EMILY CEMETERY

Early burials in Emily Township were generally made to any one of three possible locations, including Christ Church Omemee burying grounds, the Omemee Methodist Churchyard or Emily Presbyterian Cemetery located on the corner of Middle road and the Second Line, some interments were also made on private property.

Emily Cemetery Omemee was opened in 1872 as a non-denominational burying grounds, it is located on Lot 12, Concession 4 of Emily Township, lying on the north side of Highway # 7 between Peterborough and Omemee. After this cemetery commenced, many of the bodies interred in the two Omemee Village graveyards were relocated to the new burying ground. Although no further burials were made to these two cemeteries within town, there did remain in the churchyards, several old tombstones markers which in time deteriorated and crumbled.

In 1929, LADY EATON (nee McCrea) arranged, as a memorial to her family, the building of the beautiful stone chapel which graces the Emily Cemetery grounds. Stephen Paragreen, was for a period of time caretaker of the cemetery grounds, He passed away in the 1929 and his was the first service conducted from the newly built chapel. Stephen is buried in Section 1, lot 22 W1/2.

A further gift from Lady Eaton was the building of the cemetery entranceway. Built in the style of an Old English lich gate, it opens onto the central section of the burying grounds.

- CEMETERY LAYOUT -

There are now eight sections within the cemetery grounds and a recently erected 2 columbarium’s on the section 6. Section 1 lies directly in front of the stone chapel, Section 1A adjoins Section 1 on its western edge. Section 2 lies to the east of Section 1 separated by a grass lane-way. Section 3 is located to the east of the chapel and on the north side of Section 2. Section 4 lies behind and to the west of the chapel. On the West end of the Section 4, and being and extension of newer stones to tat section, is found Section 4A. Section 5 is located along the front Highway side of the cemetery running eastward from the lich gate. Section 5A is similarly located along the highway side, running westward from the lich gate. Section 6 is found on the west side of the chapel and appears to be surrounded by Sections 4 and 4A. The newest areas of the burying grounds are Section 7, located to the north side of Section 3 and separated from it by grass lane-way, north of 7 is 7A . Lot numbers begin at #1 in each Section and are designated as being on the west or east side of each plot.

- OUR CHAPEL MEMORIAL CHAPEL RESTORATION -

The Board of Directors of Emily Cemetery undertook the restoration of the Chapel in 2000. It was designated a HERITAGE BUILDING at the time. Over the years the building had not been maintained and the Directors felt that it was most important that this beautiful building be restored for the future.

We applied to the Government and received our Charitable Status so we can issue tax receipts for donations.

The stonework on the exterior has been repointed, new basement windows installed and the interior has been repaired and redecorated. The building had no heat so we had a furnace installed and keep the heat low over the winter months so that no further deterioration will take place.

The only revenue we have to continue this restoration of the building is the offering at Decoration Day each year in June. We are now starting to receive donations from families at the time of a bereavement. Some suggest donations the Emily Cemetery Chapel Restoration in lieu of flowers. Tax receipts are issued for these donations and we have a Memorial Book for the Chapel where we record the name of the donor and who the gift is in memory of. Some families are leaving a bequeath in their estate for the Chapel Restoration.

It is the desire of the Board of Directors that we will be able to establish a Trust Fund that the interest will keep the building in excellent condition for eternity.