Quabbin Park Cemetery Tour

From the time the Native Americans used the area as their summer fishing ground, the Swift River Valley had graves in it. As the earliest white settlers made their homes here, they too were placed in the Valley for their final resting place. As settlements gave way to towns, formal burying grounds were established. By 1930, there were more than twice as many dead people in the area than living. When the Swift River Act was being considered (the legislation which determined that the valley homes and lands were to be taken by the State and that the valley was to be flooded for the great reservoir), the question arose about what to do with all the graves. Since the purpose of the Reservoir was to provide a clean drinking water supply for a large percent of the population of Massachusetts, it would not be acceptable to have buried remains possibly contaminating the water supply. In addition to that, any graves below the 530’ elevation point would be under the water, so it would be impossible for loved ones to return to visit them.

           Grave markers have historically come in a wide variety, from the simplest rock or a wooden cross, to very elaborate, carved monuments. This type of variety is seen at Quabbin Park Cemetery, because the range of cemeteries that these graves came from goes back over 250 years with a mix of paupers, average and wealthy citizens.  Every grave that was moved from the valley was recorded, whether they were claimed/identified or not. The records included descriptions of the original markers, any inscriptions on the markers, the location of each body inside the lot including any possible description of each body (sex and approximate age at death), as well as anything unusual, such as if there were a metal coffin found. Sometimes a grave was found that had a simple cross or rock placed upon it, so it was impossible to determine who was buried there and when. These graves were removed to sections of the Quabbin Park Cemetery that were designated for general town burials. These sections also contain many identified graves, some even of important people such as Robert Field, but there were no living representatives found who could make decisions regarding their movement.  If a grave that was being excavated had been claimed and the grave marker was damaged or illegible, the family representative could decide to have a new marker put in place which, depending on the situation, the State may have paid for, or they could simply use the original one. All of these factors combine to present the variety in grave markers that are found here.

In general, grave markers from the 17th through early 19th century were made of slate. This is a stone that was readily available throughout New England. It is usually found in medium to dark shades of gray, has a smooth, matte finish, and is very easy to carve. This last quality likely accounts for the reason that so many of these markers have extensive designs or inscriptions on them. Most slate markers have a general shape that is rectangular with some curvature at the top. Near the top in the center is where most of the decorations occur. Some of the most common designs and their general symbolism are: Skulls (death), faces (representation of the deceased), winged faces (angels or the deceased becoming an angel), hands (praying or pointing toward heaven, where the deceased has gone), urns (death or mourning) and weeping willow trees (sorrow or mourning). Vines, flowers or scrollwork are sometimes carved on the sides of the inscription as further decoration. The inscriptions often included a line or verse that was a statement on death, life or God and Heaven, in addition to the information about the deceased. Another feature of these older grave markers is that they often came in pairs – a headstone and a footstone, which was placed (logically) at the feet. When these graves were relocated, the footstones were placed back to back with the headstones in order to consolidate and organize the lots better.

               The stone of choice for the majority of the 19th century was marble. Marble is a striking white stone with black veins running through it, and is often highly polished to enhance its beauty. It became more available as transportation and communication between greater distances grew. It is much harder than slate, which makes carving more difficult. As a result there are fewer decorations, if any, and shorter inscriptions found on these markers. Interestingly, although the density of marble is greater than that of slate, its composition (mostly calcium carbonate) makes it much more susceptible to the elements, and many marble gravestones are faded and mottled, darkened or have lichen growing on them, making any inscription very difficult to read.

               The most familiar type of stone used in grave markers is granite, which is the predominant stone used from the late 19th century to today. Granite is extremely hard and durable, is most commonly found in shades of gray, tan and reddish-tan, and will retain a polish even after many decades. Many cemeteries today only allow granite markers to be used. As it is extremely hard, like marble, it was very difficult to inscribe years ago when markers were made by hand. Modern technology however, has made stone work much less difficult, and granite markers today can have as elaborate designs and inscriptions as a person desires.

Please Show Respect

               The Quabbin Park Cemetery is part of the Quabbin Reservation, which is overseen by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Water Supply Protection, Quabbin and Ware Region. As such, it falls under the same Rules and Regulations as the rest of the Reservation. 

