Overview of King Cemetery / Alabama Historical Commission Forms

Helen O’Leavy filled out this form on 20 March 2014.

               

The Historical name of the cemetery located in Shelby Co., behind Hill House at the University of Montevallo is called the King Cemetery. It is located within the small town of limits of Montevallo, AL, and is caddy corner to the intersection of King and College Drive. The graves that were found were dated from September 1848 to 22 November 1905, and the burial listing does exist. The King Cemetery is located on private property, and you could drive to it, for it is give or take fifty meters from the nearest road. Currently the cemetery is not active, and it is considered a family cemetery, that has been well maintained. The size of the King Cemetery is less than one acre, and a stone wall also surrounds the perimeter. There was no evidence of segregation or grouping within the King Cemetery, and the graves included marker types such as, small tablets, obelisks, and headstones. Veteran graves were found in King Cemetery, and those date back to the Civil War as Confederate soldiers. Marker designs included flower motifs, ovals, scrolls, and geometric. However, there were no grave articles found. The University of Montevallo and Hill House itself are associated historic buildings with the King Cemetery. Landscaping features included designed fencing and walls, and four trees and two stumps are the only ornamental plantings that have been found. The King Cemetery derives its importance from imported peoples being buried there that came from a significant and prominent family that lived in Montevallo. The King family was one of Montevallo's founding families, and also one of the wealthiest families of the time period.