Founded in 1891, Acacia Cemetery whispers tales of New York’s Jewish history. This cemetery, also known as The Bayside Acacia Cemetery, is in Ozone Park, Queens.
Acacia Cemetery began with the Pike Street Synagogue of Manhattan. The synagogue no longer exists. Congregation Shaare Zedek now owns Acacia Cemetery. Once, their office was on East Broadway.
When you ride the A Train, look out the window. Acacia Cemetery is easy to spot from the elevated Lefferts Boulevard extension.
Acacia Cemetery covers 15 hectares. That is about 37 acres. There are 34,800 plots. Many military veterans rest here. They served from the Civil War onward.
Mokom Sholom Cemetery borders Acacia Cemetery on the west. Acacia Cemetery and Mokom Sholom Cemetery were once well cared for. Professional ground crews kept them tidy.
In recent decades, Acacia Cemetery suffered. It fell into disrepair. Congregation Shaare Zedek, located far away in Manhattan, struggled to maintain it. They said upkeep cost too much. Funds meant for the cemetery went to fix their synagogue roof.
Eventually, the state took over Acacia Cemetery. David Jacobson also manages it. The Community Association for Jewish At-Risk Cemeteries stepped in. They started a major project to restore Acacia Cemetery. MC Landscaping did the cleanup. Volunteers helped too. Dr. Ronny Herskovits led them. The initial cleanup aimed to finish by November 2009.
Acacia Cemetery stands alongside Bayside Cemetery and Mokom Sholom Cemetery. These three Jewish cemeteries cover nearly 40 acres. About 50,000 people are buried here. The cemeteries sit on flat land. They stretch from 80th Street to 84th Street. They run from Liberty Avenue to Pitkin Avenue.
These cemeteries are separate. But, they are next to each other. This has led to confusion. Burial records get mixed up. Obituaries become unclear. Sometimes it’s hard to know which cemetery holds a person.
Newspapers and property records often confuse the cemeteries. They mix up ownership too. The three cemeteries share a history. It is a story of poor care, money troubles, neglect, and vandalism. Some awful acts happened here in New York City cemeteries.
Acacia Cemetery also experienced vandalism. However, it was not as frequent or severe as at Bayside and Mokom Sholom.
In the 1970s, the state took over Mokom Sholom and Acacia. David Jacobson now manages them.
It is unfortunate that neglect and desecration have overshadowed Acacia Cemetery’s history. Few family members visit. No famous people are buried here to draw crowds. Acacia Cemetery, together with Bayside and Mokom Sholom, serve as a reminder of what happens if we forget the past. As we leave Acacia Cemetery, remember the importance of preserving history. Remember to honor those who came before us.