to rent, garden plots and a church at a location convenient to the docks. In June of 1888 the Savannah Morning News reported that 35 houses had been completed and five more were under construction. Mr. LePage had plans to build 108 homes, but only about 50 were built. In 1902, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad acquired the SF&W and LePageville became home to African American employees of ACL. Despite the changes in management over its eighty-year lifespan, LePageville changed surprisingly little. Residents still hauled water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and laundry from the community pump even the 1960s. Indoor plumbing did not exist and number of homes still lacked electricity.

LePageville Church

LePageville Baptist Church Picture by Charles Henry
History of LePageville Cemetery

Over the decades a strong sense of community's flourished in LePageville. There were two community churches LePageville Baptist Church and LePageville Holiness Church. Much of the community identity centered on the community church built in 1888 and became known as the LePagevillle Baptist Church, founded in 1895. The church maintained an active schedule of worship services, Sunday School, choirs, and additionally held other special events. Family ties extended beyond the immediate circle of relatives to include sisters, brothers, parents, and grandparents buried in the cemetery behind the houses.

LePageville Cemetery Burials

LePageville Cemetery Burials

Many as several hundred may have been buried there. Some of the graves were marked with headstones, some were marked with wooden crosses, while others were marked with pots and pans. When families moved, the memory of that cemetery nearly disappeared into the underbrush that hovered over the grave sites.

LePageville Community Demolished 

History of LePageville Community Demolished

As the homes became progressively more dilapidated and more families moved way, LePageville was condemned and razed in 1967. A photograph taken prior to 1967 showed some of the tiny frame homes homes along President St and former Hanes St. Today the LePageville Memorial Cemetery site is the only semblance of the community.

Cemetery Plot Deed

History of Preservation Efforts by local activist
LMC Founders with Patricia Jenkins Showing Map

There have many many years of research and hard work done by residents such as George Ponder and Alexander Milton. When the LePageville site was cleared to make way for a softball field in 1979, the Pine Garden Community activist, Patricia Jenkins, learned about the cemetery and promised former resident Mr. Milton that she would protect the cemetery. Over a period of years, Ms. Jenkins and Buddy Myers searched the historical map records to prove the existence of the cemetery and collaborated with LePageville families found in the city directory to identify the individuals who were buried there. In June of 2002 their efforts culminated with the Engelhard Corporation transferring 3.85 acres of land that was sold for one dollar (valued at $270,000) to create the LePageville Memorial Cemetery, assuring that the worker's village of LePageville and its cemetery would not be forgotten. A dedication ceremony was held in November of 2003 where the quitclaim deed was presented to Mr. Ponder.

Cemetery Site Initial Cleanup

LePageville Cemetery Cleanup Efforts

A group of volunteers came together in 2005-2006 and cleared debris from the cemetery.

LePageville Memorial Cemetery Arch 

Dan Fischer and George Ponder going over site plans
Building of LePageville Memorial Cemetery Arch

Another significant milestone was reached in 2007 when enough money was raised to build a memorial arch over the entrance of the cemetery. The arch concept was designed by Stephen Warner and the arch bell was donated in honor of Patricia Jenkins' parents. A dedication and ribbon ceremony was held in September of 2007 and attended by City Officials and many of the volunteers who had contributed their time and resources to make the event possible.

Cemetery Site Community Service Cleanup

LePageville Memorial Cemetery Status
LePageville Cemetery Cleanup Efforts

Although none of the original burial markers remain, we want to honor the cemetery as a historical landmark and pay tribute to those buried here by maintaining the site as a beautiful, restful, and green environment for all to enjoy. The site has been listed in the Chatham County Historic Resource Inventory and Historic Savannah Foundation's Endangered Places List. In May of 2011 the Corporation was approved for 501C3 status. LMCC regularly hosts a community service event for volunteers to help cleanup the cemetery. Donations for improvements and care of the cemetery are greatly appreciated.

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