| The Danbury Cemetery Association was organized in November 1850, under a law of the State relating to cemeteries, with sixty shareholders at twenty-five dollars a share. The first officers of the society were: Frederick S. Wildman, President; Lucius P. Hoyt, Secretary; the directors were Edgar S. Tweedy, George W. Ives, Nelson L. White, S. A. Hurlburt, Henry Benedict, and Samuel C. Wildman. |
| The first purchase of land was in December of that year,
of William K. Clark, the piece containing sixteen acres, for which three-hundred
dollars was paid. Another piece was purchased by Colonel E. Moss White for
$80.00 for five and one fourth acres. Additions were made from time to time,
and there are now about 50 acres in that part of the cemetery which has been
improved. |
| In the spring and summer of 1851, the grounds were laid out, roads made and trees secured. In laying out the roads and grounds for burial purposes, the taste displayed by the architects is admirable. All advantages have been taken of all the points presented by nature and art has smoothed the rough places and turned them into beauty. The grounds are within the village and were visited frequently at that time as they still are today. |
| The great wealth of foliage in the cemetery strikes the visitor as being remarkable. The hardiest variety of trees and shrubs were selected, and while the shade is abundant, it does not entirely hide many of the other attractive features of the cemetery. Most of the evergreens were obtained from William Mann’s nursery in Bangor, Maine. |
| The shade trees are numerous and varied and everywhere are evidences of loving thoughts and care for those who have gone before. |
| Where the lake now is was a muck-swamp filled with bogs and bushes. These were collected and burned and the muck removed to cover the barren soil. The water, which forms the lake, sets back from the North Meadow Stream to fill the lake. |
| On April 27, 1854, the Wooster Monument was finished and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies to perpetuate the memory of General Wooster of Revolutionary fame. There were fully ten thousand people present as witnesses of the ceremonies. The Masonic lodges of the State and neighboring states were represented. The Governor and military organizations from Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford participated in the affair. The Masonic display was the most imposing ever made in the State. Honoree Henry C. Deming of Hartford delivered the oration. |
| In 1862, the reception vault was built and four years later the massive stone columns at the entrance to the cemetery were erected. |
| In November 1867, the Association purchased about twenty-five acres at $35.00 per acre from the late William Augustus White. These were on the east side of the road leading to North Meadow and opposite of the improved grounds. |
| The grounds were laid out and improvements made by and under the direction of George W. Ives, and Edgar S. Tweedy. Mr. Ives departed this life on November 10, 1862. His remains rest on the northern point of the main ridge, beneath a granite cross of simple design, on the base of which is inscribed the following: This monument is erected to George W. Ives by his friends as a testimonial of his services in laying out and beautifying this cemetery, and in remembrance of his public and private worth. After the death of Mr. Ives, Mr. Tweedy had the sole supervision of
the grounds until his death on March 10, 1893. |
| In 1957, the Danbury Cemetery Association became the Danbury Cemetery Association, Incorporated. The cemetery has grown over the years and now encompasses a bit over 100 acres. It has grown to become the 2nd largest cemetery in Connecticut. |
The Association is still active and works in conjunction with the cemetery’s management company, Magner Management, LLC, to oversee the management of the cemetery and to meet the needs of the growing community.
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