Historians Out & About

The Pine Grove Cemetery

On September 25, 2016 I went to the Pine Grove Cemetery located on Boston St in Lynn and did my first service learning and it was pretty exciting and interesting. I learnt so much, and wish to share some information about this incredible place.

Entrance from Boston St.

The Pine Grove Cemetery was established in the mid 19th century and consists of 82 developed acres. It contains approximately 88,000 to 90,000 interments. It was established as a private cemetery in the 1800's, and was sold to the City of Lynn in 1850. The cemetery was designed by Henry Dearborn, who also designed the Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Forest Hill Cemetery in Boston. In the 1930's, a wall was built to surround the cemetery, and it was said to be the second contiguous wall in the world according to "Ripley's Believe it or Not. This cemetery has a rich history and is home to, inventors, political leaders, artists and many more.

The cemetery has many architecturally distinct structures, such as: The Copeland Sunken Gardens, the Rhodes Memorial Chapel, Receiving Tombs and a view of Boston.

The Copeland Sunken Gardens

Designed by architect and gardener Robert Morris Copeland in 1874.

Rhodes Memorial Chapel

Designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, in 1891. It was funded by a donation from Mrs. Amos Rhodes in memory of her husband. The stain glass window value over 10,000. The Pine Grove name comes from the wealth of the pine trees that frame he chapel and entrance from Boston street.

Receiving Tomb (front)
Constructed from 1866 to 1868 in Ruskinian Gothic style. It was a part of a building campaign following the Civil War. It remains intact as a part of the mid 19th century landscape design. It is made of granite ashlar construction with a cast iron doorway.

Receiving Tomb (back)

View of Boston

This graveyard holds some well known names such as, Charles Herbert Woodbury, who was member of a group of artists who were known as The Lynn Beach Painters. James N. Buffum who was mayor of Lynn twice, 1869 and 1872, a state representative in 1873, a industrialist and an abolitionist. He would travel alongside Frederick Douglass,Wendell Phillips, and Abby Kelly on antislavery lectures. Francis Moore, who participated in the Boston Tea Party, and Benjamin Franklin Falls who earned the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the third day of The Battle of Gettysburg, on July 3, 1863 simply reads, "capture of flag." These are just a few of the well known people that were buried at The Pine Grove Cemetery.

Finally, the cemetery holds many from World War I and II, as well as, many other battles. There is a section for Police Officers, and even babies. If anyone wants to learn more history about the cemetery and the people that are buried there, they can go on a Trails and Sails tour, which happen every year in different parts of Massachusetts.

Additional Pictures