Attorney General's News Release

August 2, 1999

Nixon moves to protect historic African-American cemetery in St. Louis County

Clayton, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today took legal action to protect a historic African-American cemetery in St. Louis County that contains the graves of more than 30,000 persons, including former slaves, Civil War soldiers, blues musicians and civil rights activists.

Nixon sent a petition to be filed with the St. Louis County Circuit Court, asking the court to dissolve the corporation that owns Greenwood Cemetery and to transfer the ownership of the cemetery to St. Louis County. The 39-acre cemetery, established in 1874, is one of the oldest African-American cemeteries in the country.

The Attorney General is asking that the cemetery, located in Hillsdale, Velda Village Hills and Velda City, be declared abandoned by its current owners, Solomon Rooks and the nonprofit United States Disabled American Veterans Agency Inc.

Rooks acquired the cemetery in 1993 or 1994 and has failed to upkeep the property. Complaints concerning the property included lost and damaged grave markers, high weeds and grass, failure to care for walls and fences, and buildings that have fallen down or that need to be torn down.

"The condition of Greenwood Cemetery is a disgrace that does not provide the dignity and respect due those who are buried there or their families," Nixon said. "It was necessary for my office to take action and transfer the ownership of this important landmark to a party who will restore the cemetery so that it once again honors the memories of those who are buried there."

Missouri law allows the Attorney General to dissolve any cemetery corporation that owns a cemetery that has been declared abandoned. A cemetery can be declared abandoned if it has not been kept up for at least one year.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

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