South Street Greenfield Old Cemetery

Greenfield’s Old Cemetery is located at the dead-end of south and swope streets, two blocks east of the court house.

It was the city’s first cemetery and “here lie slumbering the men who cleared the forest and established the little county seat of Greenfield.

The land was donated to Hancock County on 9 May 1843, by Andrew P. Jackson, however, “the first burial was Benjamin Spillman's fourteen-year old daughter, Docia, who died in 1828.

The grounds are not large and became full during the 1860’s; not long after that time, many graves and their markers were moved to the new cemetery (Park) located due south of the old one.

A 1933 newspaper article reported that “after decades of neglect the grounds are tangled with weeds, briars and bushes; gravesites had not been filled in after remains’ removed. The entire area is not only unsightly but disrespectful.”

Today, only a handful of graves and markers remain, including one veteran of the war of 1812. The grounds are level and grass tended, giving a sense of honor and respect due Greenfield’s Founders.

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Sue Baker, CGRS

Heritage Books Copyright 1993

1833-1933

Owned and Operated by the City of Greenfield and governed by Board of Works

No plots are available