COMPANY HISTORY
Fairmount Cemetery was founded in the fall of 1854. It is located between Central Avenue and South Orange Avenue, and also between South Twelfth and South Eighteenth Streets in Newark, New Jersey. It was incorporated on February 9, 1855 by a special act of the New Jersey Legislature.
Fairmount Cemetery has continued as a public, not-for profit, and non-sectarian cemetery from 1855 to the present. All of its income is devoted to the care, beautification and welfare of its grounds and buildings.
The first burial in Fairmount Cemetery was a 24-year-old man named Lewis J. Pierson. Today, there are approximately 150,000 burials in the cemetery.
Fairmount Cemetery, along with others established in the late 19th century, were essentially Victorian/rural cemeteries developed with trees and shrubs that enhanced the rolling landscape. Over the years, many prominent families have chosen Fairmount as their final resting place, constructing many distinctive and beautiful monuments (see photo tour). Additional information can be found about Fairmount and Newark by going to www.oldnewark.com
NOTABLE FEATURES
During Fairmount’s development and expansion, many distinctive features have been created:
OLD SETTLERS MONUMENT
In the late 1880’s, the remains of the early settlers of the City of Newark were removed from the Old Burying Ground located on the west side of Broad St., just south of Market Street and placed in a tomb at Fairmount Cemetery. On this site, the City of Newark erected a “Monument to the First Settlers of Newark”, which has become commonly known as the Old Settlers Monument. It was dedicated December 19, 1889. The monument was removed in 2004 for repairs to correct an unstable foundation. Due to the good works and fund raising activities of the Newark Preservation & Landmark Committee and the City of Newark, it was renovated, a new internal frame was built and it was reinstalled on a new foundation. (see photo tour).
FAIRMOUNT MEMORIAL MAUSOLEUM
In the 1920’s, Fairmount Memorial Mausoleum was developed as a public, or community mausoleum. (see photo tour) Overlooking Central Avenue, the majestic 3,000 crypt, four-story mausoleum, completely built of native granite, contains a chapel with a 2-story mosaic of The Ascension crafted by Carlo Ciampaglia.
CREMATORY
Fairmount Cemetery completed the addition of a crematory in 1984 in order to provide more complete service to its clientele. The crematory was designed as an addition to the Fairmount Memorial Mausoleum chapel so committal services could be made in a dignified atmosphere.
BIRCHHAVEN MAUSOLEUM
Birchhaven Mausoleum, a public, or community mausoleum was added in 1990 to expand the type of crypts Fairmount could offer its customers. Birchhaven Mausoleum, built entirely of native granite, contains 1,000 crypts that can be visited in a garden setting. (see photo tour).
MERGER
In 1986, Fairmount Cemetery and Somerset Hills Memorial Park merged to form Fairmount Cemetery Association of Newark and Somerset Hills. Somerset Hills Memorial Park comprises 65 acres of rolling hills in Bernards Township in Somerset County. Somerset Hills Memorial Park has all of its memorials placed flush with the ground. Somerset Hills also contains a large community mausoleum complex and a crematory. If interested, you can review their website at www.shmpcemetery.com
NOTABLE BURIALS
Many people of note have been buried at Fairmount Cemetery.
Writers
Harriet Statemeyer Adams, who wrote the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins books.
U.S. Congressmen
Peter Angelo Caviccia
Thomas Dunn English
William Henry Fiedler
Fred Allen Hartley
Frederick Lehlbach
Herman Lehlbach
Le Gage Pratt
Singer/Songwriter
Gwen Guthrie, who wrote "Close To You", recorded by the Carpenters and sang with the Ebonettes.
Medical Pioneers
Clara Louise Maass, who sacrificed her life in the search for the cause and effective immunization against yellow fever.
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients
Augustus Frederick Bronner (Civil War)
Joseph H. DeCastro (Civil War)
Beer Barons
Christian Feigenspan, son of the founder of Feigenspan Beer
Gottfried Krueger, founder of Krueger Beer
Businessmen
Gerhard Heinrich Mennen, Founder of Mennen Company of Newark
William Gerhard Mennen, son of Gerhard, who built Mennen into a giant corporation.
P.C. Clark of the famous thread family.
Joseph Dixon, who owned the Dixon Crucible Co., and whose pencils allowed accounts of the Civil War to be sent home without the cumbersome straight pen and ink bottle.
G. Frederick Hoffman of Hoffman Bottling Co.
Organized Crime Figures
Stefano Badami, first boss of the Decavalcante Organized Crime Family of New Jersey.
Sam Monaco, Underboss of the Decavalcante Family, who operated out of Newark.
More information can be found about these notable figures by going to www.findagrave.com and searching by cemetery.
