The Tombstone House, Petersburg Virginia

By Rev. Sinthyia Darkness

There is a house located at 1736 Youngs Road in Petersburg Virginia, which is constructed with a most unusual material; the tombstones of over two thousand Union Soldiers. These soldiers had lost their lives during the ten month siege of Petersburg in June 1864 to April 1865. This was the longest siege in American history.

Their bodies were exhumed from from at least one hundred battlegrounds beginning in 1866 and given proper burial at Poplar Grove. The soldiers responsible for carrying out this macabre task, were called the Burial Corps. They recovered and reinterred the dead soldiers. Their work was completed in 1869 and six thousand, even hundred and eighteen bodies were reinterred. Of these, only two thousand one hundred and thirty nine soldiers could be identified.

Initially, wooden markers were placed upon the graves at Poplar Grove. As you may expect, wood was not a very durable material and the weather destroyed them. Wooden markers only lasted two years before it was necessary to replace them.

It wasn't until 1873 that the first government issued marble tombstones were placed upon Civil War graves. The soldiers name, state and rank were inscribed upon these new marble upright markers.

The Great Depression which began in 1929 and lasted until 1942, had taken its toll upon our cemeteries and as a means to save on the cost of maintenance, Poplar Grove decided to lay the markers flat on the ground. In 1933, the two feet long blocks of marble at the base of these grave markers were cut off.

In 1934, Mr. Oswald Young, purchased the marbled tombstone bases for forty five dollars. He used the bases to construct this house, paved the walkway and even construct the fireplace mantle of what has come to be known as the Tombstone House of Petersburg Virginia.

There is some controversy surrounding these details, as many do believe that the entire markers were removed and the names inscribed on he stones are facing inward, hidden from view. I have viewed these marble stones and they do look a bit large to be simply the bases of the grave markers.

Because of the desecration involved, the property is thought to be haunted