Adopt-A-Street

As a part of the City of Conway's adopt-a-street effort, the Oak Grove Cemetery Board has adopted East Bruce Street in front of the Cemetery. Board members and friends spent a morning in the fall cleaning up that portion of the street.

Tombstone Tuesday - George Washington Bruce (1838-1919)

George Washington Bruce

b. 30 October 1838

d. 11 November 1919

"He Served His Generation"

"I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith."

George W. Bruce was born in South Carolina, but moved to Georgia following the death of his father in 1841. He enlisted in the Confederate Army, took part in the second Battle of Manassas, advanced to the rank of colonel, and was captured by the Union and held in a Federal prison until the end of the war. After moving to Conway in 1873, Bruce became instrumental in establishing both Central Baptist College and Hendrix College. He also practiced law and tried the first murder case in Faulkner County; his client was acquitted.[1] Bruce became the first president of the Oak Grove Cemetery organization on March 9, 1880. He was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1881 and served as mayor of Conway from 1917-1919.[2] The street on which Oak Grove Cemetery was built was later named Bruce Street in his honor.

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[1] Gatewood, Robert L. Conway and Faulkner County: 1820-1961. n.d.
[2] Faulkner County Historical Society. Faulkner County: Its Land and People. Ed. Doris B. Dolan, Hattie Ann Kelso and Corinne H. Robinson. Conway: River Road Press, 1986.

A Foggy Morning at Oak Grove

Thanks to Jason Hansen for these great photos!

Entry Sign

Donaghey Headstones

Fog Over Original Section

Asa Robinson Headstone

Fog Over Original Section

Bruce St.