Member of the American Cemetery Association,
New Jersey Cemetery Association and the Cremation Association of
North America.
Newspaper Articles
June 26, 1881 - Fairmount
Cemetery History
July 3, 1881 - Fairmount
Cemetery Association
May 28, 1882 - Description
of New Roadways & Areas
June 20, 1909 - Young
Eagle Captured in Fairmount Cemetery
June 27, 1909 - Eagle
Shipped to Bronx Park
February 13, 1910 - Monument
to Mrs. Mihlon
June 26, 1910 - Monument
in Memory of Mrs. H. Schnellbacher
March 5, 1911 - Motor
Cars in Local Cemetery
Fairmount Cemetery was opened and incorporated
on February 9, 1855 as a non-sectarian, non-profit organization
to serve the community. The land was reportedly purchased from the
First Presbyterian Church by some of the most influential and respected
citizens of Newark. 1927 saw the opening of the Fairmount Memorial
Mausoleum. The Fairmount Crematory opened in 1984. It is located
in Northwest Newark, just 5 blocks from the Garden State Parkway.
It covers 22 city blocks, bounded on the Southwest by South Orange
Ave., the Southeast by South Twelfth Street, the Northeast by Central
Ave. (Entrance) and the Northwest by South Eighteenth Street. The
Administration building is immediately on the left when entering.
The personal there will do mail in lookups, help you for 15 minutes
with in-person requests (they don’t have the personal for
walk in genealogical help) and allow you to scan through there early
ledgers with no time limit. I have been there a few times and can
tell you that they are very helpful and cooperative. When you find
the person you are looking for they will show you exactly where
the plot is (map handouts and a large on the wall map). They will
also send a security guard with you to find the grave. Again all
personal are extremely helpful. On a recent visit a caretaker was
mowing the lawn,. He saw us taking photos of the grave site which
he hadn't gotten to yet and came over to mow and weed whack the
area.
Although the cemetery is over 150 years old, it is still in use
(accepting burials). This is a good sign for all genealogists. The
times that I was there I found no evidence of any vandalism. I like
to think of the cemetery of having two basic sections even though
there are actually over 100 individual sections. The outside section
has only flat grave markers while the inside has upright grave stones.
Some of the upright grave stones in the inside section are very
ornamental. My gg-grandfather’s family plot has a 10 foot
high obelisk with a 3 foot women on top. She is holding her right
arm upwards (unfortunately the right hand has weathered away) and
has a two layer full length “dress”. It looks like an
early army nurses uniform like Florence Nightingale.
While recently discussing the Newark cemetery situation with the
Volunteers from the Woodland Cemetery I was told that most of the
graves in the outside section of Fairmount have had their markers
sunk awhile ago to facilitate maintenance. I don’t know how
true this is but from my personal observation most of the markers
in the outside section are either missing or below ground. *I have
been told recently (8/18/99) that around 1973 a large sign was posted
in the area southeast of the main entrance advising that, as of
a certain date, the headstones in that section, which were all fifty
or more years old, would be laid flat and sunk below grade to facilitate
mowing. Relatives were advised to notify the cemetery office with
objections, if any.* In any case the caretakers there will make
every effort (no matter how long it takes) to locate a gravemarker.
To sum it up I would say that all my experiences with Fairmount
Cemetery have been as positive as they could be and I would recommend
that anyone in the area or passing through that has an ancestor
buried there should visit the cemetery. If anyone has any other
questions about the cemetery just e-mail
me and I will try to answer them.
From "Hand book and guide for the city of Newark,
New Jersey: carefully edited and compiled from authentic sources"
Newark Daily Advertiser Print, 1872:
"Fairmount Cemetery is situated on South Orange Avenue, about
one mile from the Court House, and a short distance beyond the 'high
service reservoir.' It was incorporated, February 9th, 1855, and
contains over sixty acres. Until bought by the Cemetery Association
the grounds were owned by the First Presbyterian Church since the
settlement of Newark. The situation of the Cemetery is very fine,
within the city, yet overlooking the beautiful country toward the
Orange mountains. From the gateway, with its neat cottage lodge,
winding avenues lead past and around reserved circular plots, tastefully
planted with shade trees. Advancing by one of these avenues to the
left, several very handsome monuments first meet the eye. An elegant
shaft of Peterhead granite being especially observable. From this
point the foilage deepens, and the white columns and lowlier headstones
thicken to the view. The grounds are laid out mainly in circles,
and the avenues and walks lead round and through them in graceful
curves. The lots are carefully enclosed and neatly kept, and each
year adds to their beauty.
THIS MONUMENT
Is in Memory of the Heroic Dead
Buried Here,
Who Gave their Lives for their Country
During the Great Rebellion.
Erected by the City of Newark.
A. D. 1869
On a handsome granite shaft this inscription forcibly arrests
the attention. The Monument stands on the western side of the grounds
about midway between the entrance and the northern limits. The shaft
is square, surmounted by a soldier leaning on his musket. It is
divided into sections, bearing many of the historic battle fields
of the war, Antietam, Gettysburg, Atlanta, Petersburg and Mobile
Bay. Four pieces of ordnance sunk into the ground grace the four
corners; two others are placed at the entrance of the pot, and the
honored dead lie close around. The names and ages on the headstones
are suggestive. All were in the prime of life, varying from twenty-three
to fifty; strong men, cut down violently, or wasted by disease and
hardship in their very prime. Northward of this, the Cemetery enters
upon a grove of oaks, a reserve for 'the harvest of death.' This
portion is being gradually cleared and opened. Eastward, the grounds
are all laid out in lots, tastefully enclosed and adorned with many
elegant monuments. The first internment in the grounds of Fairmount
was that of Lewis Pierson, aged 24 years, who was buried, August
24th, 1855, six months after the charter was obtained, but before
the dedication services, which were held in September. Up to the
present time (1872), over seven thousand internments have taken
place."
