Oakwood Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in

Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...

. It was designed by Howard Daniels and built in 1859. Oakwood Cemetery was created during a time period in the nineteenth century when the rural cemetery was becoming a distinct landscape type, and is a good example of this kind of

landscape architecture Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic design and general engineering of various structures for constructio ...

The original included about of dense oak forest with pine, ash, hickory and maple. A crew of 60 laborers without large-scale earth moving equipment thinned and grouped the trees; today there are many 150-year-old specimens. Students of SUNY-ESF and

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

, whose campuses are adjacent to Oakwood, can regularly be seen in the cemetery for instruction on plant species, capturing insect specimens, cemetery studies, or mammal surveys.

History

Oakwood was an immediate success after its dedication in November 1859. Thousands of visitors led to the establishment of

omnibus Omnibus may refer to: Film and television * ''Omnibus'' (film) * Omnibus (broadcast), a compilation of Radio or TV episodes * ''Omnibus'' (UK TV series), an arts-based documentary programme * ''Omnibus'' (U.S. TV series), an educational progr ...

service directly to the cemetery gates. Additions to the original acreage were laid out in a manner sympathetic to the original design. ''The Oakwood Cemetery project'', run by

libraries, digitizes and preserves valuable cemetery records.

Notable interments

Notable interments at Oakwood Cemetery include: *

Anna Short Harrington Anna Short Harrington (1897 – 1955) was an American model. She was one of several African-American models hired to promote a corporate trademark as "Aunt Jemima". Biography Anna Short was born in 1897 in the Wallace area of Marlboro County ...

(1897–1955), Working at the time as A Syracuse house maid, Anna Was discovered by “Quaker Oats Co." in 1935 while cooking her locally famous pancake recipe at the Syracuse state fair, at which time she became the marketing face of “Aunt Jemima”; An institutionally racist depiction of the “Mammy”-stereotype, used as a marketing tool. * Charles Andrews (1827–1918), chief judge of the NY Court of Appeals *

Edward Gayer Andrews Edward Gayer Andrews (7 August 1825 – 31 December 1907) was a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1872. Biography He was born in New Hartford, New York ( Oneida County). He was educated at Cazenovia Seminary, Cazenovia, New ...

(1825–1907), a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church * Maltbie D. Babcock (1858–1901), 19th-century clergyman and author * Union Major General

Henry A. Barnum Henry Alanson Barnum (September 24, 1833 – January 29, 1892) was a United States Army officer during the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Early life Barnum was born ...

(1833–1892), recipient of the Medal of Honor *

Willis B. Burns Willis Bates Burns (May 28, 1851 – August 15, 1915) was an American businessman and politician from New York. He became Mayor of Syracuse and Mayor of the suburbs of Danforth and Geddes. Life Burns was born on May 28, 1851, in Syracuse, New Yo ...

(1851–1915), businessman, Mayor of Syracuse, member of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Assem ...

George F. Comstock George Franklin Comstock (1811–1892) was an American lawyer and politician. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1860 to 1861. Personal life Comstock was born on August 24, 1811, in Williamstown, New York. He graduated fro ...

(1811–1892), lawyer, politician, and judge, previous owner of the land tract where the cemetery stands *

Stephen D. Dillaye Stephen Devalson Dillaye (August 31, 1820 – October 3, 1884) was an American lawyer, author, and politician. In 1880, he was briefly the presidential nominee of the Union Greenback Labor Party. Early life and family Dillaye was born in 1820 in ...

(1820–1884), politician, lawyer, journalist *

Herbert H. Franklin Herbert may refer to: People Individuals * Herbert (musician), a pseudonym of Matthew Herbert Name * Herbert (given name) * Herbert (surname) Places Antarctica * Herbert Mountains, Coats Land * Herbert Sound, Graham Land Australia * Herbert, ...

(1866–1956), American automobile magnate, businessman and industrialist *

Amos P. Granger Amos Phelps Granger (June 3, 1789 – August 20, 1866) was a U.S. Representative from New York, cousin of Francis Granger. Early life Granger was born in Suffield, Connecticut on June 3, 1789. He was the youngest of four children born to Dr. A ...

(1789–1866), became a general following the War of 1812 * John A. Green, a Utica native who served as brigadier general in the Civil War * William Jervis Hough (1795–1869), attorney, a general in the New York Militia of Cazenovia, 8th Cavalry Regiment, and a representative in the United States Congress * Jesse Truesdell Peck (1811–1883), a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and founder of

* Irene Sargent (1852–1932), art historian and

faculty member * Joseph Lyman Silsbee (1848–1913), architect * Lyman Cornelius Smith (1850–1910), American industrialist * Union Major General Edwin Vose Sumner (1797–1863) * Comfort Tyler (1764–1827), early pioneer in

Ernest Lynn Waldorf Ernest Lynn Waldorf (May 14, 1876 – July 27, 1943) was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1920. He was born on a farm in the South Valley, Otsego County, New York. Waldorf united with the Central New York Annual C ...

(1876–1943), American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church * John M. Wieting (1817–1888), American lecturer and philanthropist

Gallery

File:Oakwood cemetery, The Magician's Eye, Syracuse NY, old cemeteries.jpg, Oakwood Cemetery

File:Oakwood Cemetery - Dedication Valley (Syracuse, NY).jpg, Dedication Valley

File:Oakwood Cemetery Chapel (Syracuse, NY).jpg, Oakwood Cemetery Chapel

File:June 24, 2008 017.JPG, The Soldier's and Sailor's Plot File:Grave at Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse, New York.JPG, Grave of Lt. Col. Augustus Root of the Union Army. He was killed at

Appomattox Court House Appomattox Court House could refer to: * The village of Appomattox Court House, now the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, in central Virginia (U.S.), where Confederate army commander Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union commander Ulyss ...

, April 8, 1865. File:June 24, 2008 009.JPG, Memorial to veterans of the American Civil War. File:Oakwood-cemetery 1920 chapel.jpg, Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse - 1920 - Chapel File:Oakwood-map-1912.jpg, Map (1912), Oakwood Cemetery File:Oakwood-Comfort-Tyler-02.jpg, Memorial to Comfort Tyler File:Oakwood-Crouse-Charles-E-02.jpg, Art Deco bronze door, mausoleum of Charles Edward Crouse File:Oakwood-Sumner-02.jpg, Memorial to Major Gen. E. V. Sumner & wife

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.oakwoodofsyracuse.com/
Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association

Oakwood Cemetery
at Abandoned
Oakwood Cemetery
at Find a Grave Cemeteries in Syracuse, New York Tourist attractions in Syracuse, New York 1859 establishments in New York (state) Monuments and memorials in Syracuse, New York

History

Notable interments

Gallery

See also

References

External links