Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery

Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery
Nearest city Prescott, Arkansas
Coordinates 33°46′42″N 93°22′0″W / 33.77833°N 93.36667°WCoordinates: 33°46′42″N 93°22′0″W / 33.77833°N 93.36667°W
Area 3 acres (1.2 ha)
Built 1864
Architectural style No Style Listed, Bungalow/craftsman
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 06000826[1]
Added to NRHP September 20, 2006

Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery is a historic landmark that was built in 1864 and added to the National Register in 2006. The church is located just outside the city limits of Prescott, Arkansas, in the former community of Moscow. It is on or near the Old Camden-Washington Road, which ran between Camden, Arkansas and Washington, Arkansas.[2] As of 2014, the location was known as the junction of Nevada County Roads 23 and 260.

History

As early as 1810, the community of Moscow had primarily consisted of small farms and businesses, but there were larger holdings in the vicinity that belonged to the more affluent planter class. Methodist historians place the church congregations date of origin as early as 1842. The first marked burial in the cemetery dates to 1864, but the deed to the grounds was not issued until 1868, so it appears that the land had been in use for burial and religious purposes well before the property transaction was formalized and recorded.

In 1864, the Civil War brought several battles to Moscow and the surrounding area as part of the Red River Campaign[3] and the Camden Expedition.[4][5] During those conflicts, the Confederate Army of Major General Sterling Price and Brigadier General Thomas Dockery engaged the Union Army of Major General Frederick Steele and Brigadier General John Thayer. The Moscow community bore witness to historic battles that include:

Moscow's businesses included several retail shops, two blacksmiths, a post office, a saloon, and a Masonic Lodge, but in 1873, the Cairo and Fulton Railroad [13] was built within 3 miles of Moscow, and the town of Prescott was laid out along side the rails. Being on the outskirts of a rapidly growing railroad town, Moscow merchants and businessmen quickly relocated to Prescott. As a result, Moscow's population dwindled and the community eventually disappeared.

Early citizens of Prescott continued to use Moscow Cemetery as a community burial site until 1880, when the De Ann Cemetery [14] was established. In the years afterwards, Moscow continued serving the rural area. The church was listed in the minutes of the Little Rock Conference of the Methodist Church into the 1970s and regular services continued until 1989. In December 2003, the Trustees of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church (web site) quit-claimed their interest in the church building and grounds to the Moscow Cemetery Association.[15]

Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery are all that remain of the community of Moscow, an early settlement and little documented trade center in the Missouri Township of Nevada County and Southwest Arkansas.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  2. ↑ http://www.arkansasheritagetrails.com/Civil-War/camden-expedition.aspx Arkansas Heritage Trails - Civil War Trails
  3. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3005 Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Red River Campaign
  4. ↑ http://peace.saumag.edu/swark/articles/ahq/camden_expedition/camdenexpedition-articles.html Southern Arkansas University - History Articles
  5. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1131 Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Camden Expedition
  6. ↑ http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/ar012.htm NPS - Heritage Preservation - Elkin's Ferry
  7. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=1132 Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Engagement at Elkin’s Ferry
  8. ↑ http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/ar013.htm NPS - Heritage Preservation - Prairie D'Ane
  9. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=1133 Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Skirmish at Prairie D’Ane
  10. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=2513 Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Action at Moscow
  11. ↑ http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/ar014.htm NPS - Heritage Preservation - Poison Spring
  12. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=37 Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Engagement at Poison Spring
  13. ↑ http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2422 Encyclopedia of Arkansas - Cairo and Fulton Railroad
  14. ↑ http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.aspx?id=2186 Arkansas Historic Preservation - De Ann Cemetery
  15. ↑ http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.aspx?id=2266 Arkansas Historic Preservation - Moscow Methodist Church And Cemetery

See also