Cold Water Cemetery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cold Water Cemetery
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| Location | 15290 Old Halls Ferry Road, Florissant, St. Louis County, Missouri, 63034 |
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| Area | 1.5 acres |
| Built | c. 1809 |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000462 |
| Added to NRHP | May 19, 2004 |
Cold Water Cemetery (CWC) is a very old and special place in Florissant, St. Louis County, Missouri. It is also known as "The Sinks" or the "Patterson Family Cemetery." This historic cemetery covers about 1.5 acres. It has been used for burials since around 1809 and is still active today! Many people believe it is the oldest Protestant cemetery west of the Mississippi River that is still in use. The Missouri State Daughters of the American Revolution helps manage this important site. Because of its long history, Cold Water Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 19, 2004.
Discovering Cold Water Cemetery's Past
How the Cemetery Started
The story of Cold Water Cemetery begins with John Patterson (1760–1839). He was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, which was the war where America fought for its independence. John Patterson moved from North Carolina in 1798. He received a special land grant from Spain in Missouri. The exact size of this land grant is not clear, but it was a large area, possibly between 600 and 1500 acres.
The cemetery first started as a private burial ground for the Patterson family. The earliest known burial is thought to be John Patterson's wife, Keziah Horneday Patterson, around 1809. Also around 1809, a simple church made of logs was built on the land. This church was for the Salem Baptist Church. The original log church is no longer standing today. However, there is a special plaque there to remember it.
Caring for the Cemetery
Over the years, the cemetery needed some care. In the 1970s, a big effort took place to clean it up. Volunteers worked to improve the landscaping. They also repaired headstones that were broken or had moved from their original spots. This work helped to preserve the cemetery for future generations.
