Queen's Amazing Sites...R.I.P.?

Driving all around Queens County filling our assignments, we are in awe of the huge graveyards in this part of the city. Memorial Day seemed the perfect time to take a few pictures and reflect on all the masses buried in our borough of Queens. It's fair to say cemeteries absolutely go on and on for what seems like forever! We have been curious about why there are so many and learned that the Manhattan Graveyard Situation effects Queens County. In 1823 it forbade all burials in a grave or vault south of Canal, Sullivan and Grand Streets. In 1851 the situation forbade interments south of 86th Street and prohibited the creation of new cemeteries.

Also, the Rural Cemetery Act contributed greatly to how many individuals are buried in Queens. By mid-century the natural growth of population, increasing immigration from Ireland and Central Europe, and a shortage of open land in Manhattan and Brooklyn forced consideration of a change. The new legislation commercialized death for the first time by authorizing corporations to buy land, open cemeteries and sell plots for money to private individuals. Within the next five years cemetery corporations began to buy up farms in Queens County and lay out large cemeteries: Calvary (1846), Evergreens (1848), Cypress Hills (1852), Mount Olivet (1852), St. Michael's (1852) and Lutheran (1852).

One of the oldest graveyards in Queens, is Prospect Cemetary in Jamaica. This headstone reads, "Here lyes interr'd the body of Anne Carle, who departed thislifeJuly 21st, 1751, aetatis suage (aged) 21."

There are many different kinds of cemeteries in the New York area. They include the church yard cemetery, where members of a church are buried on the church grounds. There are also church owned cemeteries. They are located in another section of the community, but they are owned and operated by the church. Government owned cemeteries include pauper and military cemeteries. There are many privately owned cemeteries that are owned by corporations and are operated as a business. There are many family owned cemeteries, usually a small area of family owned land where a section is set apart for burial of family members.

We have not had time for family history work here, but we have surely had lots of interest in how many millions of people are living her and "resting in peace." We have honestly not felt too much peace during our time here, and will someday take the time to really explore and learn more about the history that is above and below this awesome city.