               More importantly, Quabbin Park Cemetery is a sanctuary for the remains and memories of the people of the Swift River Valley. Whether their names are remembered or not, these people lived, loved, worked and died in the Valley. They had families, ran businesses and created communities in places that, today, no longer exist. They were uprooted from what were supposed to be their final resting places, to be brought here. This is now their final resting place.  Keep this in mind as you tour these beautiful grounds. Many of the grave markers are old and extremely fragile. Please be aware that grave rubbings are strictly prohibited, except with special, written permission from the Quabbin Regional Director.

               Until 1938, the four (soon-to-be) dis-incorporated towns held their own Memorial Day services. After that, public services have been held here, on the Sunday before Memorial Day, to honor our veterans and those who have died for our country. Every veteran as far back as the Revolutionary War who is buried here has a marker and receives a flag. This service also recognizes the four towns that were dis-incorporated – Dana, Prescott, Enfield and Greenwich – and those residents who lost so much in order that the Quabbin Reservoir might exist. 

The sacrifices of the roughly 2,500 people of the Swift River Valley enabled the creation of one of the most pristine sources of drinking water in the entire country, from which 3 million people in Massachusetts benefit. It enabled the creation of the largest tract of undeveloped land in southern New England, and the creation of a vast area of protected open space that magnificent creatures like the Bald Eagle now call home. It is only fitting that those sacrifices be honored – it is the least they deserve for giving us so much.

The tour begins at the entrance-way to Quabbin Park Cemetery on Route 9, Ware, MA. The pillars were built using stones from the foundations of each of the churches in the valley. There is a bronze plaque on each pillar. The one on the east side commemorates the establishment of the cemetery in 1932 and lists the names of important people involved in the project. The one on the west side lists the names of the cemeteries in the valley that were affected. The receiving vault is on the west side of a winding, wooded road that crosses over Blair Brook, and was also built using stones from the valley.  At the top of the hill the road splits; this junction is the first stop. (All of the black & white cemetery photos are from the DCR Archives & are original from the project).

The interactive app is intended primarily for location purposes. Please jump back and forth between this page and the interactive app for detailed information about each stop. The interactive app does not contain detailed historical information about any of the tour sites.

The map allows you to see where each tour stop is located and get some basic information about that stop, and to view an overview image of each tour stop which can help you orient yourself.

You can interact with the map by:

• Click on the i button to view information on using the app.
• Click on a point to view its information and photo.
• Zoom In or Out with the +/- buttons (or use your mouse wheel).
• Click the Home button to return to the default map extent.
• Click the Extend button to make the map full screen.
• Click the Collapse button to collapse the map navigation tools.

Click the arrows (< or >) above the map to scroll forwards or backwards through the tour stops. The tour is ordered by tour stop number.

Field Maps is a free mobile app that allows you to view a map and see your current location in relation to the tour points shown in the map. This is great for navigation. See the instructions below for downloading and using Field Maps on your mobile device.

1. Download the application using one of the links above.
2. Launch the app and select bottom "Skip Sign In" option near the center of your screen.
3. Search for "Quabbin Park Cemetery Tour Map" and click to view it.
4. Click Allow when asked to "Allow Field Maps to access your location while you are using the app?"
5. Click the location arrow to see where you are - your location will appear as a blue dot in the center of the screen.
6. Zoom in/out by "pinching" the screen with your fingers. Tap the maroon tour points for more information; toggle between "Details" and "Attached" to view details and images of the selected location.

Throughout the tour you will see reference to the grave lots written as "L-" followed by a number. The first number applies to the Section (the larger black numbers on the map), the second number applies to the individual plot/s (the smaller numbers inside the boxes). Example: Tour stop number 2 (in red) is L-747, 748, meaning Section 7, individual plots numbered 47 & 48.

1.   Memorial Area - All of the monuments and memorial stones in this section were taken from Enfield, Dana, Greenwich and Prescott. The Civil War Soldier Monument was originally located on the Enfield Common, near the Enfield Congregational Church. The Cannon on the right as you face the soldier, and the Cannon Balls came from the Enfield Common as well. The Cannon on the left came from the town common of Dana, as did the memorial to all veterans from the Revolution through WWI, and the memorial to Hosea Ballou, who is generally credited with being a pioneer of the Universalist faith and lived for a time in Dana.  There is a memorial stone dedicated to the town of Greenwich. When the cemetery was originally established, there was no Greenwich monument. In 1999, former residents from Greenwich contributed funds to create a memorial using this stone, which was relocated from a site in Greenwich, from a place that was above the water line. Lastly, the obelisk is a monument to Gen. George Washington. It was erected by John Atkinson, of Prescott, who was a Revolutionary War veteran and one of Washington’s personal Guard.   It was originally in Town House Cemetery in Prescott. 

