Salem Cemetery HeritageBack in the summer of 1860, a parcel of land two acres in size on Part of Lot 21, Concession 1, Cramahe Township, in the County of Northumberland had been conveyed to Thomas Webb. For the sum of $20.00, paid to David Buchan of the University of Toronto, this land was transferred to Mr. Webb for the purposes of a General Burying Ground.
On July 13, 1885, a public meeting was called by George W. Webb to appoint the first Board of Managers for the General Burying Ground. The first four members, in addition to Mr. Webb, were Robert Armstrong, Edward Cochrane M.P., Wesley Goodrich, and John Sinclair. Mr. Webb was the first Chairman and Mr. Armstrong was the first Secretary. |
In the spring of 1909, for the sum of $1.00, descendants of Thomas Webb conveyed to the Trustees of Salem Cemetery the original two acres held in trust by the Webb family. At that time, the Trustees of Salem Cemetery were Robert Snetsinger of Colborne, and Frederick McConnell and William H. Cochrane of Cramahe Township.
In 1904, the Spillsbury family sold a parcel of land, about ¾ acre, to Mark Ventress for $100.00. In 1915, Mr. Ventress sold this same parcel of land to the Salem Cemetery Board for $190.00.
In 1947, the Salem Cemetery Board members were C. F Gummer, Chairman, and W.J. Onyon, Secretary-treasurer, with W.J. Cochrane, Howard Swain and Kenneth Mutton.
Information from the 100th Anniversary Bulletin (1961) of Salem United Church states that the Salem Cemetery Board paid $150.00 for the land directly behind the Church where the drive shed was located.
In the fall of 1974, an addition to the Cemetery - a parcel of 1.416 acres - was purchased from Grant Whaley.
In January 2002, a further 2 ½ acres was transferred from Howard Whaley to the Salem Cemetery Board.
The Salem Cemetery board of trustees incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation on the 1st of June 2017 with a view to transferring all lands of the cemetery into the corporation in accordance with the Land Titles Act. It is our intention to have this project completed by the end of 2020.
In 1904, the Spillsbury family sold a parcel of land, about ¾ acre, to Mark Ventress for $100.00. In 1915, Mr. Ventress sold this same parcel of land to the Salem Cemetery Board for $190.00.
In 1947, the Salem Cemetery Board members were C. F Gummer, Chairman, and W.J. Onyon, Secretary-treasurer, with W.J. Cochrane, Howard Swain and Kenneth Mutton.
Information from the 100th Anniversary Bulletin (1961) of Salem United Church states that the Salem Cemetery Board paid $150.00 for the land directly behind the Church where the drive shed was located.
In the fall of 1974, an addition to the Cemetery - a parcel of 1.416 acres - was purchased from Grant Whaley.
In January 2002, a further 2 ½ acres was transferred from Howard Whaley to the Salem Cemetery Board.
The Salem Cemetery board of trustees incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation on the 1st of June 2017 with a view to transferring all lands of the cemetery into the corporation in accordance with the Land Titles Act. It is our intention to have this project completed by the end of 2020.
TANGLED ROUTES OF VIMY OAKS
Days after Canadians took back Vimy Ridge in 1917, a soldier, Lt. Leslie Miller walking along the barren battlefield, pocketed a few acorns from a shattered oak. He mailed them home to Scarborough where they were planted on a family farm. Now 100 years later, Vimy oaks descended from those very acorns, will once again rise to honour Canada's remarkable Great War victory. In 1919, Lt. Miller returned home to a 24 acre farm and his oaks. Miller married and he and his wife, Essie, named their farm Vimy Oaks. In the mid 60's they sold and Miller died at Sunnybrook Veterans' Hospital in 1979 at age 90. Today we have a Vimy Ridge sapling planted in the old section of our Salem Cemetery honouring all those who have taken part in the wars. Taken in part from Toronto Star story by Jim Coyle. |