We love cemeteries. The older, the better. I know it might sound a little creepy, but I find them so beautiful and peaceful. The landscapes of cemeteries, in my opinion, can rival that of the most stunning botanical garden. We found this old cemetery quite literally in the middle of nowhere and it was a fantastic discovery.
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Jersey Hill State Forest
There is a large cluster of 7 state forests in the Southern Tier that makes a great destination for a drive. There are lots of roads, mostly dirt, that weave in and out of spectacular wooded scenery. The dirt roads might be a deterrent for some, but they force drivers to slow down and appreciate the beauty around them.
(If you have a chance to take this drive, you will love how beautiful it is and there are some places to get out and hike as well.)
Old Cemetery in the Woods
As we were driving along Jersey Hill Road, enjoying the incredible scenery, this old graveyard popped up out of the blue. Just the way the headstones peaking through the rangy grass shaded by tall trees, you could tell that this was a truly old cemetery. We just had to stop and explore.
The graveyard looks like it receives minimal maintenance, the grass was pretty high and there were a lot of overgrown bushes. Most of the stones were from the mid-1800s and had considerable weathering and were difficult to read. It was just so tranquil walking among the graves.
When got home I decided to do a little research and found that the Allegany County Historical Society Website had a page devoted to this cemetery. The page lists every person buried in this cemetery and what is written on their tombstone.
Compared to the pictures I saw online, it does appear that someone, from time to time, has dedicated some time to fixing the tombstones when they fall or are displaced by the tree roots.
Getting to Jersey Hill Cemetery
GPS Location: 42.364674, -77.878668
On Jersey Hill Rd, Birdsall, NY