In this area there also used to be a large maple tree which was taken from the Walker Family farm in Hardwick. It is dedicated to Stephen Hillman Walker who was the only man from Greenwich to die in World War I. One of the people involved in the transplant and dedication of the tree was a remarkable man himself, Cyprian Uracius. Cyprian Uracius was a native of either Russia or Lithuania (depending on the source), who immigrated to the United States and became one of the most active and beloved citizens of Greenwich. In the 35 years he lived there, he held multiple town offices (as many as 12 simultaneously) such as selectman, assessor, constable, board of health member, cemetery commissioner, welfare agent, registrar of voters and dog officer.  He was present during all the last town meetings and was one of the last Greenwich residents to move. He was so highly regarded as a member of this community that, after he sold his home to the State and moved to Ware in 1938, his new community was proud to appoint him as a Special Police Officer. He remained in Ware until his death over 40 years later. The tree he took part in planting was badly damaged in a storm in 2007 and, unfortunately, had to be removed for safety reasons.

The sections immediately behind this are reserved for former employees of the MDWSC /MDC/DCR, the only people other than former residents and their descendants allowed to be buried here. Karl R. Kennison was one such person. Kennison was a leading engineer on the project, who became Chief Engineer after the death of Frank E. Winsor in 1939, then went on to run the water system in New York; he also authored several works on engineering and wrote the alma mater for Colby College (he was in the class of 1906). Also buried here is Martin Cosgrove, for whom the Cosgrove Aqueduct (which connects the Wachusett Reservoir to Marlboro) is named.

2.   Rev. Robert Cutler, Greenwich – Robert Cutler was the second minister in Greenwich and was probably the only college graduate in town at that time. His headstone is one of the more unusual monuments, due to its height and the curved arch across the top. 18th century headstones were made of slate, which was very easy to carve, and so many of the most beautiful and interesting headstones are of this older type. They often contain images, designs and long inscriptions. A common feature was to try to make a likeness of the deceased, as is seen here. The stone of his wife, buried next to him, has one of those long inscriptions on it: “Here lies buried the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Cutler, wife of the Rev. Mr. Robert Cutler of Greenwich, who suddenly departed this life in a apoplectic fit Sept. ye 2nd 1774. Greatly lamented not only by her surviving partner and family, but by all acquainted with her, aged 43 years 3 mos. & 17 days, and at her left hand lays buried 4 of her children. Death cuts off all, both great and small.” L-747, 748

3.   James Madison Stone, Dana & Greenwich Plains - James Madison Stone served 4 years in the Civil War, where he was injured in the leg. During his recovery, he wrote a popular book entitled “Personal Recollections of the Civil War”. After the war he studied art in New York and in Munich, Germany and became a well-known artist and portrait painter. He had a studio in Boston where he ran a school and later headed the Art Dept. of Cambridge before moving to Worcester to supervise art instruction there. In 1903 he opened a studio in Paris but, sadly for an artist, his eyesight began to fail, causing him to return to Greenwich in 1907 where he spent his summers with his sister. Stone was always an avid patriot, and reportedly planted a tree on his property in memory of Stephen H. Walker. It is unclear if this is the same tree that was replanted in the Memorial Area referenced above, but since one account says a tree was planted on the Stone property and others say a tree was taken from the Walker property, it seems possible that there were, in fact, two trees dedicated to this particular soldier.  L-842

4.   Unknown and Unclaimed Graves - As you go through the cemetery you may notice many very old gravestones on the outer sections. These sections are the general town sections, where the graves of people whose grave markers were informal (such as a simple rock) or illegible, or who had no living representative to be contacted to make a decision as to where they went, were re-interred. The southern part of the Cemetery has the graves from Enfield, Greenwich and Dana; the northern part has graves from Prescott, New Salem, Packardsville and Petersham. Some of the people buried in these sections are very well-known with well marked headstones, such as Robert Field. Others may be people known to have been buried in the Valley, but without discernible grave markers, so unless a living person could say with absolute certainty who was buried in the plot, these graves have been left unknown. One such person who was likely buried in this way was Rufus Powers of Prescott. He is supposed to have once walked from Boston to Prescott in only two days, making it all the way to Barre on day one. Always known as a strong and vigorous man, the story says that for the rest of his life he claimed he was not the least bit fatigued by the journey, and regretted that he did not just keep going and make the entire trip in one day. He was also a manufacturer and an inventor, reportedly being the first man in the U.S. to make iron horseshoes in a mill, and in 1866 patented a “fire alarm” that seems to have worked quite well but, for some reason, was never followed through with. It seems his bodily remains were not followed through with either, as his final resting place was not recorded.

