The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-13
historic GR.4VEYARDS RUIN.
Sorry Sight IN Newark Where Revolutionary
soldiers Sleep.

! The dilapidated old graveyard from
which the dead folks had to emigrate.
according to one of Mark Twains grirnly
humorous sketches, finds its counterpart
over in Newark in the disgraceful con-
dit or of the burying ground in the rear
OF the old First Presbyterian Church, in
Broad street, near the Central Railroad
of New Jersey. What makes the scan da-
lous neglect of this historic old Genet cry
the more glaring is the fact that it starcs
all people in the face, strangers AS well ~
Others who come into the city over the
Jersey Central line.
Another thing which underscore the dis
nal plight OF this forlorn old Gods Acre
is the fine bronze tablet which the Society of
Colonial Danes has placed on the front
OF the church edifice itself. The nscript ion
on his tablet proudly invites attent ion
to the fact that the church is the oldest
monument in the city.
The church itself il beau, iful specimen
of the late eighteenth cent,lry vie aud is
visited by hundreds of people who are
interested in such matters. 1t is of stone
and barring accident or the remorseless
hand of improvement, should stand for
centuries.
About the front and back to he fence
al the rear of the church the grass ia kept
trinity shaver and the lawn ia ornamented
with attractive disposit ions Of flower beds.
Behind that fence is he Genet cry, on
which, it would seem, the most care
Of all should be exercised Revolutionary
soldiers who suffered with Washington at
Valley Forge and fought with him at Mon
mouth Princeton arc Trenton are sleeping
there. Inscript ions on the tombst on es
bear the names Of many of the most honored
families In New Jersey.
With all that, it il safe to say there ia
not another burying ground within a radius
of 100 miles of New York that is in so shock
ing state of neglect Weeds and rank
grass have been allowed to grow I'D and
die and rot and grow again and rot again
for years. The paths are barely outlined
through the jungle.
Tombstones are broken Off, lying fat on
their backs or Keeling in all attitudes and
at all angles. Garbage and rubbish abound
and the centre OF the cemetery apparently
has been used as place wherein to burn
r. fuse Of all sorts.
This church. to make matters worse. Is
one of the wealthiest churches in the State
For over hundred years. as the Inscription
on the Colonial Danes table suggests, il
has been landmark and venerateI
monument in Newark.
The original edifice. opposite the site Of
the present one, was not only church but
refuge from the Indians, as we'll It
was built in 1869 That building was de-
stroyei and another built in its place about
it being the first burying ground in
: Newark.
The cornerstone Of the present structure
Was laid by DR. Alexander McWhorter In
1877 on lard purchased in l774 The Revo-
lutionary War stopped the building project
for thirteen years. The church was dadi-
cetcol IN 1871 and the burying ground in
it, roar the one which has been permitted
20 dnr' iI.lo such condition of shameful
neglect was opened nj that time.
The father Of Aaron Burr was the pastor
Of the church who Immediately preceded
Dr. Alexander McWhorter