The cemetery came into existence in 1840, when the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company donated 20 acres (81,000 m2) of land in downtown Manchester to the city for the purpose of creating a public burial ground. In 1841, the city created the Valley Street Cemetery. It was designed as a "garden cemetery", meant to be a place where the public could stroll along its walkways, carriage paths and bridges. In this Victorian Era, "garden cemeteries", in which not only the dead resided, but the living communed with each other and with nature, were popular. By the late 1850s, the cemetery was nearly filled, and the much larger Pine Grove Cemetery was created. That cemetery lies to the west of Calef Road and to the east of the Merrimack River.
The scenic stream valley that roughly bisects the cemetery.
A receiving tomb was built at Valley Cemetery in 1888, used to store the deceased during winter when the ground was frozen. In 1907, Mrs. Hannah Currier donated gates at Auburn and Chestnut Streets in honor of her late husband, Moody Currier, who had served as Governor of New Hampshire (1885–1887). A chapel in the English Gothic style was completed in 1932, replacing a wooden chapel that stood at the same site. The new building was designed by Manchester architect Chase R. Whitcher.[2] The stone structure is now in bad repair and has been closed for many years. There are 13 private mausoleums in the cemetery.
Restoration effortsedit
By the end of the 20th century, the cemetery was recognized by many to be in serious decline, and its heritage as a garden cemetery had long since been forgotten by most. In 2002, the interest of Education Continuum at Southern New Hampshire University spurred the creation of Friends of the Valley Cemetery, a non-profit community organization dedicated to raising funds for the cemetery and overseeing its restoration.[3] The group has partnered with city officials to coordinate maintenance efforts and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for future restoration. A master plan has been written that will guide future restoration of the cemetery. The Currier Gate was restored in 2004.
Since 2003, Friends of the Valley Cemetery has hosted an annual strawberry festival in the cemetery, emphasizing its previous heritage as a "garden cemetery" that exists to be enjoyed by residents.
Prominent burialsedit
Many of the city's leaders have been buried at Valley Cemetery, including:
Manchester mayors Jacob F. James, Warren L. Lane, Alonzo Smith, David A. Bunton, Darwin J. Daniels, Joseph B. Clark, David B. Varney and William C. Clarke[4]
Governor Frederick Smyth (1819–1899), whose imposing tomb is one of the jewels of the cemetery
Aretas Blood (1816–1897), owner of the Amoskeag Locomotive Works, and his wife Lavinia Kendall Blood, founder of the Manchester Women's Aid and Relief Society in 1875
^ ab"New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places". New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
^Valley Cemetery NRHP Registration Form 2022-09-25 at the Wayback Machine (2004)
^"Resident preserving town cemeteries". The Cabinet Press. February 3, 2012. from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
^"Valley Cemetery". City of Manchester. from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Valley Cemetery.
Friends of the Valley Cemetery
Manchester, New Hampshire city government page on Valley Street Cemetery
valley, cemetery, valley, street, cemetery, public, cemetery, located, manchester, hampshire, united, states, bounded, east, pine, street, north, auburn, street, west, willow, street, south, valley, street, from, which, derives, name, listed, national, registe. The Valley Cemetery or the Valley Street Cemetery is a public cemetery located in Manchester New Hampshire United States It is bounded on the east by Pine Street on the north by Auburn Street on the west by Willow Street and on the south by Valley Street from which it derives its name It was listed on the U S National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2003 1 Valley CemeteryU S National Register of Historic PlacesNH State Register of Historic PlacesThe cemetery chapelShow map of New HampshireShow map of the United StatesLocationPine and Auburn streetsManchester New HampshireCoordinates42 59 00 N 71 27 36 W 42 98333 N 71 46000 W 42 98333 71 46000NRHP reference No 04000964Significant datesAdded to NRHPSeptember 10 2004Designated NHSRHPApril 28 2003 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Restoration efforts 2 Prominent burials 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe cemetery came into existence in 1840 when the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company donated 20 acres 81 000 m2 of land in downtown Manchester to the city for the purpose of creating a public burial ground In 1841 the city created the Valley Street Cemetery It was designed as a garden cemetery meant to be a place where the public could stroll along its walkways carriage paths and bridges In this Victorian Era garden cemeteries in which not only the dead resided but the living communed with each other and with nature were popular By the late 1850s the cemetery was nearly filled and the much larger Pine Grove Cemetery was created That cemetery lies to the west of Calef Road and to the east of the Merrimack River nbsp The scenic stream valley that roughly bisects the cemetery A receiving tomb was built at Valley Cemetery in 1888 used to store the deceased during winter when the ground was frozen In 1907 Mrs Hannah Currier donated gates at Auburn and Chestnut Streets in honor of her late husband Moody Currier who had served as Governor of New Hampshire 1885 1887 A chapel in the English Gothic style was completed in 1932 replacing a wooden chapel that stood at the same site The new building was designed by Manchester architect Chase R Whitcher 2 The stone structure is now in bad repair and has been closed for many years There are 13 private mausoleums in the cemetery Restoration efforts edit By the end of the 20th century the cemetery was recognized by many to be in serious decline and its heritage as a garden cemetery had long since been forgotten by most In 2002 the interest of Education Continuum at Southern New Hampshire University spurred the creation of Friends of the Valley Cemetery a non profit community organization dedicated to raising funds for the cemetery and overseeing its restoration 3 The group has partnered with city officials to coordinate maintenance efforts and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for future restoration A master plan has been written that will guide future restoration of the cemetery The Currier Gate was restored in 2004 Since 2003 Friends of the Valley Cemetery has hosted an annual strawberry festival in the cemetery emphasizing its previous heritage as a garden cemetery that exists to be enjoyed by residents Prominent burials editMany of the city s leaders have been buried at Valley Cemetery including Manchester mayors Jacob F James Warren L Lane Alonzo Smith David A Bunton Darwin J Daniels Joseph B Clark David B Varney and William C Clarke 4 Governor Frederick Smyth 1819 1899 whose imposing tomb is one of the jewels of the cemetery Governor Moody Currier 1806 1898 Congressman Ira Allen Eastman 1809 1881 Senator Daniel Clark 1809 1891 Abolitionist campaigner Rev Andrew Foss Aretas Blood 1816 1897 owner of the Amoskeag Locomotive Works and his wife Lavinia Kendall Blood founder of the Manchester Women s Aid and Relief Society in 1875 Gov Ezekiel A Straw 1819 1882 an engineer for the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company who laid out the street grid for the city of Manchester Brigadier general Joseph Carter Abbott a Union veteran of the American Civil War who remained in the American South following the war and was active in local politics there A member of the Republican Party he served as a U S Senator from North Carolina See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Hillsborough County New HampshireReferences edit a b New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources Archived from the original on October 19 2020 Retrieved November 25 2020 Valley Cemetery NRHP Registration Form Archived 2022 09 25 at the Wayback Machine 2004 Resident preserving town cemeteries The Cabinet Press February 3 2012 Archived from the original on March 18 2018 Retrieved July 6 2017 Valley Cemetery City of Manchester Archived from the original on August 15 2013 Retrieved June 5 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Valley Cemetery Friends of the Valley Cemetery Manchester New Hampshire city government page on Valley Street Cemetery Valley Cemetery at Find a Grave nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Valley Cemetery amp oldid 1209252893, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
