Belleville Cemetery marks its 150th anniversary with a celebration on Saturday, June 17.
Some very notable names are buried at the Dundas Street West cemetery including former Prime Minister Sir Mackenzie Bowell and author Susanna Moodie.
Belleville Cemetery. (Photo: Belleville Cemetery)
General Manager Zack Thibaudeau says in the mid-1800s, most cemeteries were located in church yards.
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“Major illnesses were coming about so cities and towns were looking for places outside the city limits to start burying people because there just wasn’t gonna be enough room, there was worry about disease. So that’s really how Belleville Cemetery came to be.”
Several locals banded together in the early 1870s paying $2,500 for the 65 acres of waterfront land and the non-profit plot owner cemetery was incorporated in 1872.
Belleville Cemetery. (Photo: Belleville Cemetery)
It is governed by a Board of Directors who are responsible for its operation.
Thibaudeau says a short ceremony celebrating the 150th anniversary begins at 11 a.m. including remarks from local dignitaries and cemetery president Dan Atkinson.
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“Following that is a walking tour of some historically significant gravesites highlighting, you know, the big names. The Parrotts, Sir Mackenzie Bowell, Susanna Moodie. The Historical Society’s teamed up with us on that to actually have some volunteers there, dressing up like the characters.”
There are also booklets to commemorate the anniversary.
Everyone is welcome.
Belleville Cemetery. (Photo: Belleville Cemetery)
A complete listing of cemetery markers in the Belleville Cemetery is available on the Quinte Branch Marketplace and the entries can be searched using the Quinte Branch searchable database, FIND-IT.
