Description

CEM 374-Rev_millgrove_municipal_cemetery

Street Address:880 Millgrove Side Road, just north of the intersection with Millgrove Road

Location: Lot 19, Concession 5, West Flamborough Township

Type of Cemetery: Municipal

Responsible Agency: Millgrove Municipal Cemetery Board

Status for Burials: Open for Burials Plot Plan: Exists Size: Medium, 700 monuments

Fencing: Stone and wood fencing with gate Monument Types:    Flat, upright and column Monuments of: Marble and granite

History:

Of the Crown Patent for Lot 19, Concession 5 granted to Albert P. Palmer, oneacre was sold to the local cemetery board for £4 in 1848, while the earliest recorded interment was for Jane Finlay in 1837. The cemetery was at one time maintained by individual plot-holding families, but this led to the installation of fencing around some family sections and a rampant growth of shrubbery, lilacs in particular.

This policy was eventually ended and by the 1890s the entire cemetery was maintained by one caretaker, a Mr. Shelton, who cut the grass with a scythe twice a year. In 1914 the wooden post and wire fence that surrounded the cemetery was replaced with a stone fence and iron gate, paid for by Nellie M. McNichol (Flatt).

The cemetery is still maintained by the Millgrove Cemetery Board.Millgrove

Cemetery was originally the burying ground for members of Tabor Chapel of the Canadian Wesleyan Methodist New Connexion Church which was immediately south of, and adjacent to, the present southern boundary of the cemetery. In 1848 members of that chapel in concert with their neighbours who were members of the nearby Ryckman Chapel of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and with other neighbours who were members of the Episcopal Methodist Church formally established the cemetery and obtained a deed registered on title for the property. One man from each of these three respective congregations, namely John Angle Cummins, John Warren Ryckman, and John Keen Crooker, became the charter trustees of what they called the Board of “The Grove Free Burying Ground” and later became known as the Board of “Millgrove Cemetery”. That board and its successors has been in continuous control and ownership of the cemetery for over 170 years.
“The cemetery has operated and expanded through the generous donations from members of the public. It was never a municipal cemetery. It was never controlled by, nor owned by, any municipality or township council or county council or any regional council or government. It should also be noted that Millgrove Cemetery is not owned by, nor controlled by, any church or religious organization.
“The cemetery is still open for burials.