Myrtle Hill Preservation

Historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery in Rome, Ga.

A subsidiary of The Rome Area Heritage Foundation, Myrtle Hill-Oak Hill Memorial Association is dedicated to improving and maintaining the historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery. Among their projects are:

Veteran’s Plaza at Myrtle Hill Cemetery

The centerpiece of this Plaza is the tomb of America’s Known Soldier, Charles Graves, which is guarded by three 1904 water-cooled automatic machine guns. A bronze replica of a World War I “Doughboy” also enhances this inspiring site. More than 3,000 engraved bricks honor and memorialize military veterans and civilians for their service to this country in war or peace throughout all of American history.

Vonn and Rosalind Gammon Memorial

A plaque was placed at the corner of Broad Street and 4th Avenue in memory of Vonn and Rosalind Gammon. Vonn played football for the University of Georgia. On October 30, 1897, Gammon suffered a severe head injury and died the next day. The Georgia Legislature was called into session and passed a bill that would put an end to the game. Gammon’s mother, Rosalind, sent an impassioned letter to Governor Atkinson asking that he veto the bill. The bill was vetoed and Mrs. Gammon became known as “the Woman Who Saved Football in Georgia.”

Winecoff Memorial Site

In honor of the Sesquicentennial of the establishment of Myrtle Hill Cemetery, one of the events planned for this year is to create in the Streetscape of Broad Street, a tribute to honor four Romans who died in the Atlanta Winecoff Hotel fire on December 7, 1946. The memorial will be on the corner of Broad Street and 6th Avenue.