Information
Landmark: Cedar Grove CemeteryCity: New Bern
Country: USA North Carolina
Continent: North America
Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern, USA North Carolina, North America
Overview
In modern Bern, North Carolina, Cedar Grove Cemetery stands as one of the state’s most storied burial grounds, holding the graves of prominent figures and, with its weathered stone gates, a tangible link to the city’s past, furthermore founded in the early 1800s, the site draws visitors for its graceful stone monuments and the mix of true and legendary tales that cling to its walls like morning mist.Cedar Grove Cemetery was officially established around 1800, though people had likely been laying loved ones to rest there a bit earlier, in a period when the city was facing pivotal change, as a result in 1798 and 1799, a fierce yellow fever outbreak swept through recent Bern, filling the graveyard at Christ Episcopal Church beyond capacity.Funny enough, The public health crisis forced the town to open a larger cemetery, its fresh rows of pale stone stretching toward the horizon, in turn the church first oversaw the cemetery, but in 1853 it passed into the hands of the town, which named it “Cedar Grove” after the tall cedar trees that once cast cool shade across its grounds, somewhat In the 1800s, Cedar Grove grew into innovative Bern’s main public cemetery, its gates opening to rows of weathered stone markers, along with while its design nods to the rural cemetery style popular then, it stands apart with distinctive architecture and symbolic touches, like a carved stone arch that catches the morning light.Among Cedar Grove’s most beloved sights is the coquina shell wall, its pale limestone glinting in the sun as it wraps protectively around the grounds, alternatively built around 1853, this wall is made from coquina-a pale, porous limestone packed with broken seashells quarried just down the road.Coquina is scarce across most of North Carolina, but along the coast you could still gather enough to build with-its presence in a cemetery wall, pale and rough under the sun, is both uncommon and arresting, at the same time the main entrance is marked by a striking gateway of three tall arches, known as the Weeping Arch, where shadows pool beneath the stone curves.Built from the same shell-stone, the massive arch stands as a gateway-part solid rock under your hand, part emblem marking the divide between the living and the dead, besides locals still swap stories about the arch, its weathered stone etched into the town’s lore.Folklore warns that if rain or dew slips from the arch and splashes onto you as you pass underneath, death isn’t far behind, moreover though a bit morbid, this superstition reflects the cemetery’s role in local life, where quiet respect for the dead mingles with tales passed down for centuries, like whispers threading through the stones, more or less As you can see, Cedar Grove Cemetery holds the graves of many people who shaped local life, influenced state affairs, and even left their mark on the nation-names carved deep into antique marble headstones, on top of that william Gaston (1778–1844), a U. S, and congressman and North Carolina Supreme Court Justice, is remembered most for writing the state song, *The aged North State*, whose opening lines still ring out at public gatherings.He championed religious freedom in public office with fierce determination, and today he still stands as a source of legal and civic pride, much like a flag carried high in a parade, what’s more john Stanly (1774–1834) served two terms in Congress as a Federalist, but he’s best remembered for the gunshot duel that killed Richard Dobbs Spaight, a man who’d signed the U. Frankly, S, in turn constitution, sort of Stanly’s grave here calls to mind the fierce political battles that shaped early America, like heated debates echoing through crowded meeting halls, what’s more caleb Bradham (1867–1934) was a pharmacist in innovative Bern who created Pepsi-Cola, mixing the first batch in the back of his shop.Bradham’s legacy now threads through the city’s modern branding, while his grave, shaded by a few weathered oaks, stands as a quiet salute to American entrepreneurship, furthermore bayard Wootten (1875–1959) broke ground as a photographer and made history as the first woman to serve in the North Carolina National Guard, once marching in a crisp blue uniform beneath the summer sun, sort of She caught the essence of the American South in her photos-cotton fields glowing at dusk, quiet streets steeped in history-with a rare and masterful touch, to boot owen Haywood Guion (1861–1925), who once led the North Carolina House of Representatives and later served as a judge, played a central role in shaping the state’s legal landscape from the unsettled days of Reconstruction through the dawn of the 20th century, kind of As you can see, Cedar Grove’s Confederate section honors soldiers who spent their last days in modern Bern’s hospitals, some fading away in the humid summer air during and after the Civil War, at the same time in this part of the cemetery, you’ll find about 300 Confederate graves-some with names etched into worn stone, others left unmarked and silent.Among them rises a modest Confederate monument, its weathered stone catching the afternoon light, a quiet nod to the cemetery’s region in local memory, not only that early in the Civil War, Union troops moved in and took control of current Bern, their boots kicking up dust along the narrow streets.Even so, many Confederate soldiers laid to rest at Cedar Grove had served in local regiments, or they fell here from wounds or fever that spread through the camps, on top of that keeping these graves intact has stirred both respect and controversy, echoing the wider discussions about Civil War memory in the South, where weathered stone markers still stand under the summer sun.The cemetery’s 19th-century design comes alive in its winding paths, ornate iron fences, and varied grave markers-like tall stone obelisks that stand for resurrection and eternal life, as a result weeping willows sway gently beside stone urns, symbols of grief and the quiet weight of the soul.On many children’s graves, you’ll witness angels and tiny lambs carved in stone, quiet symbols of innocence, as a result masonic symbols and other fraternal emblems reveal the ties and convictions the deceased held, like a square and compass etched into stone.At Cedar Grove, you’ll find plenty of family plots edged with cool stone borders or shadowy, weathered wrought iron fences, meanwhile the inscriptions-often lyrical-capture the spirit of a vanished time, telling of infants lost too soon, weathered veterans from many wars, and respected leaders who once shaped the town, partially Legends and local lore swirl around Cedar Grove, with the Weeping Arch standing as its most enduring ghost story-but it’s far from the only one whispered about under the antique oak trees, in turn in novel Bern, many ghost tours spotlight the timeworn cemetery, telling of shadowy figures slipping between weathered headstones, strange lights or icy patches near the oldest graves, and nighttime whispers paired with the crunch of footsteps on gravel; believe them or not, these tales deepen the cemetery’s allure and draw visitors who crave both history and a touch of folklore.Somehow, Today, the City of novel Bern manages Cedar Grove Cemetery, while groups like the contemporary Bern Historical Society help preserve it, leading candlelit tours during Heritage Weekend or spooky Halloween ghost walks, besides ongoing upkeep covers restoring vintage headstones and repairing fences, caring for the towering live oaks that cast deep shade across the grounds, hosting volunteer cleanup days, and documenting unmarked graves along with family records; the cemetery’s spot on the National Register of Historic Places gives it a measure of federal recognition and protection.You can visit 808 George Street in contemporary Bern, NC any day from sunrise to sunset, as a result admission’s free, and you’ll find street parking close by, generally As it turns out, Most paths are easy to stroll, though a few spots have uneven ground, alternatively please be respectful-this is both a historic site and a working cemetery where families still bring fresh flowers.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-10-04
