By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

HELENA — Two Helena cemeteries are now on the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register.

The Alabama Historical Commission recently added Harmony Graveyard and Harmony Cemetery to the register.

“The cemetery register is a prestigious listing of historic cemeteries in Alabama,” said Lee Anne Wofford, cemetery program coordinator. “The AHC considers the notable historic cemeteries in this register to be particularly worthy of preservation and appreciation, and therefore deserving of this special recognition.”

Shelby County now has 21 cemeteries on the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register. The register has 368 cemeteries from across the state.

Harmony Graveyard, commonly referred to as the Helena City Cemetery, began as a burying ground for the Harmony Presbyterian Church, the first church constructed in the neighborhood that would become Helena.

Located adjacent to Harmony Graveyard is Harmony Cemetery, which is an African-American burying ground. The cemetery contains 14 grave markers and numerous unmarked graves.