Hanging with the Ghosts in Denmark

 

Last weekend I was in Amsterdam. This weekend I was in Denmark.

Denmark, Tennessee that is. Denmark is in Madison County which is just North of Haywood County.

I didn’t know a lot about Denmark but I have come to find out it’s a historically significant small town that is very active in preserving the history of West Tennessee through the efforts of The Big Black Creek Historical Association which also has a really great Web site.

In 2007 the organization began work to restore the Denmark Presbyterian Church and they are also hard at work restoring several cemeteries and historic homes.

We were in Denmark to check out their “cemetery walk.” This event, which seems to be timed pretty close to Halloween, features people who were buried in the cemetery popping up long enough to tell some interesting facts about their lives or the lives of the people in the area in the past.

Many times I have stood at the grave of someone buried more than 100 years ago and wished they could dig out and share a few details about their lives rather than having to spend hours going through old records.

Well at least for one afternoon in Denmark, that happens and I couldn't resist getting a few photos:

Also, before hanging out with the ghosts, we checked out the Denmark Presbyterian Church. A half million-dollar contract for restoration of the old church building was recently awarded and work to restore the church is about to begin. They have some great photos of the historic church on their Website and you can also check out their Facebook page.

Local historian, activist and president of the BBCHA, Bill King, who led the efforts involved in securing the funds to save the church has also published a really great book on the history of the area, “Big Black Creek, Volume 1” and he's currently working on the next volume. You can purchase his book here. If you are at all interested in the history of West Tennessee, this is a great book to have.

I bought one today and am about to head upstairs and start reading it. I hope none of those ghosts slipped into my car and are hiding under my bed.