Mary and her husband bought their home knowing there was a very small, ignored cemetery located behind their new home. Mary voluntarily mows the cemetery grounds and neatly trims around the old tombstones recognizing the historic importance so close to her home - The Massacre which saved Knoxville. Mary goes back to her caretaking and informs me there is a small tombstone of a child, located on the outskirts of the wooden fence. She continues telling me to look closely at the dates. I find myself confused as the date imprinted - Nov 1892 - Feb 1892. Mary enjoys my facial reaction and gives me a farewell wave as I depart.
The story behind the Massacre - The frontier was moving into Indian territory near what is known today as the City of Knoxville. Over 1,000 Indian warriors decided to attack wanting to wipe out the new trespassers. In the path were fourteen men, women and children living together at the Blockhouse homestead. All fourteen died fighting vigilantly to the end. The Indians never went any further after the encounter saving the people of Knoxville. A rock memorial remembers those buried in the mass grave below. One needs to drive to the end of a cul-de-sac. Then walk up a private driveway, crossing the backyard to access this small cemetery.
