On January 13, 2024, facing an impending snowstorm in the Southern Ohio Valley, we seized the opportunity to explore remote cemeteries. Earlier, while mapping Vernon Township cemeteries, we had noticed a cluster with imprecise locations and vague directions. Confident in our existing evidence and ability, we ventured out, aiming to visit and accurately record these burial grounds in a single day, braving the wintry conditions for a unique and rewarding adventure.
Throughout the day, we engaged in conversations with local residents, seeking their insights on the potential cemeteries. Their directions served as invaluable guides, leading us to these sites. In instances where the cemeteries were on private property, we made sure to secure permission before exploring. While this dialogue is a crucial part of our process, it also demands time, and with winter days fleeting, the urgency to complete our mission intensified, racing against the setting sun on the horizon.
As the sun began its descent on the horizon, we arrived at a community park that once was the location of a school. Our destination was Hayward Cemetery, situated just across the road. Once enclosed by a chain-link fence, the cemetery now stood exposed. A bullet-riddled sign revealed its origin, donated by the descendants of Moses Hayward. Navigating through a small ditch and under briars, we entered the cemetery, finding no standing stones. Instead, holly bushes and briars marked the spots where markers had fallen. Swiftly, we captured photographs, recorded video footage, and jotted our field notes, racing against the fading light of the setting sun.