The elders on the hill

When you think of cemeteries around here two of them come to mind Riverview and Columbiana county. Both of these have spectacular views of the area and both have important people resting in them. There are also a lot of smaller cemeteries around that are just as beautiful as the large ones. Over the next months I will be showing you some out of the way cemeteries and some overlooked places.

In my mind the grandaddy of them all has to be the Georgetown cemetery. It is probably one of the most historical places as well as the most scenic. Tucked away on a hill above Georgetown Pennsylvania it is still in it's original form from the late 1700's. Yes the 1700's.

It is reported that the first burial was Abrillar Blackmore a 2 year old child. Born in 1793 and reportedly killed by Indians in 1795. There are over 850 people buried there many of whom played an important role in shaping our area into what it is today and many of them that fought to keep us free and one that I know of that fought for our independence. There are many names that we all have heard of buried there names like Bever , Calhoon, Carnagey, Dawson, Laughlin, Lyon, Mackall, Moore, Poe, and many others.

This cemetery is like no other. Finding it if your not a local can be tough. It's entrance is hidden on the side of a winding uphill road leading out of Georgetown. The entrance is always closed with a gate. Past the gate is a half mile walk up a grass road through the woods. When you enter the cemetery you enter a stadium like atmosphere with the graves above you in a 180 degree arc. It is spectacular to see. As with all old cemeteries graves are random and stones are leaning but there is some order here with family plots in different sections some marked and some are not.

As you can see this is the view you have when you first enter from the bottom everything surrounds you. Once you climb the hill the you can see all three states from the top. The views up here are spectacular it truley is a place of rest.

The picture above is a look from the top of the hill down to the entrance on the walk in.The picture below is that of WM Carnagey a revolutionary war veteren and four times great grandfather to a close friend of mine that has tracked down some of his ancestors.



This headstone is located at the very top of the hill under one of the biggest pine trees there.



A letter explaining the service and war pension of W M Carnagey.



A picture of a ledger compiled by a local historian marking grave plots and history of the people in them.

 WM Carnagey Served in the revolutionary war and is thought to have been the 105th person buried here. His widowed wife Mary Swem Carnagey moved to Ashland county Ohio and is buried there. It is fascinating the amount of history that lies on this peaceful hill overlooking the the town of Georgetown almost in some way watching over it and quietly reminding those that visit what has happened in this area for the last three centuries.


One of the best websites around about Georgetown and it's history is "Georgetown Steamboats" done by Fran Nash. It is very fascinating look at all things Georgetown.
Here is the link:http://georgetownsteamboats.com/gs/steamer-prologue/


For more views of the cementery go to: https://picasaweb.google.com/117748738497939158793/GeorgetownCemetery?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKnXoKrRuZ7d-AE&feat=directlink

Thanks Tom!

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