From: "Industries of New Jersey: 1882
Fairmount Cemetery Association, Office, No. 183 Market Street.
— The want of a new cemetery in the city of Newark, which
should be sufficiently large for many coming generations and be
commensurate with the growing importance of the city and the adjacent
villages, was met by the organization, in the autumn of 1854, of
the Fairmount Cemetery Association, which was duly chartered in
1855. The first Board of Mangers was composed of the instigators
and promoters of the enterprise, Joseph A. Halsey, Joseph N. Tuttle,
Roswell Van Buskerk, Samuel H. Pennington, M. D., James G. Barnet,
Aaron Carter, Jr., George F. Tuttle. Theodore Macknet, Gabriel Grant,
M. D., Charles Nichols, Alfred L. Dennis, William M. Lewis, and
James A. Banister.
The cemetery is beautifully situated, about one mile from the Court
house, on South Orange Avenue, and is some eighty acres in extent,
fifty acres of which are now in lots. A large amount of money has
been expended in beautifying it; the avenues laid out in classic
design and taste and stoned and graveled; the ground raised in many
places ; trees removed, to open up avenues ; shrubbery planted,
a residence built near the entrance gate for the keeper, the building
of a receiving vault, fencing, posts, etc., until now the Fairmount
Cemetery is one of the handsomest burial places in the country.
Lots are now sold at from $100 to $300 each, and 1 ,800 of them
have been sold. The total number of interments to November 1st,
1882, was 13,000, while the present annual average is 800. 'The
officers at present are as follows : President, William Ward ; secretary,
John J. Henry ; treasurer, Horace T. Brumley; Managers, William
Ward, John J. Henry, Horace T. Brumley, Charles Nichols, James A.
Banister, Frederick C. Tichenor, Herman Lehlbach, Julius Stapff,
George F. Tuttle. The general superintendent is Mr. Charles Nichols,
who has occupied that important position almost from the organization
down to the present. He is a pleasant, courteous gentleman, and
a worthy and efficient officer, always to be found at his office,
No. 183 Market Street, during office hours.
The dedicatory services which occurred on the 5th of September
1855, were of a most fitting character, and were witnessed by a
vast concourse of people.
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Suggestions For Personal Security While Visiting Fairmount
Cemetery from Cemetery Management
Fairmount Cemetery has attempted to provide a safe environment
within which to visit your loved ones. Unfortunately, along with
many other cemeteries in the Northeast, there has been an increase
in muggings and purse snatchings.
Even though we have engaged a private security company to patrol
the grounds and installed hundreds of yards of barbed wire fencing,
nothing is more effective in reducing the incidence of crimes than
your own personal vigilance.
We have listed below suggestions based on our experience and that
of law enforcement agencies. Please read them and take them seriously.
They are meant for YOUR SAFETY. DO NOT LEAVE PURSES IN CAR WHERE
THEY ARE VISIBLE. Most purse snatchings occur when a purse is left
on the front seat of either an open or locked car. Do Not leave
purses or other valuables in view for "just a minute".
These perpetrators are determined and fast. Lock your purse in the
car, out of sight.
BE WARY, If you see suspicious people hanging
around for no apparent reason, do not stop under any circumstances.
Report their presence to the front office, (Monday through Friday)
8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. During Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, report
their presence to either the roving guards or the front office guard.
VISIT DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. Whenever
possible, visit during the week, Monday through Friday, when our
staff are on the grounds. Avoid visiting just before closing time.
If wanted, a cemetery personnel will be available to provide escort
service to the gravesite(s).
DO NOT VISIT ALONE. If possible, visit with friends,
preferable younger ones. It is an unfortunate fact, however, these
perpetrators not only prey on senior citizens, but also on those
who appear vulnerable.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR RUNNING. Even if your vehicle
is only a few feet from the visiting gravesite. Keep your car windows
rolled up and doors locked.
IF YOU ARE IN YOUR CAR and are approached by someone
you feel could harm you, sound your horn immediately and steadily.
DIRECTIONS TO FAIRMOUNT CEMETERY:
From West Via I-80 (from Southwest via I-287):
North on I-287 to I-80: East to I-280, exiting Garden State Parkway/Oration
Parkway. Keep right up ramp to traffic light. Two rights (around
church) into Hawthorne Ave. which leads into Sussex Ave. At traffic
light turn right, keeping to left lane on Grove Street. A left turn
at Central Ave. (traffic light). Fairmount is about ¼ mile
towards Newark (East).
From North Via Garden State Parkway:
Use Exit 145, continue straight up the ramp to Central Ave. Turn
left, pass first cemetery on your right (Holy Sepulchre), continue
East three blocks to Fairmount Cemetery, identified by large public
mausoleum.
From South Via Garden State Parkway:
Use Exit 145, keep right after paying toll to intersection, Grove
Street. Turn right on Grove, keeping to left lane in order to make
a left turn onto Central Avenue., continue East towards Newark,
about 3/10 mile to cemetery entrance. |
