Eastern Cemetery
Encyclopedia
The Eastern Cemetery is an historic cemetery
at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Congress Street
in the East Bayside neighborhood of Portland, Maine
. Located at the base of Munjoy Hill
, the Eastern Cemetery is the oldest major cemetery in Portland. Established in 1668, with the earliest recorded burial in 1718, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973. Originally, only the southeastern half of the present cemetery was utilized, while the other half was used as a public common. In 1820, the second half became part of the cemetery. The cemetery was active until the 1860s. It totals approximately 5.3 acres (21,448.4 m²) in size. The present iron and granite fence along Congress Street was erected in 1852. The granite receiving tomb to the right of the entrance was erected in 1849. Both were rehabilitated in 1986.
It contains over 3,500 known graves and over 200 unknown graves.
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Congress Street
Congress Street (Portland, Maine)
Congress Street is the main street in Portland, Maine. Congress stretches from Portland's southwestern border with South Portland through a number of neighborhoods before ending overlooking the Eastern Promenade on Munjoy Hill...
in the East Bayside neighborhood of Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. Located at the base of Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill
Munjoy Hill is an historically Irish-American neighborhood and prominent geographical feature of Portland, Maine. It is located east of downtown, and south of East Deering, the neighborhood it is connected to by Tukey's Bridge.-Geography:...
, the Eastern Cemetery is the oldest major cemetery in Portland. Established in 1668, with the earliest recorded burial in 1718, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973. Originally, only the southeastern half of the present cemetery was utilized, while the other half was used as a public common. In 1820, the second half became part of the cemetery. The cemetery was active until the 1860s. It totals approximately 5.3 acres (21,448.4 m²) in size. The present iron and granite fence along Congress Street was erected in 1852. The granite receiving tomb to the right of the entrance was erected in 1849. Both were rehabilitated in 1986.
It contains over 3,500 known graves and over 200 unknown graves.
External links
- Spirits Alive Friends of Eastern Cemetery