DAR helps to clean historic area cemetery

By: Tammy Ross

In honor of February as “Black History Month,” the Cordelia Steen Chapter, NSDAR, of Edmond conducted a Preservation Project at the historic Gower Memorial Cemetery located on Covell Road between Post Road and Douglas Blvd. in Edmond. On Sunday afternoon, February 12, 2023, members of the Chapter donned their gloves and with the proper brushes and cleaning solutions in hand commenced to cleaning the headstones of those buried in the cemetery to help preserve them for future generations.

The historic Gower Memorial Cemetery was established in 1889 by John and Ophelia Gower, who were formally enslaved, for the sole pur- pose of being a burial site for black settlers, and later, for the African American community that lived in the nearby areas.

In 1991, the Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. T he Cordelia Steen Chapter is honored to serve in helping preserve this wonderful historical landmark.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting Patriotism, Education, and Historic Preservation.

For information on go to the Cordelia Steen Chapter Website at: https://cordeliasteennsdar.weebly.c om/