History

History

The beginning of what has become known as the Anthony Community
Cemetery was in December of 1920. Charles E Miller and his wife, Jeanette Adams
Miller, donated land to Anthony Masonic Lodge #48 to be used as a Masonic and
Public cemetery. The first fence was erected in 1934. This was the time period of
the Great Depression in the United States, and one of the government programs
created was the Work Progress Administration, or WPA. They provided the labor
for the project which was originally planned to be a rock wall, but ended up being
made of adobe which did not survive the rainy season and dissolved in a short
period of time. At the same time, a group of civic minded citizens were organized
to aid in the development of the cemetery, coming to be known as the Anthony
Cemetery Association in 1945.
A Board of Directors was formed, being made up of members of the Anthony
Masonic Lodge, the Association group and representative of various service and
civic organizations as well as churches. Its overall purpose was the care and
maintenance of the cemetery and it continued until 2004. At that time, the
property was donated, by the Masonic Lodge, to what is now the Anthony
Community Cemetery Association, a non-profit corporation. It operates under a
constitution which established a Board of Directors who meet bi-monthly.

Historic Story Cemetery

Some observant folks in Anthony, might have noticed there are more than
just our Community Cemetery and St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery. One of these
is across 4 th St. from St Anthony’s, and is commonly known as Three Crosses. The
other is tucked away at the corner 4 th and Church St; this is the Historic Story
Cemetery which has existed, under various owners, since 1800. In 1971, then
owners, the Ollie Story family deeded it to the Anthony Cemetery Association in
consideration that it would be maintained as a cemetery. St. Anthony’s Catholic
church had the burial records, but they were destroyed in a fire, so plots are no

longer sold. However, it is home to several early pioneer families from Anthony
and the surrounding areas including two Civil War graves.