Man Uncovers A Hidden Cemetery Next Door And Couldn't Be More Pleased
April 21, 2021
Kenneth Sawyer of Tennessee was shocked to find a hidden cemetery right next door when he looked to do some work on his home. Some might find the bizarre discovery disturbing, but not Ken. He's delighted about his "new neighbors!"
Life is full of surprises. And Ken Sawyer got quite a surprise when he began planning an addition to his home in Tennessee.
RELATED: Man Spots Something Odd About Ceiling And Stumbles Into Secret Attic Room Full Of Treasures
Ken decided to build a carport next to his house. But a call from the city revealed a hidden cemetery secretly lurking right next door to his property.
"They said, 'make sure you keep it five feet from the cemetery.' I was like, 'from the what?!'" Ken recalled.
The man had no idea he'd been living next to a gravesite. Some people may have found the discovery creepy or disturbing. But Ken thought it was fascinating.
"I just embraced it as something kinda cool," he said.
RELATED: Hidden Treasure Uncovered By Grandson Under Stairs of Grandparents’ Farmhouse
The area where the hidden cemetery is located was incredibly overgrown. That's why Ken was oblivious to it. But now that he knows he's living next door to a piece of history, he's delighted about his new "neighbors."
"I won't have to worry about loud parties from that neighbor. They won't borrow things. They're the perfect neighbors," he jokes.
Hidden Cemetery Inspires New Mission
Ken Sawyer's discovery inspired him to find out more about the cemetery's history. He learned that it dates back to at least 1850 and he guesses it holds between 5 to 8 bodies.
Ken also found out the hidden cemetery once belonged to the Caruthers family. And seeing it in such disrepair didn't sit right with the man.
"In this cemetery are some of the descendants of the first settlers to Tennessee. I thought how sad it was that no one cared about these people. They shouldn't be forgotten and I believe the dead deserve a nice respectable resting place," he said.
Ken, in conjunction with local historians and the New England Historic Cemetery Restoration Project, made it his mission to restore the long-forgotten gravesite. And as word spread through the community, folks began donating money and time toward his efforts.
So many people took an interest in the hidden cemetery, leaving Ken pleasantly surprised. And so, he set up the Caruthers Cemetery Project Facebook page so folks could follow along with his progress.
What a wonderful thing for Ken to do to honor the final resting place of this family, even though they are complete strangers to him.
"To me, these were forgotten people," he said. "I thought this was my chance to make these people no longer forgotten. As long as I'm living here, this cemetery will be taken care of."
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Hidden Treasure Poem Had Folks Searching The Rocky Mountains For Over A Decade Until Now
Kudos to Ken Sawyer for starting this project and showing the gravesite the respect it deserves!
WATCH: Ken Sawyer With Update On Hidden Cemetery Progress
LISTEN: Story Behind the Secret Inscription Only 3 People Know on Wedding Ring of Queen Elizabeth
h/t: People
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/GoFundMe Campaign Update
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Pray when the Fear of Tomorrow Overwhelms Us - Your Daily Prayer - November 2
Trust in Jesus and God’s sovereignty gives us hope, which sustains and lifts us up no matter the storms we must weather, worldwide or individually. Jesus is the master of all.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Pray when the Fear of Tomorrow Overwhelms Us - Your Daily Prayer - November 2
Trust in Jesus and God’s sovereignty gives us hope, which sustains and lifts us up no matter the storms we must weather, worldwide or individually. Jesus is the master of all.
Past Stories
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hilarious Take on Life After the Wedding
Cody Carnes Cody Carnes - He Who Is To Come
Universal Music Group Brooke Ligertwood - Bless God
Universal Music Group Stephen Stanley - gonna have to trust you
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.