At the May 21 City of Winona Board of Aldermen meeting, Paula McCaulla addressed the Board about the Thomas Rodney Chapter NSDAR's plans for an America 250 Celebration. The celebration will be held at the Old Middleton Cemetery on June 14 at 11 a.m. to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary.
The celebration will take place at one of the area’s most historic sites. The two and a half acre Middleton Cemetery was established in 1833 and is one of the oldest cemeteries in the country. The cemetery is all that remains of the old town of Middleton, Miss. Middleton was one of the earliest settlements in Carroll County and was located near the present site of Winona, in Montgomery County.
After being left unkept for a century, the cemetery was in terrible condition by the 1990’s, covered with overgrowth and filled with broken, scattered, and damaged markers. The Winona Lions Club undertook the huge task of cleaning up and restoring the neglected cemetery. Since many markers could not be repaired or properly placed, the Lions Club erected a monument to honor all buried there, both known and unknown. The old markers were preserved and placed near the monument to prevent further damage.
The upcoming celebration will feature the unveiling of a marker next to a Liberty Tree that the Thomas Rodney Chapter NSDAR's will be planting, north of the monument.
“We’ve had great cooperation throughout the state,” McCaulla shared with the Board.
The National Guard will provide a pop up tent, Montgomery County will supply seating from the Montgomery County Coliseum, and the City has funded the cleaning of the cemetery markers for the event.
McCaulla showed great appreciation for the Board’s support, stating, “Those markers just gleam!”
McCaulla extended an invitation to the entire community, encouraging everyone to attend this historic celebration. The public is invited to join the commemorating America’s 250th anniversary at this local landmark.
Old Middleton Cemetery is located just north of the Montgomery County Coliseum parking lot in Winona.
