Documenting the American South

Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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  • Monument Name

    McDowell County Confederate Veterans, Oak Grove Cemetery, Marion

  • Type

    Column

    Plaque

  • Subjects

    Civil War, 1861-1865

  • Creator

    James H. Matthews & Company, Pittsburgh, PA, Foundry

  • City

    Marion

  • County

    McDowell

  • Description

    Two large stone columns flank the entrance to the Oak Grove Cemetery in Marion. The columns carry bronze plaques dedicated to the memory of Confederate veterans. Above each inscription is a pair of furled Confederate flags. The columns were dedicated in 1943, the plaques although dated 1941 were added after World War Two.

    Images: Left plaque | Right plaque

  • Inscription

    Plaque, left column: IN MEMORY / OF THE / CONFEDERATE / VETERANS / OF / MCDOWELL / COUNTY / 1861-1865

    Plaque, right column: ERECTED 1941 BY / UNITED DAUGHTERS / OF THE / CONFEDERACY / OF / MARION / IN HONOR OF THE MEN / OF MCDOWELL COUNTY / WHO DIED IN THE CAUSE / OF THE / CONFEDERATE STATES

  • Custodian

    City of Marion

  • Dedication Date

    May 9, 1943

  • Decade

    1940s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.676550 , -81.997400 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Butler, Douglas J. North Carolina Civil War Monuments, An Illustrated History, (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2013), 208-209, 224, 227

      “Oak Grove Cemetery,” http://www.findagrave.com, (accessed September 25, 2015) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Bronze

  • Sponsors

    United Daughters of the Confederacy

  • Monument Dedication and Unveiling

    Former Governor Clyde R. Hoey was the featured dedication speaker.

  • Subject Notes

    Efforts began for this memorial in 1941. Speculation is the bronze markers were not placed until after World War Two due to metal shortages created by the needs of the armaments industry.

  • Location

    The Oak Grove Cemetery is located on the 900 block of Rutherford Road (Hwy. 226/Business 221).

  • Landscape

    The entrance to the Oak Grove Cemetery is right across from some business buildings and parking area.

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