west cemetery

In 1730, Hadley residents created West Cemetery, located on a north-south highway division called “the West Street.” The early stages of the cemetery was unplotted and most graves unmarked. Burials faced east and headstones faced west. People of color were buried in a separate section of the cemetery and it was not until the late 1700’s that fixed boundaries were made. During 1833-1868, families began fencing their own plots, and the first cemetery road was created. In 1855, the Town Tomb was erected for the “free use of the town” to temporarily store bodies prior to burial. Individuals were required to take deeds and pay for plots beginning in 1870, when the West Cemetery doubled in size. The location was built at the original entrance in 1908 and the location became the new main entrance in 1954.

In 1727-28, during a lull in the French and Indian Wars, the British colonial settlers of the Hadley plantation began to build homes in their East District. In 1730, Hadley Town Meeting authorized a new burying ground for these settlers. The one-acre lot took its name—West Cemetery—from “the West Street” within which the cemetery was created. The West Street was one of two, 40 rod (660 foot) wide north-south highways established in a 1703 Hadley land division. Amherst’s early meetinghouses, village center commons, cemeteries, and other shared public uses would all be placed in these highways.

1730-1769 – At first, West Cemetery was an open, unfenced meadow without roads or paths. Graves were not plotted, but simply dug where there was room as people died. Burials faced east and headstones faced west. Most graves were unmarked or had impermanent wooden markers. Permanent markers were of local stone—granite, schist, and sandstone. African Americans, Native Americans, and other people of color were buried together in a separate section of the cemetery at the southeast corner. The cemetery was kept open by the pasturing of livestock.

1770-1832 – The burying ground acquired fixed boundaries during this period. Slate became a popular headstone material and funeral plantings using native species were introduced. Land for the North and South Amherst cemeteries was purchased in 1818. 1833-1868 – The Town expanded the cemetery to the east and west, purchased the access road to North Pleasant Street (the West Highway), and fenced the area. Family plots began to be fenced or coped with stone, and marble became the predominant headstone material. In 1854, the Town laid out the first cemetery road. The next year, the Town Tomb was erected for the “free use of the town,” serving as temporary storage for bodies prior to burial, especially in winter. In 1858, Edward Dickinson arranged for an ornamental iron fence to enclose the Dickinson family plot.

1870-1906 – Individuals and families were required to take deeds and pay for grave plots for the first time. West Cemetery doubled in size, and its roadway was extended to a new entrance on Triangle Street. Granite became a popular headstone material, and ornamental funeral trees and plantings were added.

1907-2005 – The Gaylord Gate (1908) was built at the original burying ground entrance, and the Burnham Gate (1954) on Triangle Street became the new main entrance. More ornamental plantings were added, including a Camperdown Elm at the gravesite of William Smith Clark. Most plantings have since been lost to disease and neglect, and not replaced. The Community History Mural was completed in 2005.