1863
In all pioneer communities there comes a time when people decide to bury their loved ones in an official cemetery — rather than under a favorite tree on the home farm. On November 20, 1863, a group of citizens from Brooklyn and Crystal Townships met to organize an association for the “purpose of a cemetery and burriel of the dead.” Many meetings were held; the first land purchased from W. G. Jaques was determined to be too low and the present site was purchased from Thomas P. Hill. It was called Brooklyn-Crystal Cemetery and located four and a half miles north of Rockford Road on West Broadway. The first lots were sold in 1867 and several bodies were moved in from scattered locations, including five Getchell children. Alvah Getchell, age 19, was killed in action against the Indians in 1862. Four younger children died the next year. No record could be found as to the cause. This cemetery is the final resting place of many early (and later) Robbinsdale residents Shumway, Nassett, Malbon, Crandall, Jaques, Parker, Newell, Stillman, Patch, Johnson, and Bartlett, to name a few.
According to the Brooklyn-Crystal Cemetery Association‘s website, The initial tract of land where the cemetery is now located was purchased from Thomas P. Hill for $30.00. On September 1, 1896, an additional tract was purchased from Adolph Hartkopf.
Over the years many Robbinsdale people have been officers of the association including D. C. Crandall, Wm. Stinchfield, Pierce Malbon, W. H. Johnson, V. D. Crandall, Thomas Kirkwood, G. Merritt, A. J. Coulter, Julius Sessing, and E. N. Russ.
In recent years it has become difficult to identify the living owners of many of the grave sites. Ownership within families is passed to the surviving spouse, oldest living child or another designated person. Owners often sell or donate unused grave sites back to the Association . The cemetery and the memory of those who now rest there is a gift to anyone interested in the early days Robbinsdale and the surrounding area.
The Brooklyn-Crystal Cemetery Association is a non-profit organization. All donations are very welcome and help fund their expenses and grounds maintenance. Click Here to go to their website and contribute to the upkeep of this important part of our local history.
This post part of a series of posts based on the book Robbinsdale Then and Now by Helen Blodgett