Old St. Marys Cemetery

However, these improvements did not last long and were not maintained.

In 1943, just 3 years later, a reporter S. Garrett, with the London Free Press, actually reported on the state of the cemetery. His article referred to the "deplorable condition." With overgrowth covering most graves, it was speculated that most residents did not even know this was a cemetery at the time. The articles goes on to refer to the large number of people interred here as "still hundreds of tombstones in various stages of preservation in evidence". Making comments that some time ago an attempt had been made to renovate the burial grounds with little to no progress made, possibly referring to the work done in 1940.

The cemetery is briefly described as follows, " The Anglican graveyard is quite large and surrounded by a wire fence. Not far from the gate is a large slab stone, the face of which is divided into two sections. On one section is the name Margaret wife of A.M German died 1829, and Hester Ann, wife of A.M. German 1849. Both women 22 years of age at time of death.

Side by side are the graves of Mary, Wife of John Dinsmore, dies 1855, in her 32 year, and Mary, Wife of Robert McCollough, dies 1856, aged 25. Still in evidence are memorials to John Guest, died, 1860, aged 38, William Frederick Bussell, died 1862, aged 25; George Weston, died 1865, aged 46; and Thomas Williams, died 1865, aged 47. The later a native of London Eng." The article goes on to list more names and dates from the stones remaining at that time. Truly a treasure chest of lost info.

The article continues with mention of "the grave of Thomas Ingersoll Sr. died 1847, age 53. The Ingersolls were a prominent family in the early days of both Ingersoll and St.Marys." A fairly humble mention of the towns founder, but verification that the stone existed. 

"East of the Anglican is the Methodist burial ground. Some years ago a street was built through it and the land on both sides plowed up and cropped. Houses are also said to have been built in some parts of it. Most of the tombstones seem to have been drawn to the fence along the east side of it and left there. There are scores of them, mostly slab stones along the fence and many more lying in clumps of shrubbery near by." 

"Still further east is the old Presbyterian cemetery, surrounded by an iron fence." I must give the credit to S. Garrett for such a descriptive article and all the names provided within.  Although they are not listed here, I will ensure they are documented and recorded in the Old Saint Marys Cemetery  on findagrave.com.

The article concludes referring to a stone left blank on one side, "A large slab stone marks the burial plot of the Falconer family. Half of the top part is devoted to William Falconer, dies 1857, aged 48. The bottom part contains the names of Barbara dies 1871, aged 23, and John1867 aged 10. The other half of the top section was probably intended for his wife's name, but apparently, after she had passed on there were none of the family left to see that it was inscribed." 

By the 1960s, numerous articles, but nothing was actually done with this area until a housing development was slated to go directly through the Methodist section. It was at that time the local groups within St. Marys and the rec dept converted it to a park. Although with best intentions, the stones not relocated to the new Cemetery, were removed to a cairn in the east corner, whereas the others were piled and cemented into a monument in the west corner. Unfortunately, leaving most unreadable, unrestorable and lost forever.