Murphy – Several Headstones at Harshaw Cemetery were vandalized last spring at the historic site. Many of the stones in the cemetery are more than 100 years old.
The Harshaw Chapel donated to the town by Joshua Harshaw, a prominent landowner and businessman of the time, in 1869 to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
The chapel has been a burial ground for local residents for almost 200 years and is the burial site for Joshua Harshaw and his family as well as a man who is believed to be the father of the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
The chapel was built with locally made brick and still stands on the original site on Church Street in downtown Murphy. It is one of the oldest buildings in Cherokee County and is the oldest building in the township, according to murphyfirstumc.org.
The steeple of the church was leaning badly, and in 2019 it was removed and the bell within put away. The roof has been covered against the weather until enough funds are raised to fix the roof.
Friends of Harshaw Chapel are trying to find ways to restore the roof. In 2020, members were contacted by the national non-profit Partners for Sacred Places to apply for the Central Appalachia Program. The program will assist in preserving folk art, architecture and cultural traditions tied to the historic landmark. Donations for the chapel can be made online at murphyfirstumc.org/about-us/harshaw-chapel.
Tim Nicholson, a member of Murphy First United Methodist Church, said he was made aware of the vandalism and town police were notified.
"I went up to the cemetery and counted more than 18 stones that were vandalized," he said. "I righted all the stones that I could by myself and then some other members of FUMC righted others. Ivie Funeral Home has generously offered to help reset the heavier stones as well."
Nicholson said vandalism is difficult to prevent at the historic site, especially during the night. He said fencing has been considered but it is expensive and they do not want to limit public access.
"I am hopeful that the damage done to the stones was a random, one-time thing," Nicholson said. "I check occasionally and have not seen any further damage."
Nicholson said he has placed one camera and can place more if it is found to be needed.
The Friends of the Harshaw Chapel group is working diligently to make sure that the chapel is restored correctly and efficiently. Nicholson said while their hope is to restore the building as much as possible, part of the restoration would also hopefully include some grounds work.
Volunteers and locals are needed to join the group in helping the Harshaw Chapel become a place where local history and church events can happen on the site again. For details about joining the Friends of Harshaw Chapel, call Murphy First United Methodist Church pastor Wil Posey at 837-2718.