Western Cemetery (Portland, Maine)
Encyclopedia
The Western Cemetery is an urban cemetery
in Portland, Maine
. At one time Portland's home for the "poor and indigent", the cemetery is named after for its location in Portland's West End neighborhood
and proximity to the Western Promenade
. Founded in the 18th century, the land was acquired by the city in 1829. In 1841, the city expanded the cemetery to its present 12 acres (4.9 ha). The Western Cemetery was Portland's primary cemetery from 1829–1852, when Evergreen Cemetery
was established in Deering Center
. It was an active cemetery until 1910. In October 2003, the cemetery began a restoration and reconstruction project was run by the Stewards of the Western Cemetery and the City of Portland and funded with municipal funds.
which destroyed most of the city. A number of tombs have been opened with no contents found inside; for example the Longfellow tomb, home to the parents of Portland resident Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
, was opened and nothing was found inside, with no record of what happened to those entombed there.
immigrants who fled the Irish Potato Famine and settled in Portland. From 1843 to 1882, 900 people were buried in the section. As of 2003, 57 headstones remained. The section is also known for headstones containing references to Irish counties and is built on what used to be known as Brown's Hill.
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...
in 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...
. At one time Portland's home for the "poor and indigent", the cemetery is named after for its location in Portland's West End neighborhood
West End (Portland, Maine)
The West End is a downtown neighborhood in Portland, Maine. It is located on the western side of Portland's peninsula primarily on Bramhall Hill and is noted for its architecture and history. The neighborhood is home to a large number of historic homes and parks and, in 2010, it was called "one of...
and proximity to the Western Promenade
Western Promenade
The Western Promenade is an historic promenade, public park and recreation area in Portland, Maine's West End neighborhood. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a number of historic properties, including the Adam P. Leighton House. Maine Medical Center is also...
. Founded in the 18th century, the land was acquired by the city in 1829. In 1841, the city expanded the cemetery to its present 12 acres (4.9 ha). The Western Cemetery was Portland's primary cemetery from 1829–1852, when Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery (Portland, Maine)
Evergreen Cemetery is a garden style cemetery in Portland, Maine, United States. With of land, it is the second largest cemetery in the state. It was established in 1855 and became the city's main cemetery after the Western Cemetery. As of March 2011, only of the were used for cemetery-related...
was established in Deering Center
Deering Center, Maine
Deering Center is a neighborhood in the residential area of Portland, Maine, United States.Deering Center runs from Brighton Avenue to Forest Avenue to Catherine McAuley High School near Wayside Street on Ludlow Street.-History:...
. It was an active cemetery until 1910. In October 2003, the cemetery began a restoration and reconstruction project was run by the Stewards of the Western Cemetery and the City of Portland and funded with municipal funds.
Desecrations and disorganization
The Western Cemetery is known for a large number of grave desecrations and general disorganization; for example, from July 1, 1988 to August 1, 1989, an estimated 1,942 tombs were desecrated. Likewise, it is unknown how many burials have taken place in the cemetery, though author William Jordan estimated 6,600. A plan was laid out in 1840, but the document was destroyed in the 1866 Great Fire1866 Great Fire of Portland, Maine
The Great Fire of Portland, Maine occurred on July 4, 1866 — the first Independence Day after the end of the American Civil War. Five years before the Great Chicago Fire, this was the greatest fire yet seen in an American city. It started in a boat house on Commercial Street, likely caused by...
which destroyed most of the city. A number of tombs have been opened with no contents found inside; for example the Longfellow tomb, home to the parents of Portland resident Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
, was opened and nothing was found inside, with no record of what happened to those entombed there.
Old Catholic Ground
The Old Catholic Ground is an area of the cemetery for the primarily Irish CatholicIrish Catholic
Irish Catholic is a term used to describe people who are both Roman Catholic and Irish .Note: the term is not used to describe a variant of Catholicism. More particularly, it is not a separate creed or sect in the sense that "Anglo-Catholic", "Old Catholic", "Eastern Orthodox Catholic" might be...
immigrants who fled the Irish Potato Famine and settled in Portland. From 1843 to 1882, 900 people were buried in the section. As of 2003, 57 headstones remained. The section is also known for headstones containing references to Irish counties and is built on what used to be known as Brown's Hill.
Notable burials
- Elijah KelloggElijah KelloggElijah Kellogg, Jr. was an American Congregationalist minister, lecturer and author of popular boy's adventure books.- Professional life :...
, CongregationalistCongregational churchCongregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister, lecturerPublic lectureA public lecture is one means employed for educating the public in the sciences and medicine. The Royal Institution has a long history of public lectures and demonstrations given by prominent experts in the field...
and author of popular boy's adventure booksChildren's literatureChildren's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. - Stephen LongfellowStephen LongfellowStephen Longfellow was a U.S. Representative from Maine.-Biography:Born in Gorham, Maine to Stephen Longfellow and Patience Young Longfellow , Longfellow graduated from Harvard University in 1798. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1801 and commenced practice in Portland, Maine...
, Congressman from Massachusetts, father of Henry Wadsworth LongfellowHenry Wadsworth LongfellowHenry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline... - Prentiss MellenPrentiss MellenPrentiss Mellen was a Senator from Massachusetts; born in Sterling, Massachusetts to Rev. John and Rebecca Mellen...
, First Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court - Albion Parris, fifth Governor of Maine, Senator from Maine, Mayor of Portland
Further reading
- Burial records, 1811–1980, of the Western Cemetery in Portland, Maine ISBN 1556130600
- The Western Cemetery Project, Ancient Order of Hibernians, South Portland, Maine