From: <mailto:WFlem72706@aol.com> WFlem72706@aol.com Subject: [Q-R] Maryville cemetery, hidden Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 19:34:58 -0400 (EDT) Maryville cemetery, hidden in plain sight, linked to town's founding family. In a small group of tall trees, in one of the newest subdivisions in Maryville, sits a tiny graveyard that is older than the town itself. The Krome Cemetery sits between the tee box at the 4th hole of Stonebridge Golf Course and 2617 Sandstone Drive. The group of about 10 headstones is so well hidden by the surrounding trees that a neighbor admitted to buying his house nine years earlier not knowing the cemetery was across the street. Within the grove of trees, at the bottom of three concrete steps, is a headstone that is majestic in comparison to its humble surroundings. Charles William Krome, (March 3, 1815 - Dec. 5, 1876) and his wife Anna Krome (May 4, 1821 - Nov. 15, 1885) are laid to rest near the prominent headstone and surrounded by other Krome family members. On one side of Charles' and Anna's obelisk headstone is a more humble version, toppled to the ground, the writing on it illegible. The headstone for Charlotte S. Krome (Jan. 1, 1848 - Dec. 21, 1876) is on the other side. Charlotte's headstone is broken from its base, but is lovingly placed against it. Charles and Anna's daughter, Mary, is not buried in the cemetery. Mary met and married Carl William Fred Lange in 1863, according to Ron Meier, a descendent of Lange's. Lange platted Maryville in 1900. The town, incorporated in 1902, was named in honor of Lange's wife. A large house presided over the tiny family cemetery for decades, before being demolished as part of the transformation of Keebler Avenue from a sleepy, winding back road to an artery lined with subdivisions, lined with new homes. The cemetery's address is still Old Keebler Road, according to Madison County records. Osborne Properties developed the Stonebridge subdivision that surrounds Krome Cemetery and are rumored to have planted the trees around the cemetery for fear the small collection of headstones would drive potential home buyers away. If true, the plan appears to have worked. The neighboring homes all sold and the cemetery, owned by Madison County, is well-hidden from even keen-eyed passersby.