Sharp Burial Ground
Encyclopedia
The Sharp Burial Ground, also known as the Albany Avenue Cemetery, is located on Albany Avenue (NY 32
) in Kingston
, New York, United States. It is a small burying ground used during the middle decades of the 19th century, before larger rural cemeteries
had become common but after churchyards had become too full for further burials. Later, when they did open, many bodies were removed to consolidate them with larger family plots there. Two former congressmen are still among those buried at Sharp.
It contains some interesting examples of funerary art
from that period, particularly the large monument to its founder, Edward O'Neil. It fell into neglect and disrepair throughout much of the 20th century, but was cleaned and restored by a local historic preservation
group in the 1990s. In 2002 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as part of the Historic and Architectural Resources of Albany Avenue, Kingston, Ulster County, multiple property submission (MPS). It is the only cemetery in Ulster County
listed on the Register in its own right.
, one of the main western entrances to the city. It is a rectangular 1.6 acres (6,475 m²) parcel bounded on the south by a former railroad right-of-way that curves slightly to the southwest. On the north and east its boundaries are the property lines of homes on Albany and Elmendorf streets respectively.
Its neighborhood is residential, with most houses dating to the late 19th century. Four other houses in the neighborhood, those of John Smith
, George J. Smith
and Jacob Ten Broeck
, as well as 184 Albany Avenue
, are listed on the National Register as well.
An iron fence with gate in the middle runs along the sidewalk. It is of modern construction and thus not considered a contributing resource
to the cemetery's historic character. The cemetery plot is level, with a few mature trees and plantings. The gravestones are located in irregular groupings, with no trace of any grid or plan evident. Two large monuments stand out: a tall vase-shaped marker for Edward O'Neil, and an obelisk
for Abraham Hasbrouck
, a former state legislator and U.S. Congressman
.
The Sharp cemetery is typical of a post-settlement era. Churchyards dating to colonial times had begun to fill up, and with the village rapidly growing a rural cemetery
would have set aside too much land. Burying grounds, usually on the outskirts of communities, were large enough and rationally planned to handle the extra graves for the foreseeable future.
Some of the graves exemplify the funerary art
trends of mid-19th century American Protestantism. O'Neil's own grave, from 1856, is in a vase shape with carved laurel wreath
, representing his memory. The willow and urn, representing sadness and the soul of the deceased respectively, are also found on a number of graves from this period.
The last burials took place in the 1870s. By then the larger Montrepose and Wiltwyck rural cemeteries had opened further from what was by then the city, and many families had relatives who had been buried in Sharp moved to family plots in those graveyards. A decade later, Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester wrote in his history of the county that the old Sharp Burial Ground was "very handsome", but appeared to be getting neglected because of all the moved graves.
That decline continued until 1995, when Friends of Historic Kingston (FOHK), a local group devoted to preserving
the city's historic buildings, structures and sites, cleaned it up and restored the surviving stones. At this time the fence and gate were also added. FOHK continues to maintain the cemetery.
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
) in Kingston
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, New York, United States. It is a small burying ground used during the middle decades of the 19th century, before larger rural cemeteries
Rural cemetery
The rural cemetery or garden cemetery is a style of burial ground that uses landscaping in a park-like setting.As early as 1711 the architect Sir Christopher Wren had advocated the creation of burial grounds on the outskirts of town, "inclosed with a strong Brick Wall, and having a walk round, and...
had become common but after churchyards had become too full for further burials. Later, when they did open, many bodies were removed to consolidate them with larger family plots there. Two former congressmen are still among those buried at Sharp.
It contains some interesting examples of funerary art
Funerary art
Funerary art is any work of art forming, or placed in, a repository for the remains of the dead. Tomb is a general term for the repository, while grave goods are objects—other than the primary human remains—which have been placed inside...
from that period, particularly the large monument to its founder, Edward O'Neil. It fell into neglect and disrepair throughout much of the 20th century, but was cleaned and restored by a local historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
group in the 1990s. In 2002 it was listed 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...
as part of the Historic and Architectural Resources of Albany Avenue, Kingston, Ulster County, multiple property submission (MPS). It is the only cemetery in Ulster County
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
listed on the Register in its own right.
Property
The cemetery is located on the east side of Albany where it turns to the northeast just 400 feet (121.9 m) east of its junction with Interstate 587 and NY 28New York State Route 28
New York State Route 28 is a state highway extending for in the shape of a "C" between the Hudson Valley city of Kingston and southern Warren County in the U.S. state of New York. Along the way, it intersects several major routes, including Interstate 88 , U.S. Route 20 , and the...
