Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery

| nrhp_type =

| image = Moscow_Methodist_Church_and_Cemetery.jpg

| caption =

| nearest_city = Prescott, Arkansas

| coordinates = {{coord|33|46|35.4|N|93|21|59.6|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Arkansas#USA

| map_caption = Location in Arkansas##Location in United States

| built = 1864

| architect =

| architecture = Bungalow/craftsman

| added = September 20, 2006

| area = {{convert|3|acre}}

| refnum = 06000826{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

}}

Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery is a historic landmark built in 1864 and added to the National Register in 2006. The former community of Moscow is located just outside the current city limits of Prescott, Arkansas. The area is on or near the old "Moscow-Camden Road", or "Wire Road" which ran between Moscow and Camden, Arkansas.{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasheritagetrails.com/Civil-War/camden-expedition.aspx|title=Civil War Trails – Camden Expedition|work=Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism – ArkansasHeritageTrails.com}} As of 2016, the location was known as the junction of Nevada County Roads 23 and 260.

History

As early as 1810, the community of Moscow had primarily consisted of various small farms and businesses that included several retail shops, two blacksmiths, a post office, a saloon, and a Masonic Lodge. Methodist historians place the church congregations date of origin as early as 1842. The first marked burial in the cemetery dates to 1864, but the deed to the grounds was not issued until 1868, so it appears that the land had been in use for burial and religious purposes well before the property transaction was formalized and recorded.

In 1864, the Civil War brought several battles to the area surrounding Moscow during the Red River Campaign{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3005 |title=Red River Campaign|work=Derek Allen Clements, Encyclopedia of Arkansas – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net}} and the Camden Expedition.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1131|title=Camden Expedition|work=Derek Allen Clements, Encyclopedia of Arkansas – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net}}

During those conflicts, the Confederate Army of Major General Sterling Price and Brigadier General Thomas Dockery engaged the Union Army of Major General Frederick Steele and Brigadier General John Thayer.{{cite web|url=http://peace.saumag.edu/swark/articles/ahq/camden_expedition/camdenexpedition-articles.html|title=Camden Expedition: History Articles|work=History Department of Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia – Peace.SAUMag.edu}} The Moscow area was surrounded by historic battles that include:

Engagement at Elkin's Ferry. April 3–4, 1864.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=1132|title=Engagement at Elkin’s Ferry|work=David Sesser, Nevada County Depot and Museum – Encyclopedia of Arkansas – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ar012.htm|title=Elkin’s Ferry|work=NPS – NPS.gov}}
Skirmish at Prairie D’Ane. April 9–13, 1864.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=1133|title=Skirmish at Prairie D’Ane|work=David Sesser, Nevada County Depot and Museum – Encyclopedia of Arkansas – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ar013.htm|title=Prairie D'Ane|work=NPS – NPS.gov}}
Action at Moscow. April 13, 1864.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=2513|title=Action at Moscow|work=Frank Arey, Encyclopedia of Arkansas – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net}}
Engagement at Poison Spring. April 18, 1864.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=37|title=Engagement at Poison Spring|work=Mark K. Christ, Encyclopedia of Arkansas – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/abpp/battles/ar014.htm|title=Poison Spring|work=NPS – NPS.gov}}

In 1873, the Cairo and Fulton Railroad{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2422|title=Cairo and Fulton Railroad|work=S. Michael Condren, Christian Brothers University, Encyclopedia of Arkansas – EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net}} was constructed a short distance from Moscow and a new town was laid out alongside the rails. Being on the outskirts of a rapidly growing railroad town, Moscow merchants and businessmen quickly relocated to be alongside the rails. While Prescott grew, Moscow's population began to dwindle. The Citizens of Prescott continued to use Moscow Cemetery as a community burial site until 1880, when the De Ann Cemetery{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasheritage.com/docs/default-source/national-registry/NE0076-pdf|title=De Ann Cemetery|work=Arkansas Historic Preservation - ArkansasPreservation.com}} was established and Moscow community disappeared over time.

In the years afterwards, Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery continued serving the Moscow and Prescott area. The church was listed in the minutes of the Little Rock Conference of the Methodist Church into the 1970s and regular services continued until 1989.

In December 2003, the Trustees of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church quit-claimed their interest in the church building and grounds to the Moscow Cemetery Association.{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasheritage.com/docs/default-source/national-registry/NE0002-pdf|title=Moscow Methodist Church And Cemetery|work=Arkansas Historic Preservation – ArkansasPreservation.com}}

Moscow Methodist Church and Cemetery are what remains of the original community; an early settlement and little documented trade center in the Missouri Township, of Nevada County in Southwest Arkansas.