Be respectful of the gravesites and careful of the uneven ground. Also, please remember that this is an active cemetery. Once you enter, this self-guided tour introduces a wide range of Stockbridge residents – inventors, lawyers, artists, authors, doctors, theologians, and others – whose influence extended far beyond the borders of this small New England town.Īs you stroll, note the designs and epitaphs on the gravestones as they evolved over 250 years. Please be sure to park far enough off the drives to allow other cars to pass.

You can enter the cemetery on foot or by car through the gates on Main Street or by the road off Church Street (Route 102) at the back of the property. Today, the town maintains the cemetery grounds, including trimming or removing the trees that threaten the fragile gravestones. It wasn’t until 1853, however, that a new organization in town, the Laurel Hill Association, took on the responsibility to clean and protect the area. Twenty years later, discussions began about ways to enclose the burial area to keep out cattle, horses, and pigs. Members of the Mohican tribe who joined the church also were buried here. One of the earliest burials was the first minister, John Sergeant, who died in 1749. Situated in the corner of the original town square, the cemetery was cleared in 1748. This burial ground holds more than two and a half centuries of history. As you stroll along the paths in the Stockbridge Cemetery, you will see the gravestones of people who made the town what it is today. A town’s history can be told in many ways.

Rachel field hitty