Brooklyn Daily Eagle
18 April 1902
Page 20

GRAVEYARD FOR A PARK

Proposition to Remove Remains Interred in Pro-Cathedral Cemetery in Jay Street. _______________

The oldest church graveyard in Brooklyn and about the only one that has not been removed from the old section of the city, is that of the Pro-Cathedral, Jay and Chapel streets, where the remains of nearly a thousand persons are buried. There has not been a burial in this old graveyard since 1850 and the last half dozen interments there were made in violation of a city ordinance and fines were imposed upon those responsible for such violations. J. H. FARRELL, an undertaker who had relatives buried in this old graveyard, some time ago made the suggestion that the graves be removed to St. John's Cemetery in Newtown. Mr. FARRELL says that he has talked to several of the parties whose dead are interred there, and they all favored the plan for removing the graveyard. "My plan," said Mr. FARRELL, "is that a piece of ground just about the size of this graveyard be secured in St. John's Cemetery and that this be fenced off and the remains and old fashioned tombstones in the Pro-Cathedral Cemetery be removed there and replaced in their old position, or as near as can be done. The city has already provided for a park between Jay and Bridge streets, taking in the block of houses from Tillary street up to this old graveyard. My plan is to remove the graves, so that this space, which will adjoin the park, can be turned into a grassy plot and form part of the park." Mr. FARRELL said that among those with whom he had talked was Hugh McLAUGHLIN, who has a brother and other relatives buried there, and he said that Mr. McLAUGHLIN favored the plan of removing the remains. When seen later by an Eagle reporter Mr. McLAUGHLIN would not say whether he favored the removal of the graves or not, but from his remarks so much could fairly be inferred. At least he had not the slightest objections to urge and mentioned several similar cases in Brooklyn where old graveyards had been removed. Back to CEMETERY INDEX Back to CEMETERY INDEX Back to BROOKLYN Page Main