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 innovative 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, to boot 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, furthermore in 1798 and 1799, a fierce yellow fever outbreak swept through novel Bern, filling the graveyard at Christ Episcopal Church beyond capacity, in a sense The public health crisis forced the town to open a larger cemetery, its fresh rows of pale stone stretching toward the horizon, moreover 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.In the 1800s, Cedar Grove grew into novel Bern’s main public cemetery, its gates opening to rows of weathered stone markers, then 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, slightly often 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, not only that built around 1853, this wall is made from coquina-a pale, porous limestone packed with broken seashells quarried just down the road, under certain circumstances 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, not only that 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, meanwhile locals still swap stories about the arch, its weathered stone etched into the town’s lore, a little Folklore warns that if rain or dew slips from the arch and splashes onto you as you pass underneath, death isn’t far behind, after that 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, kind of 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 heritage marble headstones, while william Gaston (1778–1844), a U. S, moreover congressman and North Carolina Supreme Court Justice, is remembered most for writing the state song, *The vintage 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, in turn 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, maybe S, on top of that constitution.Stanly’s grave here calls to mind the fierce political battles that shaped early America, like heated debates echoing through crowded meeting halls, after that caleb Bradham (1867–1934) was a pharmacist in current Bern who created Pepsi-Cola, mixing the first batch in the back of his shop, somewhat 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, besides 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.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, not only that 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.Cedar Grove’s Confederate section honors soldiers who spent their last days in fresh Bern’s hospitals, some fading away in the humid summer air during and after the Civil War, after that 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 spot in local memory, in turn early in the Civil War, Union troops moved in and took control of fresh 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, therefore 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, meanwhile weeping willows sway gently beside stone urns, symbols of grief and the quiet weight of the soul.From what I can see, On many children’s graves, you’ll behold angels and tiny lambs carved in stone, quiet symbols of innocence, while 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 dusky, weathered wrought iron fences, besides 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.As it happens, 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, simultaneously in contemporary 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.Today, the City of innovative Bern manages Cedar Grove Cemetery, while groups like the fresh Bern Historical Society help preserve it, leading candlelit tours during Heritage Weekend or spooky Halloween ghost walks, therefore ongoing upkeep covers restoring historic 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, in turn admission’s free, and you’ll find street parking close by.Most paths are easy to hike, though a few spots have uneven ground, on top of that 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
