DAR representative discusses improvements to David Lindsay burial site

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For the first time in months, the Shelby County Commission met once again in the County Services Building. The commission had been meeting in the Harrison Regional Library Building since September due to renovations in the county services building, and the July 10 meeting marked the first in the newly renovated building.

Phoebe Robinson, regent of the David Lindsay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting to ask the county for support on upcoming grant applications. The David Lindsay Chapter is the only DAR chapter in Shelby County, and is named after Revolutionary War soldier David Lindsay, who is buried on Highway 17 in Maylene.

“In 1953 on Alabama Day, the original chain link fence and sign was put up [at the gravesite] by the DAR chapter,” Robinson said. “As you can see, it is tired. Also, some of the information is incorrect.”

The correct information was discovered in 2007, after much research, Robinson said. The DAR now has the correct dates and terms of service for Lindsay.

“We would like for our Alabama Bicentennial Project, with your approval, to upgrade the gravesite and put a new marker,” Robinson said. Depending on what grants and how much money they are granted, Robinson said she would like to get a large bronze marker to replace the older marker and to apply for a DAR grant to upgrade the gravestones with DAR markers.

“It is extremely rare to have a DAR patriot and sons of the Revolution in a local gravesite in Shelby County as well as in Alabama,” Robinson said. “I’m verifying, but I think this is the only one in the state of Alabama. So this is a very important historical site.”

Commissioner Rick Shepherd voiced support of the project, and Commission Chair Jon Parker said Robinson would speak with County Engineer Randy Cole following the meeting.

“We are quite aware of the David Lindsay memorial that’s out there, and as she brought it up, it’s kind of tired,” Cole said. “We’ll work with her, and we’ll get an agreement. We have a precedent for an agreement form to allow them to erect a more permanent form [of marker].”

Cole added that in addition to the graves of Lindsay and his wife, several of Lindsay’s slaves are also buried there. Those graves extend into private property next to the site.

“It’s going to take coordination with that property owner to approve most of this. The sign is the easy part,” Cole said. Robinson said she plans to reach out to the property owner as well.

The meeting ended with the commission going into executive session. No action would be taken in or following the executive session, County Manager Alex Dudchock said, and a motion for the executive session also said the meeting would be concluded at the end of the executive session.

Also at the meeting, the commission:

  • Approved bills, requisitions, check register — government funds and proprietary funds.
  • Approved the minutes from the June 26 commission meeting.
  • Approved an alcohol beverage license for UNI Country Mart in Montevallo.
  • Approved bids for Vector Supplies and SCADA System Upgrades.
  • Approved a resolution approving the Emergency Shelter Grant Program grant and grant match.
  • Heard an update from Debra Roulaine, detention manager of the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Facility. Roulaine said in a recent audit, the facility received a 100 — the 20th year in a row for such a score — and was marked to have “no deficiencies.”
  • Dudchock gave update on a caretaker house that is being built in the north sector of the Cahaba River Park, which he said is progressing well.