Community Corner
This Article Is All About The UNDERSIDE of Orangetown.
A very unscholarly and historically not documented, but slightly interesting distraction from the horrors of the pandemic. Just like a chat.
My previous Patch articles were about Orangetown’s three iconic science research institutes or the history of our WW II Camp Shanks Port of Embarkation or the two oases of humanity - the campuses and colleges of the Sparkill and Blauvelt Dominican Sisters, this article is totally different. It’s about Orangetown’s cemeteries.
I happen to think that the story of Orangetown’s cemeteries speaks loudly of the town’s history.
Since Orangetown’s history has been written, there has been over 50 cemeteries in the town, most of which have disappeared.
Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
My best understanding [in alphabets order] is that the hamlets/villages of Blauvelt had 5, Nyack 7, Orangeburg 7, Palisades 4, Piermont 1, Pearl River 13, Sparkill 3, Tappan 5.
Many were created in the 18th century, some for Founding families, some for religious organizations such churches, convents, etc., some for slaves, one for “Indians” ?, but most for the community in general. Most were very small.
Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
One is always on my mind.
I have associated myself since the 60’s with what was once known as Rockland State Hospital, now known as Rockland Psychiatric Center. It opened in the 30’s and once had a population of 9,500 patients, many of whom had no relatives and were buried on the Center’s campus.
While on the Center’s Board of Visitors [I still am], I joined others to try and replace the gravestones which just had numbers with names. The State and the Hospital supported this in everyway, but we did not get the job done for a host of compelling reasons. Those graves are still respectfully cared for.
Most of the 50 plus cemeteries are ancient history, leaving no sign of their existence, but many remain, all with stories to tell. I have refrained from trying to tell any of the stories. I have even refrain mentioning some of the celebrities from all walks of life who rest in our historical town because, I believe that in death we are all equal in every way. But nevertheless, we cannot help thinking about those who preceded us and their legacy.
Orangetown is blessed to be the host/home of two great cemeteries, both of which have 200 acres. They are the Oak Hill and Rockland Cemeteries with plenty of room.