Payne Cemetery
State Route 595New Straitsville , Ohio 43766
740-753-0101 | https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/wayne/specialplaces/?cid=fsm9_006031
Payne Cemetery
Payne Cemetery is the last remaining site of an African American community called Payne’s Crossing.
Payne Cemetery is the last remaining site of an African American community called Payne’s Crossing. This community of rural farms was first settled in the 1830’s and served as an Underground Railroad site until the Civil War. The community was made up of mostly African Americans, some of whom were quite wealthy. The graves of several prominent families remain in the cemetery, including members of the 27th U.S. Colored Troops.
Coal companies began buying up their properties after the war, leaving the cemetery intact. A small clearing in the Wayne National Forest, the site today consists of well-preserved graves on the side of Route 595. The town of New Straitsville is nearby.
Notes for Travelers
Parking is limited.