*Write-up by unknown parishioner, on unknown date, as transcribed from handwritten, cursive English by Shelly Weinstock on 11-19-2024*

St. James United Church of Christ Cemetery
Hamburg, Erie County
Evangelischen (Evangelical) St. Jacobus Gemeinde Kirchhof (Community Churchyard)

The lot sale register which I reviewed dates to January 1, 1872. This cemetery is located on the west side of a private road known as Moss Road on old village maps.  Said Moss Road runs south at approximately 90° for East Main St. near Hunt Ave.

This plot was donated to St. James St. Jacobus Kirche (Church) in 1872 if the record which I have is authentic, and I trust it is. There is an easement giving over our church perpetual access to said site.

Sts. Peter & Paul have bought in on real estate which butts against the original right-of-way. This past summer, the Catholic parish made a good improvement of the right of way.

A parishioner by the name of Jacob Renkert donated the plot to our church.  I do not know the exact dimensions, but it is a good-sized piece of ground.  I have been informed that the donor stated that any profit from the sale of burial plots was to be used to support St. James' Sunday School.

According to the Register, which is at our office, it appears nearly one hundred plots or parts thereof were purchased. The descendants of some of the buyers are still on St. James UCC rolls.  The original purchase price for a full lot (8 graves) was ten dollars ($10).

In the early years of this cemetery having been opened, there were regular burials, but by the turn of the century, the use of our cemetery fell away.

Prospect Lawn off Pierce Ave. was beginning to offer strong competition.  After nineteen hundred, there were very few burials at this cemetery.

At one time the entire plot was fenced with a fairly ornamental style fencing. The old timers passed away, younger parishioners had no interest, and the whole site fell into neglect. It did have to be mowed once a year to cope with village ordinance needs and growth on so-called vacant property.

The fence and posts deteriorated. since never were replaced.  No fence, vandals began to trespass on hallowed ground. Some of the markers were totally ruined by vandalism.

The monument to the donor of the cemetery site has fallen into a sad state of repair. I, the writer, do  know where the site is but do not know if all of the monument parts and shaft are in the plot.

You who have been out to visit the cemetery, have seen many markers and headstones which are tipped over to having fallen into the grave.

Years ago only wooden rough boxes were used to encase the casket, so the process of decay takes its toll. Today’s burial methods use concrete and/or steel vaults which withstand the elements of decay for many years.

Also, many markers had no foundation put under them, just a few stones without mortar.

When our present Sunday school building was erected, the soil which could be used when the cellar was excavated was taken to the cemetery and a lot of low spots were leveled up. I personally could not take part in this leveling process so don't know if any slabs or headstones were covered. I hope not.

I do know of one marker to a Civil War veteran, who was interred in this cemetery. Have been told that another grave of a veteran exists, but have never located it.