5.   Rev. Edward P. Blodgett, Greenwich – Edward P. Blodgett came to Greenwich immediately following his ordination from Andover Seminary in 1843 and remained Pastor of the Greenwich Congregational Church for 51 years. During the more than half a century of his pastorate, he officiated at 631 burials, 300 Communions, received 174 Confessions of Faith and performed 213 marriages. This integral member of the community of Greenwich retired as pastor-emeritus in 1894 and died one year later. L-982

6.   Walker Family, Greenwich – The Walker Family was very prominent in town business, politics and civic affairs. William H. Walker, one of Greenwich’s better known citizens, was active in the grain and lumber business, was an appraiser for the Metropolitan District Water Supply Commission, a member of the school committee, chairman of the Republican Town Committee and one of the first trustees of the public library. This active citizen was declared “President for the Day” at Greenwich’s 150th anniversary celebration.  In William’s later years he wrote “Ez”, a compilation of stories from the valley that he had often told to his grandson, Donald. William and his sister Fanny were among the founders of library. Fanny taught school and worked in the library at no charge to the town. His son Stephen was the only Greenwich fatality during WWI, having died at Camp Devens of influenza in 1918. Stephen’s sacrifice to his country was remembered in a monumental billboard on Main Street, Greenwich Village and by the tree(s) referenced above. L-953, 955

7.   Nehemiah H. Doubleday, North Dana – A small area between Dana and North Dana was called Doubleday Village. This was because it was originally settled by the Doubleday family, who occupied 5 out of the 6 homes in the community. Nehemiah H. Doubleday owned a sawmill in the area in addition to his home. His son, Rollin, was very active in the Universalist church and the Garfield Grange, and was also a selectman and prominent in town affairs. Rollin’s son, Myron (known as “Bun”) ran a general store in North Dana until he sold it to the state in 1929. “Bun” also worked as an engineer for the MDWSC and was very active with the Swift River Valley Historical Society (a  volunteer organization  that houses and maintains artifacts, memorabilia, photographs and other documents from the Valley). Nehemiah was originally buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, where, supposedly, children would use this monument as a dollhouse. L-923      

8.    J. Frederick Zappey, Smith’s Village and Greenwich – J. Frederick Zappey served as headmaster of the Hillside School in Greenwich for 10 years. During this time he was very active in the town affairs of both Greenwich and Enfield, the latter for which he was the tax collector and chairman of assessors. He also worked as an appraiser for the MDWSC. His wife, Marion Thayer, was a music instructor at the School, and a skilled linen weaver. She was a member and former president of the Quabbin Club, the long running women’s social organization of Enfield, which was very active in the civic affairs of the town, and she was present at the Club’s last meeting on April 12, 1938.  L-1385

9.   Jesse Fobes and Henry Fobes, Enfield – Jesse Fobes was a selectman at the first town meeting of Enfield on March 4, 1816.  He was a farmer who was also very active in town and county affairs. His son, Henry, continued his father’s legacy of involvement in the community, becoming a deacon of the Enfield Congregational Church for many years, and also one of its largest benefactors. The family home on what is now called “Webster Road” was later bought by the Martindale family, who continued it on as a farm and incorporated it in 1917. Although official ownership of the property changed hands several times, members of the Martindale family continued to reside there. The last residents were two elderly sisters, Martha Martindale Vining and Mary Martindale. They lived in the home when it was sold to the State, but since the home itself was not in the way of any construction and lay off the Quabbin Watershed, the women were allowed to live out the remainder of their lives there. L-1150, 1151

