Riverside Cemetery

Photo by Brooke Martin

Farmington’s Riverside Cemetery lies above and beside the banks of the Farmington River, a tranquil oasis from the traffic on nearby streets. Those who come to bury their dead take for granted the existence of such a facility, as do the many who are welcome to enjoy the well-kept grounds and roads for exercise and recreation. It was not always so. Attempts to create and maintain a proper burying ground required almost a century of effort before it could be said that a stable and enduring organization existed. Efforts began in the 1830s, after the old burying ground on Main Street was fully occupied. Not until the 1920s do we find continuous records and overall maintenance of the entire grounds.