Locust Grove Cemetery
Why it's listed
Locust Grove Cemetery is a small Catholic burial ground of about half an acre in rural Taliaferro County, Georgia, southeast of Sharon. It sits within a larger tract owned by the Archdiocese of Atlanta and is surrounded by a low granite wall. It holds 58 identifiable graves with headstones dating from 1826 to 1882, grouped mostly by family, and many stones are ornately carved in sandstone, limestone and marble. Several birthplaces in Ireland are noted on the markers. The site served a congregation founded in the 1790s by Catholics from Maryland, regarded as Georgia's earliest Catholic community. Joseph Thompson's will donated the land in 1809, and the remains of the church's rock pillars still mark where an earlier church stood. The congregation later moved to Sharon. The cemetery was recognized for its age, its link to this frontier settlement, and its tombstone artistry, with a period of significance from 1809 to 1882, the date of the last marked burial.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the last vestige of Georgia's earliest Catholic congregation and settlement, founded in the 1790s by Catholics from Maryland. It also holds fine early and mid-19th century tombstones, some carved with religious and funerary motifs. It is considered significant in art, exploration and settlement, and religion.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06001119, listed December 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Locust Grove Rd. SE, Sharon |
|---|---|
| County | Taliaferro County |
| Listed | December 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06001119 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1809-1882 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Exploration/Settlement, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a cemetery (current function funerary/cemetery); some tombstones were restored in 1984 and 2003 following a 2000 preservation plan. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.54223, -82.77547 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06001119.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.