10.   George Gamwell, Greenwich – This monument is unusual because George Gamwell made it himself out of concrete. He was a mechanic, inventor and made and repaired clocks. His daughter, Ina, married Burt Brooks who was a locally famous artist and photographer. Many homes in the valley had paintings by Brooks, a few of which have survived and are in the collection of the Swift River Valley Historical Society. A contemporary newspaper article suggests that the Gamwell home was also the home that Dr. Mary Walker would reside in when she came to spend summers in Greenwich (her primary home was in New York). Dr. Walker was related to the prominent Greenwich Walker’s, but she was not looked upon as highly – in spite of her great achievements. She was the only woman surgeon in the Civil War, was a Confederate prisoner for a time, and was given the Congressional Medal of Honor, but she was extraordinarily outspoken on her beliefs about women’s rights and abolition, and refused to wear women’s clothing, considering them barbarous and unhealthy, and opted for modified men’s dress instead.  This was considered shameful and inappropriate in her time, and she was looked upon with scorn and disdain by many. She died in 1919, 1 year before women achieved the right to vote.  L-1139 

11.   Kingsley Underwood, Enfield – The first school Kingsley Underwood attended was 2 ½ miles away and he had to travel by snowshoe in winter, so he only went there a few days.  When he was 13, his mother remarried and left him pretty much by himself. At that point, a neighbor named Squire Fox took pity on him, and sent him to school for 6 months – the full extent of his schooling.  But Kingsley did not give up. He was an avid reader and self learner; he read the bible through multiple times, learned poetry (which, when he read aloud, eased his normal stutter) and taught himself how to be a blacksmith so that he could make a living. Though a blacksmith by trade, he was credited with being a scholar and a writer, as well as an active Abolitionist, who for many years cast the lone anti-slavery ballot in Enfield. His grandson, Francis H. Underwood, was a well known local author who wrote the book “Quabbin; The Story of a New England Town”. L-1302, 1303     

13.   Daniel Parker, Greenwich Village – Daniel Parker was in the grain business for many years, but he is better known for a clock he owned. It was a full-size, inlaid mahogany Grandfather clock, which was so exquisite it inspired a famous song. “Grandfather’s Clock” was written and composed by Henry C. Work, Daniel Parkers’ son-in-law. Work was well known for songs he wrote during the Civil War, such as “Marching Through Georgia”, but it was the one inspired by a family heirloom that brought him the most fame and was popular long after he died.  According to the song, the clock was bought on the morning Daniel Parker was born (in 1799) “and was always his treasure and pride”.  It reportedly kept perfectly accurate time, due to the quality of its workmanship, although the name of the actual clockmaker has been lost. The song achieved it’s greatest period of popularity during the 1950’s and 60’s, inspired the 1963 Twilight Zone episode “Ninety Years Without Slumbering” and has been recorded (all or in part) by several artists, including Johnny Cash. The clock has remained with the Parker family to this day, where it still retains a place of honor in their home.  L-348, 349

14.   Flagg Family, Dana – Flagg was a common name in Dana in the 18th & 19th century, but this family group has the most notable grave marker. The monument itself is beautiful, and the photograph of it included in this tour, (showing its original location in Dana Center Cemetery) also shows the back side of the Dana Town Hall (left) and the school (right). L-345

16. Asa Snow, Petersham -  The stories about Asa Snow are both fascinating and highly speculative. He is rumored to have been a vegetarian, whose favorite food was popcorn, giving him the nickname “Popcorn” Snow, and inciting a story that his coffin was lined with popcorn; a more plausible explanation is that he was simply a popcorn peddler. His first wife, Isabelle, committed suicide in 1844 by hanging herself in their barn and their daughter, Minerva, died 1 year later. He remarried and had 2 children with his second wife, Eunice. Sometime before his death, he had made arrangements to have his first wife and daughter exhumed and reburied in a tomb in a nearby cemetery. His remains were placed there when he died, almost 30 years later. It is said that he was terrified of death, and that he had a metal coffin made for himself which had a glass plate through which his face could be seen. Supposedly, he made arrangements with his undertaker to visit his coffin daily for 7 days to check and see if he was in fact dead, but after the third day there was a terrible snowstorm (it was late November) and the undertaker was unable to make it to the tomb. Eunice is said to have told the man not to worry, because if her husband were not dead when he went into the tomb, he was certainly frozen to death by now!  Asa Snow’s grandchildren were contacted for the opening of the tomb and the removal of the family graves. No mention is made of anything unusual regarding the burials, the coffins or the bodies whatsoever, and the family was all re-interred in one lot with a brand new granite headstone. L-331

(** There is a side trip off the path of the tour route. If you would like to take this, scroll to sidecar at the end of the page for information. The side trip is listed as stop no. 28 on the interactive map.)

