Legacy Reborn: Harrisburg Lincoln Cemetery at 146 Years
Legacy Reborn: Harrisburg Lincoln Cemetery at 146 Years
Today marks the 146th anniversary of Harrisburg Lincoln Cemetery, a site of profound historical and cultural significance for our community (regardless of how far we are from the grounds today). Consecrated on November 18, 1877, this sacred ground has been a resting place for as many generations since then, as it became, for the many generations who died before, when they were interned here. These burying grounds embody the resilience and spirit of our ancestors. So, today we are celebrating a legacy reborn–146 years of Lincoln Cemetery–with a SOAL Restoration Weekend at this Historic Black Cemetery.
Harrisburg Black Press Heralds Lincoln Cemetery the Pride of People on April 5, 1884
Our people have nothing in this city of which they can feel more justly proud, than Lincoln Cemetery. For years the colored people have buried their dead in a small strip of ground given them by the Harris heirs, located off from Herr street near the State Arsenal. The overcrowded condition of the place has caused so much newspaper comment, that every citizen knows of its existence. There were also many bodies interred on a lot, now occupied, in Herr street, near Sixth. The trustees of Wesley Church came to the conclusion that the people needed a cemetery, and purchased of Col. Mamma an eight-acre plot of ground, situated at Grantville, about two miles’ drive from the city. Being easy of access and beautifully located, it gives to the colored people, or any other people, a resting place for their dead.
Since purchasing the ground the trustees of the cemetery have yearly added improvements to it. A handsome monument has been erected to the memory of the dead soldiers. A beautiful mound, six feet high, and nearly twenty feet in length, marks the resting place of the unknown dead removed from the old Herr street cemetery. A two and a half-story frame house, handsomely furnished, is occupied by the sexton, John Gaitor. A well, which supplies good water, has been dug, and is sheltered from the rays of the sun by a beautiful Gothic-styled summer house.
The paths are well laid and paved with gravel. Many of those owning lots have erected handsome monuments, tombstones, and fences. To see the beauty of this city of the dead, one must visit Lincoln Cemetery when the flowers are in bloom, and the grass has assumed that life which comes to it from the warmth of the sun and the kiss of the dews.
Straight and upright young maples and locust trees run the entire width and breadth of the fences, and along many of the graveled walks the shade afforded by these leafy trees will add still farther to its beauty. While Lincoln Cemetery belongs to Wesley Church, it was intended as the burying ground for the dead, without distinction of color or creed, and it is today the only cemetery in the city where the dead of Harrisburg can be laid at rest without any discrimination. No one need fear the refusal of a lot because they are white. It is free to all those who choose to select a resting place and pay for the interment of the dead.
Deliberate Destruction of the Pride of the People
In 1884, just seven years after its consecration, Lincoln Cemetery was described in a local newspaper as a place of beauty and dignity, a testament to the care and respect afforded to those who rested there. It was more than just a cemetery; it was a symbol of unity and equality, welcoming all without distinction of color or creed.
So it must have come as a great blow to the entire African American community when only 5 months after the newspaper article in The State Journal was published the buildings were destroyed by a deliberate act of violence and hatred.
As we reflect on this rich history, it’s essential to remember that the journey of Lincoln Cemetery has not always been smooth. Repeatedly a target for hate crimes over the past 146 years, neglected for three-quarters of a century, and forgotten by the descendant community for over a decade this hallowed ground has lost some of its former glory. But today, as the founder and Executive Director of SOAL: Saving Our Ancestors’ Legacy, I am proud to be part of the efforts to restore Lincoln Cemetery to its rightful status.
Our mission is far from complete. Restoration takes time, dedication, and community support. Yet, every step we take in preserving this site is a step towards honoring our ancestors and ensuring that their final resting place remains a beacon of heritage and pride for future generations.
Join us in celebrating this milestone and contributing to the ongoing efforts to preserve Lincoln Cemetery. Let’s honor our past to inspire our future.
