by Narona Gebert
Recently, I took the time to look across our well maintained cemetery and I began to wonder just how many people really know about our cemetery's beginnings and the growing pains it had. No time could be more appropriate to reflect than this 100th anniversary. Come with me and let us take a glimpse into the past...
The two tracts of land purchased for the purpose of establishing a cemetery were open fields of a farm. One was a portion of the George Graber estate. The other, farm land with a house and outbuildings, known as the Folk farm.
Penn Street was not opened until after 1922; therefore, access to the cemetery area was via Church Road, more commonly known as Bull Road. It originated alongside the current building of "Action Cleaners", the former Bauman establishment, in East Greenville. Then ran southeast, passing through St. Mark's property ending at Route 663, just slightly above the road leading to the Upper Perkiomen Golf Course.
The original size of the cemetery was much smaller than the present. About eighty rods of fence surrounded it. A narrow lane from Bull Road went through the cemetery to the east side where it ended in a cul-de-sac.
In 1905, a right-of-way was secured for easier access to the cemetery from Main Street to Bull Road, which fell in line with the cemetery roadway. The right-of-way was mainly used for funeral processions from the church to the cemetery.
The first cemetery lots were sold on the left side of the drive and later to the north and south of it. Grave prices varied greatly according to location. The price of a grave also varied within a lot [a lot being eight graves].
Dedication of the cemetery did not take place until September 16, 1906. A new section was opened in 1922 at which time there was another dedication. By then, there were 126 burials.
The original cemetery committee was made up of church council members and a small group who advanced money for making purchase of the land possible. Officers for the cemetery committee were elected from these groups.
Each lot owner was responsible for keeping his lot mowed. In 1908, the cemetery committee purchased its first lawnmower and rented it to lot owners for 25 cents a season. A full-time caretaker was engaged in 1919. Today we have a full-time caretaker and a full-time assistant. As of May 31, 2002 the cemetery has 1.438 recorded burials.
The ruling body making up the cemetery committee since 1985 consists of a chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer and a church council representative.
This condensed version of the history of St. Mark's Cemetery barely touches upon the many aspects concerned with the cemetery. A more complete account is available in booklet form. Please contact the church office to obtain a copy.
If anyone can offer any information on where the Folk farmhouse was located, please come forward. We would also appreciate any pictures of the former identifying cemetery markers - the arch, then the cross.
The thumbnail above is the layout of the cemetery lots. You may click on it to enlarge it into another window, which may then be printed. If the picture does not show, click here: cemetery layout.