Brookhaven/
South Haven
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Long Island, NY
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Brookhaven-South Haven BLOG: news, events, and commentary
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© 2005-2011 John Deitz
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There are many small family cemeteries in Brookhaven and South Haven Hamlets, as well as a larger still active community cemetery. This Section provides documentation on these cemeteries.
The Hamlets are blessed with these small family burying grounds, established before public community cemeteries became popular. Some these sites have interments which predate the Revolutionary War. These cemeteries help provide a window to our community heritage and help to establish community cohesiveness and a sense of belonging. They provide insight into lives of those who built these now unique hamlets. And they are a valuable educational resource, now and for future generations.
But they are a fragile resource. For them to survive, each generation needs to insure their protection and maintenance.
“Show me your cemeteries, and I will tell you what kind of people you have.”
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
"Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high deeds."
William Gladstone
Historic Cemeteries in Brookhaven and South Haven HamletsThe identification numbers in this table are those used by the Town of Brookhaven Historians Office in the Town of Brookhaven's 1939 Cemetery Survey produced by then Town Historian Osborn Shaw. For the entire Town, there are 144 cemeteries on the list and 28 burying sites on a supplemental list. Except for #21, Oaklawn Cemetery, none of the sites listed below are active burial grounds, and their care and maintenance is the responsibility of the Town of Brookhaven. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cemeteries and Headstones
Related Information
| Cemetery MaintenanceThe maintenance of old abandoned cemeteries in the Town of Brookhaven continues to be an issue with the Town government. While some of these cemeteries receive minimal maintenance from neighbors and and community volunteers, this work is spotty at best and does not assure consistent and sustained preservation. Under New York State Law, Towns are assigned specific duties (see below) for the maintenance of old abandoned cemeteries and burying grounds. In the Town of Brookhaven, these duties have been assigned to the Parks and Recreation Department. In the past the Town has fulfilled these responsibilities to some limited degree. However, there has been little or no Town attention over the last ten years or so. As a result, many of the sites have fallen into serious disrepair (especially those less prominent to the public), and by another generation may be lost forever.
The Fire Place History Club, with the support of many community members, the Brookhaven Village Association, and the Post-Morrow Foundation, did an extensive restoration of the Rose Family Cemetery (#30). They are engaged in the repair and restoration of two other sites -- the Azel Hawkins Cemetery (#81) and the Barteau Cemetery (#29). They have also applied for a grant from the Caithness Community benefit fund. This grant request has received a favorable review by the Caithness Citizens Advisory Committee (November 2008) However, this work will come to naught if continuing sustained maintenance is not performed. Experience has shown that if minimal mowing and scrub brush removal is not done annually, it only takes but a year or so for the site to again become overgrown. Cemetery Maintenance Resources | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Letter sent to Town of Brookhaven officials on October 10, 2008 concerning the maintenance of historic cemeteries |
| Cemeteries Advocates Fact Sheet - This flyer revised November 2008. |
| A summary of Town Duties with respect to Cemeteries under New York State Town Law §291. This flyer revised November 2008. |
| Bibliography of New York State Laws and Regulations as they relate to cemeteries. |
Click on location to go to specific cemetery section
Note: Site B52, Former Rose Cemetery is located on the northeast corner of Beaver Dam Rd. and Library Lane, not the northwest as indicated on the map.
Revised: 29 Sep 2011
