Meredith Historical Society will host a self-guided tour of Meredith Square Cemetery from 2 - 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14. The purpose of the tour is to show the public some of the headstones and graves that make this cemetery historic. Burials began here circa 1814 and the cemetery contains the graves of many of the town’s earliest settlers and the graves of soldiers who fought in the country’s earliest wars; namely, the French and Indian War of 1759, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the cemetery is the decorative hand-carved headstones that mark the graves of some individuals who died between 1814 and 1823. At least three were carved by Jonas W. Stewart, a.k.a. “Coffin Man,” an itinerant stone carver who went from town to town between 1810 and 1820 carving headstones. There is also a headstone from 1823 believed to have been carved by either “Eclectic Man” or “Open Urn Man,” and other primitive stones.
In 2020, Meredith Historical Society began a multi-year restoration of the cemetery with the goal of repairing and/or resetting fifty headstones per year. This work is being carried out by Dale and Tina Utter who bill themselves as the “Cemetery Lovers.”
The public is cordially invited and admission is free. The cemetery is located behind the Baptist Church on Turnpike Road in the village of Meredith. In case of rain, the tour will be held Aug. 21.
For more information call 607-746-8083.
