find that the lights have vanished. Other times, people will see the lights clearly and they will slowly float throughout the cemetery. These lights will look almost like distant lanterns being carried by some unseen spirits.
visiting
It is difficult to describe the rules for visiting this cemetery. First of all, the ghosts here are lights, so the only time that you can experience these ghosts is after dark. Many of the sightings have been made by people who are on the adjacent street. These witnesses will see the lights from the public road and will watch them in fascination until they vanish.
Watching the lights from the street is probably the best way to experience these ghosts, but there is another way. This cemetery does not close. The cemetery staff would prefer that everyone stay out of the cemetery after dark, but officially, the cemetery is open throughout the night. We believe that it is just as easy to experience these ghosts from outside the cemetery gates as it is within, but if you see something strange inside and want to take a closer look, it is not illegal to enter the cemetery.
There is also a candlelight tour of the cemetery every October. The tour does not tell any ghost stories or encourage ghosts in any way, but it is a guided tour of the cemetery after dark that does focus on the more famous grave sites.
DYER CEMETERY
8538 Dyer Rd., Rockvale, TN 37153
directions
Take I-24 East for about 23 miles to Exit 74A, TN 840 West toward Franklin. Follow this road for a little more than 2 miles to Exit 50 toward Beesley Road, and then turn left at the end of the exit ramp onto Veterans Parkway. After another 2 miles, turn right onto Franklin Road. Take your second left onto Kingwood Lane. Follow Kingwood for another 2.5 miles before turning right onto Windrow Road. Follow Windrow for 3 miles before angling right onto South Windrow Road. After another mile, turn right onto Dyer Road. The cemetery is near the end of Dyer Road.
history
When they needed a place to bury their loved ones, a family in this remote area with the last name of Dyer established the Dyer Cemetery in the early 1800s. Since this property was somewhat remote, it made sense for them to create their family’s cemetery on the grounds. Eventually the cemetery fell into the care of the Leathers family who lived nearby. The Leathers family cares for the cemetery today.
A strange story circulates about the cemetery. The story takes place in the 1800s, but it is unclear whether the events occurred before or after the Dyer family started using the land as their own. What happened was that three women in a nearby town were accused of being witches and of conspiring with Satan. They fled the town but were followed by a lynch mob to what was or what would become the Dyers’ property. Eventually the witches were cornered, and the mob hung the witches from a tree and then burned their bodies. Their charred remains were buried where the cemetery is today.
ghost story
Victims of the ghosts here are most often initially approached at the front gate. Due to the terrain and the condition of the gate itself, it is difficult to push open in order to enter the cemetery. Many times, though, people who are struggling to open the gate will have it suddenly fling open for no apparent reason.
Once inside the gate, there is no lack of ghostly activity. Visitors will encounter shadowy figures that approach quickly and maliciously and then vanish. Footsteps will approach people in the dark of the cemetery, but no one will be there. Most of this activity will occur near the rear of the cemetery.
In the front of the cemetery, a cedar tree is rumored to have been the tree where the witches were hung. Near this tree, people will feel a hand grab an arm or shoulder but then turn around and find no one there. Others will feel scratches that resemble either fingernails or straw running down an arm. Sometimes, balls of fire will appear near the tree and will slowly ascend the tree and then disappear. If the story of the witches is actually true, the ghosts seem to be quite upset.
visiting
Unfortunately, in order to see the ghosts here you will have to go at night. The strange behavior of the front gate, the shadowy figures, the balls of fire, and the sounds have been exclusively reported after nightfall. From what we can tell, it seems that the cemetery is open after dark. If you do go there at night, make certain that you search for any signs along the road or at the front gate that suggest that the cemetery closes at dusk. These rules are always subject to change, so even if the cemetery is open all night now, that rule may change tomorrow.
Also, keep in mind that this cemetery is rather remote. Make sure to keep your safety in mind at all times. Don’t go alone. And don’t approach the shadowy figures; they may just be real people up to no good.
EVERGREEN CEMETERY
519 Greenland Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37130
directions
Evergreen Cemetery is in Murfreesboro near the battlefield. From downtown Nashville, take I-24 East for about 27 miles to Exit 78B. Take Exit 78B toward Murfreesboro on the Old Fort Parkway. After 3 miles on Old Fort Parkway, turn right onto Clark Boulevard; then take your third right onto North Highland Avenue. The entrance to the cemetery will be your third left on Highland.
history
This cemetery wasn’t established until 1872, making it strange at first sight that the most famous feature of the cemetery is a circle of Confederate dead. The story of the Confederate Circle in Evergreen Cemetery starts at the Battle of Murfreesboro (see the Slaughter Pen at Stones River National Battlefield chapter) during the Civil War. Thousands of men from both sides of the battle were killed during the brutal fighting. Many of the Confederate dead were buried at the Old Confederate Cemetery, a mile and a half south of Murfreesboro across the street from the Samsonite luggage plant.
In 1891, it was determined that the bodies of the Confederate dead be moved to Evergreen Cemetery within the city of Murfreesboro itself. Over 2,000 bodies were moved from the mass grave at the Old Confederate Cemetery to the Confederate Circle at Evergreen.
ghost story
The Confederate dead roam Evergreen Cemetery to this day. There are many different stories of encounters with these soldiers here. Most often, people will report seeing actual shadowy figures walking through the cemetery in the vicinity of the Confederate Circle at night. Sometimes, these figures are wearing Civil War uniforms. Since the figures are only silhouettes when they are seen, it is impossible to tell if the uniforms are gray or blue, but witnesses report that the ghosts are in Civil War uniforms.
Other witnesses report feelings of uneasiness near the Confederate Circle. People feel as if they are being watched or followed through the cemetery. Other people will hear the distant sounds of battle or will hear moans coming from the ground. These phenomena are experienced during both day and night.
visiting
Evergreen Cemetery closes at dusk, so do not attempt to enter the cemetery after this time. The cemetery is visible from outside the walls, so you can walk the perimeter of the cemetery after dark looking for the shadowy figures that are said to roam here. Other ghostly phenomena, though, have been reported during the day in the vicinity
