Fundraiser for the Orchard Street Cemetery

This past week, a number of gravestones at the historic Orchard Street Cemetery in Dover, NJ were toppled and damaged. At this point, we do not know the severity of the damage to the stones. One of the late 1800's marble obelisks did suffer a number of large chips and cracks but until we are able to stand the stones up, we cannot assess the damage to the rest. The first part of the restoration is to raise all of the stones back onto their plinths. This is a substantial project as all of these stones weigh in excess of 500 pounds. There are also many other stones throughout the cemetery that have been damaged through the years that we would like to repair and restore. There is also an 1875 gatehouse on the property that has sustained vandalism damage and is in need of work. All money raised will go towards these projects as well as towards any maintenance issues that occur.

The Orchard Street Cemetery was founded in 1851 and holds the remains of 5 War of 1812 veterans, 55 Civil War veterans, along with numerous other veterans from the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II as well as Vietnam. In fact, the namesakes of 2 American Legions (Dover and Wharton) are both interred here. There is a member of the United States Colored Troops, a 15 year old Union drummer boy who died in 1862, as well as a soldier who died from injuries sustained at Gettysburg. Many of the early civic leaders of Dover, Wharton, Randolph, and Rockaway also repose here.

The Orchard Street Gatehouse Historical Association (a registered 501 (c)(3)) is dedicated to helping maintain, improve, and sustain the Orchard Street Cemetery and the c. 1875 gatehouse on the grounds. The members of the OSGHA and the Dover Cemetery Association are all unpaid volunteers who donate much of their own time and money maintaining this cemetery.