(Elaborate rusted gates of an unknown plot at Cedar Hill Cemetery)
Elevated at the top of historical Port Jefferson, NY, is Cedar Hill. This sprawling cemetery contains many of the surrounding areas founding families and still acts as an active location for burials when individuals are called to their death. Adorned with fascinating stones and beautiful old, rusted gates, over 270 feet above sea level at its peak, was once used a sheep pasture, hence the name of nearby “Sheep Pasture Road.” And here begins my next exploration, which will be broken up into multiple posts for March. With my father joining me, we started the journey!
Headstone of David Petty (DOB UNK – January 12, 1824)
One of my beloved things is rhymed etching on old stones… “Farewell dear wife my life is past, My love to you till death did last, Then after me no sorrow take, But love my children for my sake.” Yearning for the return of poetic creativity!
Cedar Hill was established in 1859 as a main cemetery for the area, with several of the original trustees buried here. The founding cemetery President was Reuben H. Wilson, who had me at “famous sail maker.” He was a sail making pioneer at Bayles Shipyard, another prominent name in this LI Sound town, the first to make cross-cut paneled sails producing higher speed. His sails were on the schooner yacht “America” which won the America’s Cup in 1851.
Headstone of Reuben Wilson (March 15, 1810 – November 10 1876)
Mary Hulse was the first actual burial upon the inception of Cedar Hill. Sadly, she was only 19 years old at the time of her passing, her husband laid the “companion of <his> youth” here as her stone is inscribed. Charles died only 5 years later.
Headstone of Mary E. Hulse (UNK – May 27, 1859)
Previously, many families utilized private property for burials. Many departed were re-buried here after its development. When you walk the grounds, it is obvious that stones date back prior to Mary’s. If the body was not intact, only a handful of dirt and the stone were planted to mark the memorial, so in actuality, they may not physically be here at Cedar Hill... in entirety.
Headstone of John Roe Jr. (DOB UNK - September 7, 1787)
Ship builders, merchants, doctors, and farm owners make up a large part of the fabric of Port Jefferson. The Mather family may be one of the most famous ship designers and builders of the area. John T., devoted much of his successes from family businesses to benefit the less fortunate. At the end of 1929, John T. Mather Memorial Hospital opened its doors and continues to treat the community to this day.
(Mather/Jones Monument)
The Bayles, another well known family, have several plots here. Originators of famous Bayles Shipyard, they have a multitude of headstones. However, one stood out to me, a beautifully crafted “book” honoring Dr. Havens Bayles, “Would that the leaves of this ledger could open to the description of the beloved physician’s radiant good cheer and noble deeds of unselfish service. Skillful, Steadfast, True.”
Headstone of Havens Brewster Bayles, MD (March 13, 1857 – August 22, 1927)
As an entrepreneur, I have always felt the desire to have a successful business. Faced with uncertainties, it is not always easy. Yet there are those that are exceptionally good investments. Not only in the ground I walked on, but in all associated with it. Being in the business of death may be the ultimate job security, as it is the only thing in life that is guaranteed.
Raynor Family Headstone: Elbert E. Raynor (December 25, 1831 - March 7, 1914)
Raynor came to Port Jefferson at the age of 16. In 1858, before he turned 30, he acquired an undertaking and funeral business. When he died, Orlando B. Davis took sole ownership. While the Davis family no longer owns the business, it still bears his name.
Headstone of Orlando B. Davis (1869 – 1927)
Andrew J. Parker owned a marble works shop at the intersection of Main and Spring Street in the town of Port Jefferson. Tombstone sculpting was part of his business, and it is sure that he has sculpted many here at Cedar Hill.
Headstone of Andrew Parker (February 27, 1815 – January 18, 1899)
A cool story about brothers Gilbert and Arthur Loper, who went into business in 1889 owning and operating a major lumbar yard, which they expanded for milling and a hardware store. They built many homes and churches in the area and in 1906, were contracted to build the newly established area of Belle Terre. If you are not familiar with that area, it was a development of summer homes for the New York City elite… it was pretty fancy… and still is! The seasonal homes averaged $30K back then... that was pricey!
Loper Family Headstone: Gilbert E. (1860 – 1921) & Arthur (July 11, 1866 – May 12, 1943)
If you recall my previous blog post about Almshouse Cemetery in Yaphank, Mr. Swezey was once the keeper there at the facility and later served two terms as County Clerk. He was laid to rest next to his wife Alma, who passed 13 years before him. I anticipate this happening more frequently as I continue these writings and become more invested in the lives of these souls. I am certain I will find more correlations!
Headstone of Holmes W. Swezey (July 22, 1832 – March 8, 1914)
Yesterday is the past, so I cannot equate history to just those who lived a hundred years ago in a time where our existence was not even a thought. As part of my process, I walk graveyards with attempted purpose and organized chaos, but I am always drawn to certain individuals without knowledge, and photograph for thoughtful research later. I want to leave you with Liam’s story.
Memorial site of Liam Edward Kretz Wallace Site (November 22, 1989 – November 11, 2018)
Amongst the monotoned environment of Cedar Hill, I spotted colored candies in the winters withered grass, which is where I found a rock surrounded candle with the picture of Liam. I later learned, he faced his untimely death after a short but tolling battle with cancer. He was a 2012 graduate from St. Johns College, Annapolis and after his realization that an education in medicine was not his desire, he wanted to become actor. He was a theatre student at Stony Brook University until 2016 when his cancer was discovered. Here is the pain filled astonishment and my admiration of his life and realization of death. I discovered a blog Liam created a little over a year after his diagnosis, his last post made about 2 months before cancer took his life. http://liamekwallace.blogspot.com/
I would encourage everyone to read it, quite powerful, feeling something a younger person wrote, their exact experiences in waking moments, when they have already left the physical world. This is an emotional read, and many may question my sanity and inner capacity for becoming completely enthralled into absorbing every entry he made… but there was a reason he wrote it and I am not here to explain it. I am here to share the stories of those gone before us, because they made an impact on the lives of others. Finding Liam today touched my life in an incredible way and in a hundred years, I hope someone writes about him, legit there should be a movie made on his writings.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned to the next parts where I explore more fascinating history here at Cedar Hill including other historic Long Island families, a gruesome double murder that shook the town, and the Joseph of Arimathea Society, of which my parents proudly participate.
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