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This site was created on 15 October 2008.
I created this site as a way to share my fascination with some of our local cemeteries. They abound with history, art, nature, and beauty. Each cemetery's page has photos of the cemetery, pictures and inscriptions of artistically or historically noteworthy monuments, and anecdotes of any famous interments or legends associated with the cemetery.
I welcome all comments, but first, a disclaimer: I meant no disrespect in taking and posting these photos. They are all originals and were obtained ethically and with the utmost reverence. All photos copyright by the author, 2008-2024. Not to be used or reproduced without permission. If there is a particular photo you are interested in, please contact me. All photos were taken with a digital camera, unless otherwise specified.
This site is best viewed on a larger screen. Apologies for any glitches that may occur if you're accessing it via mobile phone.
Endymion's was last updated on 17 November 2024. The latest changes:
Oscar Leander Johannson Palmquist
"Survivor of R.M.S. Titanic"
17 November 2024 - Discovered more to the story of Titanic survivor and later, murder victim, Oscar Leander Johansson Palmquist. Visit Mountain Grove Cemetery's page (Bridgeport) for the tragic, yet fascinating, story.
Letter from Lorraine Warren
7 November 2024 - While exploring Union Cemetery in Easton back in 2009 (the country's most haunted cemetery, according to paranormal experts Ed & Lorraine Warren), a curious bright light appeared in one of my photos. When enlarged (and flipped upside down), the light resembles a man's angry face with an old-fashioned collar. I sent the original photo, and the image enlarged and flipped, to Lorraine Warren (in 2009 or 2010). She responded with a hand-written note, requesting me to call her to discuss the image. During the ensuing phone call, she declared the photo as "proof of life after death". Whether you believe or not, it's still a damn good story. Mrs. Warren's letter, above, and the photos are on Union's page, towards the bottom.
East Village Cemetery
6 November 2024 - I took a long wander in East Village Cemetery in Monroe, uploading additional photos to its page and revising the cemetery's informational narrative. The older stones (prior to the mid-1800s), like in other local cemeteries, are deteriorating rapidly. I found a few older stones that were still legible, and I broadened the story of William Tucker and his (acquitted) killer, Foster Marsh Cargill, both buried in East Village.
Ed & Lorraine Warren, Stepney/Birdsey's Plain Cemetery
26 October 2024 - I revisited Stepney Cemetery (Birdsey's Plain Cemetery) in Monroe and dropped in on the Warrens. I added several new photos to the page (of the Warrens' monument and others) and revised the narrative preceding the photos. For more information on paranormal experts, Ed & Lorraine Warren, visit Stepney's page.
Nichols Village Cemetery
19 October 2024 - I completely revised the page for Nichols Village Cemetery (Nichols Farm Burial Ground, 1850). A couple photos remain from my previous visit in 2010, but most of the photos on the page are new, having been taken during my extended visit to the cemetery yesterday. There are a few unusual monuments, and Nichols Village is the final resting place of (murder victim) James Walker Beardsley, who created Bridgeport's Beardsley Park; Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Chieftain, George Sherman; and Olympic gold medalist, Wayne Richard Moore. Their stories accompany the photos of their memorials.
The towns (and cemeteries) are arranged alphabetically, from Bethel to Westport.
- ARTICLES
- Bethel
- Bridgeport
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Mountain Grove Cemetery - you'll find many famous and/or notable personages, including P.T. Barnum, Tom Thumb, country music pioneer Vernon Dalhart, lyricist Fanny Crosby, Titanic survivor (and murder victim) Oscar Johansson Palmquist, and Major League baseball player Neal Ball. Mountain Grove also boasts some of the most astounding monuments in Fairfield County. This amazing cemetery has three pages dedicated to it.
- Derby
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Old Derby Uptown Burying Ground (Colonial Cemetery) - supposedly the oldest public cemetery in the country. The oldest surviving stone dates from 1687 and there are numerous legible stones from the early 1700s.
- Easton
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Aspetuck and Center Street Cemeteries
Den Cemetery - Easton's first integrated cemetery, dating from the 1820s. Small burial ground on private property, accessible only by permit (which is available to restricted personnel).
Mountain Grove Cemetery (formerly Maple Grove Memorial Park)
Union Cemetery - according to paranormal experts Ed & Lorraine Warren, "the most haunted cemetery in the country." This cemetery is a frequent stop for the notorious "White Lady." Included on the page are some intriguing photos taken at night. Union Cemetery is also the final resting place of Blues-guitar legend, Johnny Winter.
- Fairfield
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Greenfield Hill Burial Ground - contains more Revolutionary War veterans than any other cemetery in the country. It is also the resting place of veterans of the French and Indian War, Civil War and War of 1812.
Oak Lawn Cemetery and Arboretum - final resting place of multiple award-winning actor, Jason Robards, and television icon, Mary Tyler Moore.
- Hamden
- Milford
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Milford Cemetery - still has several legible tombstones from the late 1600s and many from the early 1700s.
- Monroe
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Birdsey's Plain/Stepney Cemetery - boasts the final resting place of paranormal experts, Ed and Lorraine Warren.
- Newtown
- Oxford
- Redding
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Great Pasture Road Cemetery (Old Congregational Church Cemetery; Old Redding Cemetery)
Hopewell Burying Ground (Ferry Cemetery)
Lonetown Cemetery (Isaac Hamilton Cemetery)
Umpawaug Cemetery - final resting place of Mary Travers, of '60s folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary ("Puff the Magic Dragon") and Jazz legend, Dave Brubeck. Also home to some rather unusual monuments for artists, authors and others.
- Seymour
- Shelton
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Riverside Cemetery - features the impressive memorial of Colonel Watson J. Miller, a 32nd-degree Mason. (Thirty-three is the highest level attainable within the Masons.) Includes a statue of the colonel, mausoleum, and stairs flanked by two sphinxes.
- Stratford
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St. John the Baptist, Russian Orthodox Cemetery - resting place of aviation pioneer, Igor Sikorsky, and Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductee, Eddie Sulik.
- Trumbull
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Brinsmade Cemetery (Trumbull Burial Ground 1876 )
Gregory Four Corners Burial Ground - where the Monroe "witch," Hannah Cranna Hovey, is interred. Page includes some interesting photos taken Halloween night (2010).
Nichols Farms Burial Ground Ye Old West Yard 1806
Nichols Village Cemetery (Nichols Farm Burial Ground, 1850)
Riverside Cemetery - where Nero Hawley, a slave freed in recognition of his service in the Revolution, is buried. Hawley's burial site is a stop on Connecticut's "Freedom Trail."
- Weston
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Coley Cemetery (Norfield Cemetery)
- Westport
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Assumption Cemetery Old (Old Catholic Cemetery)
Christ and Holy Trinity Church Cemetery
Memorial Garden at the Unitarian Church of Westport - a unique layout hosts the resting place of actress Brett Somers, most popularly known for being a regular panelist on the 1970's game show, Match Game.
Old Burial Ground (Kings Highway Cemetery)
Willowbrook Cemetery - burial place of some of Fairfield County's rich and elite. View lavish mausoleums (including that of Walter Langer "Baron" von Langendorff) and some very unusual monuments.