17. Charles J. Abbott, Prescott - Charles J. Abbott lived in Prescott his whole life, and his self-built home was considered one of the finest in town. He was prominent in civic affairs, composed music and was a newspaper correspondent. He was avidly opposed to the idea of the Swift River Valley project, as soon as it started being discussed, and wrote an article speaking out against it to The Athol Transcript. Even though the final decision to take the valley would not be made for another 6 years, it is believed that worry over the eventual loss of his home lead to his death in June of 1921, a mere 2 months after the article was written. L-1740

18. Robert Field, Enfield – A founding father and the namesake of the town of Enfield, Robert Field was a Revolutionary War veteran who served under Capt. Joseph Hooker’s Minute Men (also from Greenwich/Enfield), a justice of the peace, selectman, town representative, merchant, manufacturer and leader of the community. He died in 1815, one year before the part of Greenwich he lived in became incorporated on it’s own as the town of Enfield. His home, which was built in 1776, was one of the first taverns in town. It had eight rooms and three fireplaces. The front rooms of the house had hinged walls that could be moved back to make a ballroom. This was one of the lucky homes in the valley that was saved. It was purchased in 1930, painstakingly disassembled then put back together in Dorset Vermont. L-1757

19. Johnson Family, Dana – Nathaniel L. Johnson was one of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of Dana. Throughout his life Nathaniel held various positions including teacher, palm-leaf hat manufacture, postmaster, director and president of the First National Bank of Barre (and was also involved with two other banks) and trial justice. His only surviving son, John H. Johnson, practiced law in Worcester for many years and was one of the founders of the Worcester Evening Post, but eventually returned to Dana, where, like his father, he became very active in civic affairs. The family home in Dana Center was right next to the common; the foundation of the home is one of the few visible cellar holes visitors can see on a trip to Dana Common from Gate 40. John’s only surviving child, a daughter named Marion, sold the property to the state in 1930. L-504, 505

20. Smith Family, Enfield – The Smith Family was so prominent and influential in Enfield that the northern section of the town was named “Smith’s Village”.  In 1852, three Smith Brothers, David, Alvin and Edward, formed the Swift River Company which was successful in the manufacture of cloth – originally satinets and cotton and eventually, wool and wool/silk. Several of their children were associated with the Smith American Organ Company of Boston.  The family became even wealthier from this endeavor. Henry, a son of David, had become familiar with Spiritualism (the belief that spirits of the dead can be contacted through mediums) during his time in Boston. He returned to Enfield and promoted his beliefs, to the extent that he established and built his own beautiful church in Greenwich, which was active for over a decade. Henry had a somewhat eccentric personality, and others did not always agree with his beliefs and ideas. Over the years there was much discord within the church, which escalated to the breaking point in 1901, causing him to tear the church down and use the lumber to build a private chapel for his family at his new Enfield mansion, “The Spruces”.

Marion A. Smith was the granddaughter of Edward. She was a deeply involved member of the community, becoming one of the first women to serve as a trustee of the Congregational Church and as a member of the Enfield School Board, and was also the first president of the Quabbin Club, one of the most prominent organizations in Enfield. It was a woman’s social organization, founded in 1897. The Club was a member of the state and national federation of women’s clubs. It was the town’s center of culture and formal social events. Speakers of wide renown were heard at the Enfield gatherings, and the Club maintained a vigilant eye on the town’s civic affairs. She was closely affiliated with Mary Lane Hospital in Ware, where she was president and director of the hospital association. Her family’s considerable wealth allowed her to be a generous donor to the hospital, as well as to African-American colleges and churches in the south. She attended the last town meeting in Enfield, and was one of the last people to leave, refusing to sell her magnificent family home until the very end. When ultimately forced out, she had another home built in Ware, where she was warmly welcomed by the community and lived there until her death in 1944 at the age of 82. She was buried in Springfield Cemetery, alongside her parents. L-524

