DISCLAIMER
Rose Hill Historic Cemetery Costumed Tour is NOT a haunted tour, not tales of the crypt, or spirits (that I know about:) We have always been a historic tour telling the documented, highly exciting and interesting stories of the people buried there. Our brand has always been, will always be teaching history and heritage through the arts of storytelling and drama. We highly respect those buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. All of our stories we tell are documented through Lauderdale County Archives (thanks Leslie Joyner and Ward Calhoun). We are a vital participant of Mississippi's Creative Economy Project.
A Brief History of Rose Hill Cemetery
"A Victorian Cemetery"
Circa 1837-1901
Rose Hill is located on 7th Street and 40th Avenue and is owned by the Benevolent Fund, Inc. at 1410 51st Avenue, Meridian, MS 39307. The local phone number is 601-693-3344.
We have been unable to pin point the date of the first burials of Rose Hill Cemetery. The oldest marker that has been found is dated in 1853; however there were burials prior to that date. In that era, wooden markers were common, however they seldom lasted more than 20 years.
Two Masonic Lodges and an Odd Fellows Lodge acquired the Cemetery and incorporated in 1874. King Solomon Lodge #333 retired from the cemetery since one Masonic Lodge was all that was needed, leaving Meridian Lodge #308. Odd Fellows Lodge #80 disbanded around 1998, shortly after that the Cemetery was put into a separate Corporation called the Benevolent Fund, Inc. The Board of Directors of this corporation is drawn from the Masons. The purpose of the Masons is to assist widows and orphans and the purpose of the Odd Fellows is to bury the dead.
We have been unable to pin point the date of the first burials of Rose Hill Cemetery. The oldest marker that has been found is dated in 1853; however there were burials prior to that date. In that era, wooden markers were common, however they seldom lasted more than 20 years.
Two Masonic Lodges and an Odd Fellows Lodge acquired the Cemetery and incorporated in 1874. King Solomon Lodge #333 retired from the cemetery since one Masonic Lodge was all that was needed, leaving Meridian Lodge #308. Odd Fellows Lodge #80 disbanded around 1998, shortly after that the Cemetery was put into a separate Corporation called the Benevolent Fund, Inc. The Board of Directors of this corporation is drawn from the Masons. The purpose of the Masons is to assist widows and orphans and the purpose of the Odd Fellows is to bury the dead.
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