Smyrna will maintain second historic cemetery

The Daniell Cemetery now is owned by the city of Smyrna. This 2012 picture shows Lillie Wood, giving a tour. AJC file photo

The Daniell Cemetery now is owned by the city of Smyrna. This 2012 picture shows Lillie Wood, giving a tour. AJC file photo

Another cemetery in Smyrna will receive continuing care by the city.

The Smyrna City Council decided 5-1 May 7 to accept ownership of the Daniell Cemetery at 3761 Cloudland Drive with Councilwoman Susan Wilkinson opposed.

Councilman Charles Welch said the current owners of the Daniell Cemetery wanted the city to preserve and maintain their family cemetery since it contains historic burial plots.

Dating to 1862, this two-acre cemetery has more than 230 plots of the Daniell family and descendants.

Robert Daniell established this cemetery and built the Concord Covered Bridge on Concord Road that is still active and the Concord Woolen Mill with its ruins in Heritage Park.

In February, the City Council also decided unanimously to hire Ashley Shares, preservation manager for the Oakland Cemetery Foundation, to restore the Smyrna Memorial Cemetery for $18,100.

Dating to around 1838, the cemetery is near the Market Village in downtown Smyrna.

For the Smyrna Memorial Cemetery, Shares told the Council she will purchase all materials needed to place monuments in their original positions, stabilize monuments, clean many of them and perform preventative repairs where possible.

Her work will begin by June 2 and continue for about six months.