Churches: McCaskill Chapel, Sabine, Natchitoches Parish, La. Source: Sabine Index, Many, La., Apr 29, 1998 Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck carlrad@earthlink.net ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** by Myrtle Freeman In the peaceful pine-clad hills, about five miles northwest of Marthaville, and six or seven miles southeast of Pleasant Hill, stands the little white chapel at McCaskill Cemetery. It is located in the western edge of the Bethany community, just over the line in Sabine Parish. No one lives within a mile of the cemetery and should one visit the little chapel the only sounds that can be heard are the soft sighing of the wind in the lofty pines and the call of a songbird now and then. Inside the chapel there is a soothing atmosphere where peace and solitude reign. After lingering there for a few moments of quiet meditation, one gets a feeling of not wanting to leave. However, McCaskill Cemetery has not always had it's own chapel. The cemetery had been in existence a little over 100 years before the chapel was built. During that time funerals were conducted in the Philadelphia Methodist Church and schoolhouse (which is nearby), in the Bethany Baptist Church, or in the open cemetery. There is no record showing who was buried first in this cemetery. Some have said that Mrs. Lilla Allred was the first one, which was probably in 1851 or 1852. John B. Jennings died March 2, 1853 and was buried there. The funeral of Mr. Franklin Jennings, who died in 1888, was conducted in the Philadelphia Methodist Church. Mr. George Birdwell died in the year 1900 and funeral rites for him were held in the Bathany Baptist Church. The Philadelphia Church and schoolhouse ceased to exist around 1890, but the Bethany Baptist Church still stands today. Many funerals were conducted in the open cemetery, including rites for Miss Althea Jennings who died in October 1911; Mrs. Katherine Darnell - Sept 20, 1920; Mr. James E. Fitch - Sept 23, 1924; and Mr. Henry Van Meter, who died Oct. 9, 1935. In 1935 the people of the community began making plans for the betterment of the cemetery. On August 22, 1953 a Board of Directors were elected for the cemetery as follows: C.B. Darnell (deceased), Thomas Jennings, Harvey Birdwell, Leo Free, and F.H. "Joe" Glover (deceased). At the same time, a committee was also elected to make plans and collect money with which to build a chapel at the cemetery. The committee was composed of Thomas Jennings, Willie Dee Jones, Robert L. McFerren, and Paul Fender; also J.P. Purlow, Frank Parker and C.E. Dew, all deceased. First, a deed to two acres of land on which the cemetery is located was obtained in September, 1953 from N.F. "Hap" Darnell, who donated this land to the cemetery. After a little over two years, the committee had collected enough money to buy the blocks, lumber, roofing, etc. to begin their building. Tommy Jennings, Harvey Birdwell and the late Frank Parker squared and marked off the site on which to build the chapel. After they had dug the trench, Noel Beard brought his cement mixer and poured the foundation. The men and boys of the community helped him and they were hired to lay the blocks. The committee continued to collect money for the chapel until it was completed enough to have services in. Total cost of the chapel at that time was $2700. Much of the labor was donated by people of the community, thereby saving quite a bit on expenses. As the chapel was being built a glass cross was installed in the wall behind the pulpit as a memorial to Mrs. Ellen Darnell Morgan, given by her grandchildren. The steeple, which was made by the late Roland Veuleman and donated by his family, was erected in June, 1956. The pews were obtained through cash donations from homecoming groups and volunteer labor. Lumber was purchased from Many Lumber Co. and Mr. Jeff Jones and Willie Dee arranged for the pews to be cut at the Many Trade School. Tommy Jennings hauled the pre-cut material to the chapel, and with the help of his brother, the late Marvin Jennings, the pews were assembled, varnished and installed. The pulpit, chairs and altar rail which were dedicated to the memory of Roland Veulelman by Bro. H.T. lsgitt at the Homecoming in May, 1958, were given largely by workmen from the Beaird Company in Shreveport, with whom Roland had been associated for several months before his death on April 16, 1957. The piano and the security light were arranged for by Sheriff Sam James of Natchitoches. In 1964 a chain link fence was installed around the cemetery at a cost of about $600. Today the little white chapel, which stands as a memorial to many, is looked upon with gratefulness and pride by the community. Some of the elderly persons of the previous generation, who deeply desired a chapel to be built, saw it begun before their deaths. ~