Original African American Cemetery

Near the intersection of Washington and Lewis Streets stood the original burial ground for Lexington's substantial free black community and slaves dating to the early 1800s. The majority of the original burials were in unmarked graves and no records were maintained of these burials. The Town of Lexington obtained ownership of the cemetery in 1876 and closed it in 1880 and the persons buried there were purportedly moved to Evergreen Cemetery, although there is little information to document the extent of the reburials. In 1946, the Town of Lexington subdivided the old cemetery and houses were built over the burial ground.