Honoring Eternal Residents Of Thorntown’s “Colored Cemetery”

The Sugar Creek Historical Society has joined a committee of dedicated folks to install a monument honoring Thorntown’s early settlers buried in the historic “Colored Cemetery”. The cemetery, located on 6770 N. 825 W in Thorntown is the only remaining physical reminder of Thorntown’s Sugar Creek Community, an early rural African American settlement. $6,500 is needed to build the concrete monument and bronze plaque in the cemetery. As of June 1, $1000 has been raised toward that goal.

A committee was formed to brainstorm a memorial that would honor each person that is confirmed to be buried in the cemetery, while also honoring all the unknowns. The proposed marker would list the names of those buried in the Cemetery on a bronze plaque, complete with birth and death dates. A QR code will accompany the plaque providing a link to personal biographies and further education for the public. The stone and transcribed plaque will serve as a permanent historical memorial to their legacy.

On Saturday, June 20 at 1pm, the Sugar Creek Historical Society is inviting anyone interested in the project to gather at the cemetery to hear more about the research, history and memorial project. In the event of rain, the event will be held at the Thorntown Heritage Museum. Anyone interested in reading about the project or donating can do so by contacting Kirsten Wamsley at 765-436-7348 ext. 202, kwamsley@thorntownpl.org or going to https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/honoring-the-eternal-residents-of-thorntown-colored-cemetery.