A couple’s graves were buried under an airport runway because their descendants wanted to preserve the site’s historical significance.
When you step onto a runway, your mind is likely filled with thoughts of travel and adventure.
However, at the Savannah Hilton Head Airport in Georgie, there is a unique and poignant piece of history right beneath your feet.
This airport is not just a hub for flights; it is also home to the graves of a couple who once owned the land.
The history of the Dotson family in Cherokee Hills
The story begins with Catherine and Richard Dotson, who were born in 1779 and spent their lives farming in an area known as Cherokee Hills.
They were married for 50 years, sharing a life together until Catherine passed away in 1877, followed by Richard in 1884.
According to the customs of their time, they were buried on their property, which included a family cemetery.
This cemetery originally contained around 100 graves, including those of enslaved individuals who had worked on the Dotson farm.
Why two people’s graves are buried under the runway at the airport?
As the years passed and the world changed, the land that once belonged to the Dotsons became valuable for military purposes.
During World War II, the military needed a place to land their aircraft, particularly the B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses.
This need led to a significant decision when it was discovered that the proposed landing site overlapped with the Dotsons’ family cemetery.
Most of the graves in the cemetery were relocated to Bonaventure Cemetery to accommodate the military’s requirements.
However, the graves of Catherine and Richard Dotson remained in place.
Their descendants decided not to move the graves.
They believed the couple would want to stay in the land they had loved for so many years.
As a result, when the airport was constructed, the area above the Dotsons’ graves was paved over, transforming it into part of the runway.
This decision was made out of respect for the family’s wishes.
To honor the couple’s memory, markers were placed on the tarmac, indicating the location of their graves.
These markers remind the couple of their strong connection to the land and its history before the airport was built.
Interestingly, the Dotsons are not the only individuals buried near the airport.
There are also two additional graves of Dotson relatives, Daniel Hueston and John Dotson, located nearby among the brush.
This shows how important this site is as a historical landmark. It connects the past with today’s travel.
On social media, many online users shared their opinions on the intriguing history of the couple’s graves.
It was their property before the airport, one user said.
You can never underestimate a person’s last wish. They had to know what they were doing, the second user said.
I’d be fine with being buried at an airport, the third user commented.
We all know what happens if you move the headstones and not the bodies. I feel I have seen this movie before, another wrote.