21. Rev. Joshua Crosby, Enfield – Joshua Crosby was the first pastor of the South Parrish Church of Greenwich, beginning his tenure in 1789. This part of Greenwich would later become Enfield, and the church became the Enfield Congregational Church. He remained pastor until his death in 1838. He was widely considered to be a pillar of the community, as well as a pillar in general – he was reportedly very tall and strong and had been a blacksmith and a wrestler before he took the cloth. He is written about extensively in the 1893 book “Quabbin: The Story of a Small Town with Outlooks on Puritan Life”, written by Francis Underwood of Enfield (see above). In addition to the extensive service he provided to his home community, he was also one of the first trustees and briefly president of Amherst College, and the house he lived in (from Enfield) now stands on the grounds there as a faculty residence (see photo below).  The last owner of this home was Simon Ferenz, whose son William was an MDC Employee who worked here in the Cemetery for many years and is buried in a family plot in the northern section. L-145, 146

22. Laban Marcy, Greenwich Village – Laban Marcy was the first lawyer in Greenwich, opening his practice in 1812. His son, Randolph Barnes Marcy, was a life-long soldier, who began his service in the Mexican War (after which he spent many years exploring the western frontier and chronicling his expeditions), then served through the Civil War and beyond. He was chief-of-staff to his son-in-law, General George B. McClellan, who was the first Major General of the Army of the Potomac, a position later held by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker, whose grandfather was among the first settlers of Enfield. L-272, 273

23. John Atkinson, Atkinson Hollow – Atkinson Hollow was midway between Prescott and North Prescott. John Atkinson was a Revolutionary War veteran who fought directly under Gen. George Washington. Atkinson so admired and respected his Commander-In-Chief that, in his later years, he erected the Pinnacle Monument (in honor of Washington) which now stands in the memorial section of this cemetery. Atkinson also owned and operated one of the first taverns in Prescott. This fine building was sold to the state in 1927, then sold and moved to the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield where it was added to and renamed the Storrowtown Tavern. Today visitors from all over can stop in and see this reminder of a town that is no more. L-156

24.  Harvey W. Root, Greenwich – Harvey W. Root was an author of circus books such as “The Unknown Barnum”, “The Boy’s Life of Barnum” and “Tommy with the Big Tents”, as well as a biography of George Conklin, Lion Tamer. In this 1921 biography titled "The Ways Of The Circus: Being The Memories And Adventures Of George Conklin, Tamer of Lions," Root's main subject, George, claims his brother Pete Conklin came up with pink lemonade in 1857 while selling lemonade at the circus. Conklin ran out of water and thinking on the fly, grabbed a tub of dirty water in which a performer had just finished wringing out her pink-colored tights. In true circus form, Conklin didn't miss a beat. He marketed the drink as his new 'strawberry lemonade,' and a star was born. “From then on sales doubled,” writes Root, “...[and] no first class circus was without pink lemonade.”

He was also supposedly a close friend of Harry Houdini and helped write his biography. His grandfather was Jabez B. Root of Greenwich Village, who owned a building moving company. L-132

25.  Daniel B. Gillett, Enfield – Daniel B. Gillett was a prominent citizen of Enfield, being associated with two manufacturing companies and a lumber mill, was a grist mill operator, postmaster, county commissioner and held many town offices. He owned a remarkable, stately, pillored home which was sold during the creation of the Quabbin, disassembled, board by board, stored in a barn in Dorset, Vermont for many years, and then rebuilt on Staten Island, New York. L-47

26.  This building was constructed in 1940-41 to be an Administration Building for the cemetery and to house all the records for re-internments and new (original) internments plus all the photographs, and to be a station for the grounds crew who maintain the property. In the late 1990’s, the records and the crew were moved to the Administration Building in Belchertown. This building sits where the home of Evelyn Parker was. The property for the Quabbin Park Cemetery was sold by John & Anna Parker, Evelyn Parker, Harry & Elizabeth Wesson, Stillman & Evelyn Smith and Catherine Hanafin in 1930. John & Anna Parker owned much of the land on the other side of Monson Turnpike Road, as well as the land that the East Entrance to Quabbin Park is located on. The Wesson’s also owned land further down Monson Turnpike Road where the trailer park now sits. 

27.  In 1988, as part of the Year of Commemoration events, the Friends of Quabbin, a non-profit organization closely affiliated with the DCR, buried a time capsule here, which is to be opened in 2038, on the 100th anniversary of the disincorporation of the four towns.