Allentown Cemetery

Route 417-West of Allentown-Left Side of Highway

This is a c.1934 picture showing the way the cemetery looked at that time.  The oilwell was successful!  Although the trees & bushes are grown larger & obscure much of the cemetery from the main highway, the Town of Alma is providing clean-up and mowing.  This cemetery has burials from the early 1800's.   Newell Phillips, died  May 15, 1832, aged 74 years, may be the 1st burial at this cemetery.  Records are scarce, but, the record below was compiled by Inez G. Church and her assistants, Muriel Church Kruger and Hazel Shear, and is a part of the cemetery records of Catherine Schuyler Chapter, D.A.R., of Allegany County,NY.  The record was completed prior to 1960 when Hazel Shear published her book, "The Alma Story, Part II, 1850-1900".  Updates have been added to the original D.A.R.  list as they have become available from newspaper clippings and supplied from various sources.  It is hoped that someday a record book of the cemetery might be found, but, at this time it remains lost.   Ron Taylor, Alma Town Historian 2008.

Although many people find my hobby of chasing down burial sites uninteresting, I look for new and fresh views to create interest.

At 1st appearance, the above view I recently noted in my hometown Allentown Cemetery, seemed normal enough.  At second notice, however, I realized that the pipe structure is built around one gravesite only, Deckman plot.  Not only that, the pipe used is of very old heavy quality oil pipe and was built in such manner that it was probably installed before the 24"+ diameter Maple tree was started, probably growing right on top of the grave.  How old is the fence?....perhaps 1880s?  The burial noted is "Anna, wife of Jacob Deckman-b.Oct 13, 1838 d.Jan 13, 1884."  Two trees now stand guard, inside the fence.

Photo by Penny Phillips DePasquale - Fall 2009

Above Fall Scene shows Curving Roadway Approach to Allentown Cemetery.

Burials at Allentown Cemetery

Allentown Cemetery List Transcribed by Ronald G. Taylor