CINCINNATI — Union Baptist Church honored the lives and sacrifices of our nation’s heroes at one of its historic cemeteries in Madisonville for Memorial Day. However, ongoing flooding issues continue to disrupt church activities.

The United American Cemetery, located along Duck Creek Road, is a Madisonville Historic Site and is listed on the National Register. Black historical figures including writers, politicians and Underground Railroad leaders have been interred here. More than 50 African-American Civil War veterans are buried at the site.

“We thank God for their sacrifices,” said Dr. Orlando B. Yates, senior pastor at Union Baptist Church. “We thank God that in the midst of segregation, we thank God that in the midst of Jim Crowism, they put their nation before themselves.”

The ceremony did not go without a hitch, however.

Monday’s Memorial Day service was the first event at the cemetery since it was closed to the public due to flooding concerns. The flooding was caused by the construction of a Fifth Third Bank office nearby. Complications with the office’s underground waterways caused water to spill into the cemetery.

The church’s Memorial Day ceremony was supposed to take place atop the hill at the burial site, but that part of the cemetery is virtually inaccessible due to all the flood damage. The fifth third bank is also at the top of the hill, right next to the cemetery.

Church solicitor John Stillpass explained that even after pouring 60 tonnes of gravel to make up for the flooding, they still failed to stop ongoing flooding issues.

“It’s literally heartbreaking. As we stand here you can smell the sewage and what it’s doing and why people can’t cross here,” Stillpass said.

Despite the damage and complications, dozens of speakers and attendees came out to pay their respects. Stillpass says the cemetery will then be open to visitors on Father’s Day.

WCPO has contacted Fifth Third Bank for comment. We are still awaiting a response at the time of reporting.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our donor-supported journalism program Report For America. Learn more about RFA here.

If there are any stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at [email protected]