Established in 1829, the Harsimus Cemetery has been a historically active site, and with recent discoveries,

the buried secrets have seen the light of day for the first time in centuries.

Before the Burials

The Harsimus Cemetery wasn’t always a burial ground, but the land it is now on holds historical significance dating back to patents made by Dutch settlers over land in and around the Harsimus Cemetery. By 1629 to 1674, the land went through multiple parties and eventually ended up in British possession. Districts of land broke out, and the area around Harsimus Cemetery turned into ports and docking stations for trading over the Atlantic. 

When the American Revolution broke out, Harsimus Cemetery was the site of the historic Jersey City’s Battle of Paulus Hook on August 19th, 1799. French General Marquis de Lafayette and around 4,000 soldiers fought the British on the land, and the land continued to be a military stronghold for ammunition and bunkers in the War of 1812. Now upon discovery, there have been reports of the same ammunition and war supplies left in the cemetery. 

The Need for Space

Jersey City’s population was on the rise during the 19th century, and it was clear that the need for burial grounds was dire. Before any cemetery companies began in New Jersey, cemeteries were under the jurisdiction of nearby churches and private holders. When disease outbreaks and harsh winters during the late 19th century took many lives, the prices of burials skyrocketed. Luckily, the grounds of the now Harsimus Cemetery were available, and bodies began to be piled and buried in and underneath the 6-acre grounds. The military bunkers and ammunition storages were turned into makeshift storages for the multitude of bodies that needed burials. Cold, underground, and dark, the corpses were lost with time and forgotten. The crypts were left untouched for over a century—overgrowth hiding the secret hillside entrance.

A Fixer Upper

By 2008, the last members of the board of trustees tasked with overseeing the cemetery passed away, leaving the 6 acres vulnerable to vandalism, nature’s elements, and time’s decay. Harsimus Cemetery was a shining example of the mid-19th century rural cemetery design which incorporated greenery into cemeteries, but this was all long lost with the history of the lands. Months after the cemetery was left bankrupt, volunteers created a new board of trustees who would oversee the cemetery’s restoration - a Jersey City Historic Preservation.

Over four years of constant work and local fundraisers, the cemetery began to return to its former glory. The overgrowth was cleared, the weeds whacked away, and the hidden tombs of all of the people buried underground were uncovered after more than a century of hiding. 

Today, the cemetery is not only symbolic of Jersey City’s rich history, but it acts as a constant reminder of community. The cemetery’s restoration not only brought together the Jersey City community, but the grounds itself have created a multitude of events that relay the importance of gathering.

From concerts to annual grass-eating goats, Harsimus Cemetery has once again bloomed for Jersey City residents and visitors alike. No longer a part of Jersey City history but instead a part of it’s present and future.