The Barry Cemetery in Gallatin, is the historic resting place of one of the area’s most remarkable early figures, Dr. Redmond Barry. An acclaimed surgeon who immigrated from Ireland, Barry shifted gears and became a succesful lawyer before the age of 40. Dr. Barry was a true renaissance man, later becoming a respected horse breeder. After a distinguished career, he died in 1821 and was buried in his family’s cemetery. Today, this significant piece of local history has sadly fallen into a state of neglect, with about a dozen family tombstones broken and scattered due to time and vandalism.
The cemetery’s dilapidated condition has fueled local ghost stories, particularly from the apartment complex located just behind the old burial ground. One former resident described unsettling experiences, including hearing constant footsteps and knocking from her attic and a laundry room door that would mysteriously open on its own. While apartment management and maintenance staff say they aren’t aware of any paranormal activity, the tales persist.
You can read more about the historic burying ground in my book “Southern Ghost Stories: Ghosts of Gallatin 2”. available over at Amazon.
