The History of Fountain Hill
The first meeting of the Association was held May 12th, 1851 President Sedley Snow was absent and Henry Wooster President pro tem officiated at the meeting. The meeting was adjourned until June 17th, 1851 for the election of officers. The meeting was again held at Baruck Beckwith’s store.
Forty acres of land was purchased for $1,696.00 from Sedley Snow on December 1, 1851. He had recently purchased the land from Harry Southworth. Part of this area was an old quarry hill. It was bound on the south by Pratt’s Cove and on the west by the “new road,” High Street. The land was then consecrated for the purposes of a cemetery.
Three members of the Board of Directors and Mr. Stone formed a committee to begin planning the different portions of the cemetery and creating the beautiful names of the sections that are still in use today. Further meetings of the Board of Directors were held that year in Sedley Snow’s counting room according to the minutes of the meeting.
It is believed that Mr. George A. Read was part of this committee. He is reported to have had an artistic eye and the fountains installed at the cemetery were similar to the ones he initiated into the landscape at the Pratt, Read Factory.
The first internment in the cemetery was that of Mrs. Mary Towner, who was buried December 14th, 1851, aged 75 years at her death, in the Pilgrim Rock section.
It was in 1868 that the Board of Directors first decided to employ an engineer to survey the grounds and make a map of the whole acreage. B.F. Hathaway of Stamford was chosen and the plans which he drew up for the winding roads, carefully thought-out alignment of plots, terraces, fountains and other landscape features, are still followed by the board of directors. The names of some sections of the cemetery undoubtedly pre-date the map, but others may have been given by B. F. Hathaway himself.
Improvements for
Fountain Hill Cemetery
The Board of Directors of Fountain Hill Cemetery in conjunction with the Fountain Hill Preservation Society, Inc. utilize monetary donations for the upkeep and repair of historical structures and monuments, as well as projects deemed necessary by its board of directors in order to fulfill its mission statement. These projects may include- monument repair/restoration, tree planting and replacement of dead or diseased trees, and restoration of historic structures within cemetery grounds.
The Soldiers’ Memorial
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, Commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order No. 11: “The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but post and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.”
In response to this order the Mather G.A.R. Post No. 25 erected a stone memorial at Fountain Hill Cemetery. Two plaques were attached to the monument. The first reads “God is the Rock, His Work is perfect” and the second reads “The Earth did quake, the Rocks rent.” The New Era newspaper was not established in 1874 so we do not have any info from that source about the construction of the monument. Our first news of this monument comes from the New Era May 1875 as it describes the annual Decoration Day Ceremonies at the Soldiers’ Memorial at Fountain Hill Cemetery.
Unfortunately, we don’t know when the monument was actually placed here. Through further newspaper clippings we know that the Mather G.A.R. post held Decoration Day services here until the turn of the century. This national holiday was not known as Memorial Day until after World War I. The Eagle monument on Main Street was erected in 1923 and used in Memorial Day services.
Board of Directors
Fountain Hill Cemetery Association
Officers
President
Richard Forristall
Treasurer
Jayne Mather
Vice President
David Blifford
Secretary
Mark Lowrey
Board Members
Matthew Elgart
Rhonda Forristall
Steve Gephard
Dean McMorran Jr.
Martin Nadel
Scott Nelson
Beth Shalom
Est. 1953
Beth Shalom
Est. 1953
Members of the Jewish Community Center approached the Fountain Hill Cemetery Association for cemetery space for their congregation.
A portion of the Forest section was deeded to the Jewish Community Center for the interment of those of the Jewish faith. It was then realized that once the 15 foot border was in place that the land then available for graves was not acceptable for grave space. Fill was brought in and raised the level of the land to meet the religious guidelines for burial. Dr. Samuels built the wooden railing and steps leading up to the burial site. The area was named Beth Shalom.
Contact Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek for burial information.