, one of the main western entrances to the city. It is a rectangular 1.6 acres (6,475 m²) parcel bounded on the south by a former railroad right-of-way that curves slightly to the southwest. On the north and east its boundaries are the property lines of homes on Albany and Elmendorf streets respectively.
Its neighborhood is residential, with most houses dating to the late 19th century. Four other houses in the neighborhood, those of John Smith
John Smith House (Kingston, New York)
The John Smith House is located on Albany Avenue in Kingston, New York, United States. It is a wood frame house in the Italianate architectural style built in the mid-19th century.It has remained relatively intact since then...
, George J. Smith
George J. Smith House
The George J. Smith House is located on Albany Avenue in Kingston, New York, United States. It is a Queen Anne Style frame house built in the 1880s. Its interior has been slightly modified since then....
and Jacob Ten Broeck
Jacob Ten Broeck Stone House
The Jacob Ten Broeck Stone House is located on Albany Avenue in Kingston, New York, United States. It is a stone house built in the early years of the 19th century and modified later on in that century....
, as well as 184 Albany Avenue
House at 184 Albany Avenue
The house at 184 Albany Avenue in Kingston, New York, United States, is a frame building in the Picturesque mode of the Gothic Revival architectural style. It was built around 1860.In 2002 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
, are listed on the National Register as well.
An iron fence with gate in the middle runs along the sidewalk. It is of modern construction and thus not considered a contributing resource
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the cemetery's historic character. The cemetery plot is level, with a few mature trees and plantings. The gravestones are located in irregular groupings, with no trace of any grid or plan evident. Two large monuments stand out: a tall vase-shaped marker for Edward O'Neil, and an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
for Abraham Hasbrouck
Abraham J. Hasbrouck
Abraham Joseph Hasbrouck was a United States Representative from New York.-Biography:...
, a former state legislator and U.S. Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
History
Records and markers suggest that part of the land was in use as a cemetery as early as 1810. Its formal use for that purpose dates to 1832, when Edward O'Neil surveyed it and made a plan for 210 graves. The lots grew larger from the rear to the front, where subdivisions of 330 ft2 had been reserved for the major religious denominations in town.The Sharp cemetery is typical of a post-settlement era. Churchyards dating to colonial times had begun to fill up, and with the village rapidly growing a rural cemetery
Rural cemetery
The rural cemetery or garden cemetery is a style of burial ground that uses landscaping in a park-like setting.As early as 1711 the architect Sir Christopher Wren had advocated the creation of burial grounds on the outskirts of town, "inclosed with a strong Brick Wall, and having a walk round, and...
would have set aside too much land. Burying grounds, usually on the outskirts of communities, were large enough and rationally planned to handle the extra graves for the foreseeable future.
Some of the graves exemplify the funerary art
Funerary art
Funerary art is any work of art forming, or placed in, a repository for the remains of the dead. Tomb is a general term for the repository, while grave goods are objects—other than the primary human remains—which have been placed inside...
trends of mid-19th century American Protestantism. O'Neil's own grave, from 1856, is in a vase shape with carved laurel wreath
Laurel wreath
A laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the bay laurel , an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head...
, representing his memory. The willow and urn, representing sadness and the soul of the deceased respectively, are also found on a number of graves from this period.
The last burials took place in the 1870s. By then the larger Montrepose and Wiltwyck rural cemeteries had opened further from what was by then the city, and many families had relatives who had been buried in Sharp moved to family plots in those graveyards. A decade later, Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester wrote in his history of the county that the old Sharp Burial Ground was "very handsome", but appeared to be getting neglected because of all the moved graves.
That decline continued until 1995, when Friends of Historic Kingston (FOHK), a local group devoted to preserving
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
the city's historic buildings, structures and sites, cleaned it up and restored the surviving stones. At this time the fence and gate were also added. FOHK continues to maintain the cemetery.
Notable interments
- Abraham J. HasbrouckAbraham J. HasbrouckAbraham Joseph Hasbrouck was a United States Representative from New York.-Biography:...
(1773–1845), state assemblymanNew York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
and congressman.
- Jacob H. DeWitt (1784–1867), assemblyman, congressman and a member of the county board of supervisors.
External links
- Sharp Burying Ground, at findagrave