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Farming For A Better Future, page 364
571
Ross' Chapel*
Ross's Chapel was once situated west of the town of Gurley on the north side of Miller Road. The area around the church was owned by a small group of five farming landowners of color in the early 20th century. One of the landowners was William Ross, who owned the adjacent 55-acre parcel from at least 1902-1948.
The church appears on a USGS topographic map from 1936 but does not appear on any other maps. Although the church is named Ross's Chapel, according to Madison County land records, the church was not on his land. It was recorded on the land of James M. Ginn, a white landowner.
Exactly when the church was built and when it was demolished is unclear. The seven-acre parcel was set aside by 1920 and passed to James' son, Frank Ginn by 1936. However, the symbol for a church on this property was not included in the county land maps until 1945. Although there are no topographic maps
* Indicates a Historical, Non-Extant Resource
(Above) Ross' Chapel on Madison County Land Records, 1945-1958 (Index of Land Records, Madison County, Alabama)
including the church after 1936, the land records show the church until 1968.
581
Sam Moore Cemetery
This cemetery is located on Redstone Arsenal just south of Centaur Street. There are several cemeteries with the Moore name, and deciphering between the cemeteries and their history can be difficult. While the history of this cemetery is well researched, it is not well understood. According to the U.S. Army and accounts by previous residents, the cemetery was named for the man who donated the land. Samuel H. Moore was a Confederate who served in the 4th Alabama Infantry during the Civil War. Afterwards, he was promoted to General in the state militia. He lived in Huntsville, but bought the land, including the cemetery, in 1883.
(Above) Photograph of the Burns Family
Memorial Taken by Local Historian John
P. Rankin, 2002 ( Rankin 2005)
At the site of the cemetery is a small metal sign naming it the “Sam Moore Cemetery.” While there are no historical markers for the possibly hundreds of graves, there is a modern memorial to members of the Burns family. This monument referred to the cemetery as the “Old Sam Moore Cemetery” and noted that the Burns were landowners. Other families that may have members buried here are: Hortons, Jacobs, Joiners, Kings, Robinsons, and Turners.
591
Silver Hill School (Rosenwald)*
The Silver Hill School was a one-teacher schoolhouse and one of nine Rosenwald schools in Madison County. The school cost $950 in total with $350 from
(Above) Photograph of the Silver Hill School Taken Circa 1930. This Image was Taken from Curry's 2006 Book on the People of Redstone Arsenal and the Individuals in the Photograph were Not Identified. (Below) Silver Hill School on Madison County Land Records, 1933-1942 (Index of Land Records, Madison County, Alabama) - (4892)