Gazing upon Salem Street Burying Ground, it’s easy to feel a sense of tranquility. Yet, beneath the quiet surface lies a tapestry of stories, echoing Medford’s vibrant past. Salem Street Burying Ground isn’t just a cemetery. It’s a time capsule, preserving the memories of Medford’s early inhabitants. Established in the late 17th century, it served as the primary resting place for almost three centuries. The earliest stones date back to 1683. The most recent burial took place in 1938.
Originally the private cemetery of the Wade family, Salem Street Burying Ground was acquired by the town of Medford in 1717. Over 600 souls rest here, although only around 425 tombstones remain. Some stones mark multiple burials, a common practice in the 17th century. One large slate slab commemorates at least four members of the Wade family. Near the Riverside Avenue entrance, a marker honors several unknown Revolutionary War soldiers from New Hampshire who fell at Bunker Hill. A somber reminder of sacrifice lies in the southwest corner. Over fifty enslaved individuals rest in unmarked graves. A 2019 memorial finally acknowledges their presence.
Throughout the 19th century, Salem Street Burying Ground underwent several transformations, reflecting evolving cemetery design trends. Tombstones were rearranged, rotated, and new paths were laid. The perimeter fence saw numerous changes in material and style. A granite wall was constructed along the eastern side. Victorian-era landscaping created a “garden” cemetery atmosphere. Two prominent monuments were added. An 1838 obelisk honors John Brooks, physician, Revolutionary War figure, and Massachusetts governor. An 1849 boulder commemorates the New Hampshire soldiers who died at Bunker Hill.
As Medford grew, the area surrounding Salem Street Burying Ground became increasingly busy. A Baptist church, a railroad line with its accompanying structures, a coal yard, a rum distillery, a livery stable, and a lumberyard all sprang up nearby. With limited space for expansion, burials at Salem Street slowed. Oak Grove Cemetery became the preferred burial ground for Medford citizens. Between 1917 and 1927, only one person was interred at Salem Street, followed by just two more burials in 1934 and 1938.
Unfortunately, during the 1940s, a street widening project resulted in some tombs being buried under new sidewalks. The cemetery’s perimeter wall was also pushed back. Vandalism in the 1990s damaged or destroyed a number of slate headstones. However, thanks to the efforts of the Medford Historical Commission, many have been restored. In 1930, a formal gate and commemorative plaques were added to the entrance, marking Medford’s tricentennial. Salem Street Burying Ground was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The remaining tombstones, primarily carved slate, display a range of iconography, from Puritan-era death’s heads and cherubim from the “Great Awakening” period to the more secular neoclassical images of the later 19th century. Salem Street Burying Ground stands as a testament to Medford’s rich and complex past.