Jump to content

Newtown Cemetery

Coordinates: 38°27′12″N 78°51′31″W / 38.45333°N 78.85861°W / 38.45333; -78.85861
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Newtown Cemetery
Western section of the cemetery
Newtown Cemetery is located in Virginia
Newtown Cemetery
Newtown Cemetery is located in the United States
Newtown Cemetery
LocationRoughly bounded by Kelley, Hill, Sterling, and Gay Sts., Harrisonburg, Virginia
Coordinates38°27′12″N 78°51′31″W / 38.45333°N 78.85861°W / 38.45333; -78.85861
Area3.9 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1869 (1869)
NRHP reference No.15000014[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 17, 2015

Newtown Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is located in the northern part of the city, bounded on the north by Kelley Street and the west by Sterling Street. It is bisected by an extension of Effinger Street, which now serves as part of the cemetery's circulation roads. The roughly 4-acre (1.6 ha) parcel has been the primary burial ground for the city's African-American dead since its founding in 1869. It is estimated to hold 900 graves, including many of emancipated slaves.[2] Notable burials include educator Lucy F. Simms and veterans of the US Colored Troops.[3]

The cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "NRHP nomination for Newtown Cemetery" (PDF). Virginia DHR. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  3. ^ "The Life of Lucy F. Simms". Celebrating Simms: story of the Lucy F. Simms School. James Madison University and Shenandoah Black Heritage. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
[edit]

Media related to Newtown Cemetery at Wikimedia Commons