Help us solve one of Shreveport's greatest historical mysteries!
William Bennett was one of the original founding members of the Shreve Town Company, years before Shreveport was incorporated. His wife, Mary Bennett Cane (the mother of Shreveport-Bossier) is buried in a marked grave within the gates of historic Oakland Cemetery. The exact location of William Bennett's grave is unknown...but early maps place "William and Mary Cemetery" on a corner lot just adjacent to Oakland, so we believe there are graves there, including that of Shreve Town charter member William Bennett.
Dr. Gary Joiner and Dr. Cheryl White of LSU Shreveport, along with archaeologist Dr. Jeremy Pye, Spring Street Museum Curator Marty Loschen, Louisiana Historic Preservation Trust representative Lane Callaway, and excavator John Michael Giglio hope to find the grave of this important founding father of Shreveport, properly mark it and memorialize him (and others), as well as place a historic marker at the site.
Any contribution goes toward the necessary preliminary work of using ground penetrating radar followed by exploratory excavation. The site is located on city property, and we have permission to proceed.
Be a part of making Shreveport history!! All donors will be publicly recognized (unless you wish to remain anonymous)...and will follow our progress!
William Bennett was one of the original founding members of the Shreve Town Company, years before Shreveport was incorporated. His wife, Mary Bennett Cane (the mother of Shreveport-Bossier) is buried in a marked grave within the gates of historic Oakland Cemetery. The exact location of William Bennett's grave is unknown...but early maps place "William and Mary Cemetery" on a corner lot just adjacent to Oakland, so we believe there are graves there, including that of Shreve Town charter member William Bennett.
Dr. Gary Joiner and Dr. Cheryl White of LSU Shreveport, along with archaeologist Dr. Jeremy Pye, Spring Street Museum Curator Marty Loschen, Louisiana Historic Preservation Trust representative Lane Callaway, and excavator John Michael Giglio hope to find the grave of this important founding father of Shreveport, properly mark it and memorialize him (and others), as well as place a historic marker at the site.
Any contribution goes toward the necessary preliminary work of using ground penetrating radar followed by exploratory excavation. The site is located on city property, and we have permission to proceed.
Be a part of making Shreveport history!! All donors will be publicly recognized (unless you wish to remain anonymous)...and will follow our progress!