Oakland Cemetery in Princeton is added on National Register of Historic Places

PRINCETON - Oakland Cemetery has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery is being recognized for its landscape design in addition to its grave markers and historic structures.

The application was submitted by Princeton resident Pam Lange, who has written other nominations. In 2017, she researched and helped to write the nomination for the North and South End Historic Districts on Princeton’s Main Street. A year later, she was successful in listing the 1905 Hampshire Colony Congregational Church building on the National Register.

Forty-six acres of Oakland Cemetery are included in the National Register listing. This takes in the oldest sections that are north of the Summers Chapel and are collectively named the Oakland Cemetery Historic District.

The origins of Oakland date back to 1836. At that time it was private land belonging to Rev. Lucien Farnham, the first minister of the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church. The Farnham’s five-year-old son, also named Lucien, had died, and they buried their child on that land in Dec. 1836. Over time, Farnham donated four acres for a church cemetery.

In 1862, the city of Princeton purchased from Farnham nearly 12 acres of land adjoining the four-acre burying ground. The city also agreed to lease the four acres. By the end of 1863, the two tracts of land were platted together and named Oakland Cemetery. It was given that name for all the oak trees that grew on the land. Many are still standing today.

Additional purchases of land over the years have increased Oakland’s size. The original four acres of Congregational Church land were deeded to the city of Princeton in 1903. Today the cemetery totals nearly 87 acres, includes 15 miles of roadways, and more than 13,000 graves. It also retains many of its historic elements including the original landscape plan, receiving vault, historic structures and early tombstones.

Trees continue to be an important feature at Oakland.There are approximately 360 trees covering the grounds in varieties that include oak, maple, pine and hickory, to name a few. A white pine standing in the oldest park of the cemetery is a state record holder. It reaches 97 feet in height and has a girth of 14.5 feet.

Oakland Cemetery is located at 1013 Park Ave. W. and is open every day to the public from sunrise to sunset.