Engraved in granite, the word “Hermit” marks a story within Brookdale Cemetery. Welcome to Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham Massachusetts. It is a place of rest, remembrance and local history. More than 28000 people are buried here.
Brookdale Cemetery was established in 1878. Before that, the Old Village Cemetery served Dedham for 250 years. As Dedham’s population grew, especially with immigrant workers for the mills along Mother Brook, the need for a new cemetery became clear.
In 1876, the town formed a committee. Their task was to find land and plan a new cemetery. The town meeting approved their plan on October 20, 1877. They allocated $8150 to purchase 40 acres from Thomas Barrows, Thomas Motley and Walter E. White. People involved in the Mother Brook mills also helped create Brookdale Cemetery.
In 1877, workers cleared over 10 acres of land. They built more than a mile of roads. The roads were named after trees. The paths were named after shrubs and flowers. Brookdale Cemetery had two entrances, one from East Street and another from Brookdale Avenue. The main entrance led to Ash Avenue.
Eliphalet Stone designed the lots to be 15 by 20 feet. The first lot was sold in June 1878. A 700-foot picket fence and a stone wall surrounded the property. Three commissioners managed the cemetery. They were appointed by the Selectmen and served three-year terms. The garden cemetery was designed as a place for the entire town to relax.
In March 1880, the Town Meeting designated a section for Catholics. It was near St. Mary’s Church. This section was bordered by East Street, White’s land, Spruce and Maple Avenues. Starting in 1889, 10% of lot sales went to the Perpetual Care Fund.
The gateways were built of Quincy granite. The gates were made of Michigan pine. The original plans did not include fences or hedges. A pond was dug. A fountain was added to the pond in May 1953. It was dedicated to Ebenezer T. Paul. The fountain was funded by a bequest from Ebenezer’s wife, Marietta.
Frederick R. Storrs designed the receiving tomb. It was built into a heart-shaped recess on a hill inside the cemetery. This tomb was for those who died during winter. Henry Bailey Alden designed the Gate Lodge Chapel in 1903.
Near the Civil War monument, you’ll find James Gately’s grave. He was known as the Hermit of Hyde Park. In 2014, the town expanded the cemetery with over 100 new grave sites. Without this expansion, Brookdale Cemetery would have been full within two years.
After the Civil War, Eliphalet Stone donated land for a monument. It honored Dedham’s Union soldiers. The monument included four cannons. These cannons were thought to be captured from Confederate troops. The monument itself is a granite pedestal. It bears the words “Repose,” “Mespha,” and “Gilead.”
In 1934, the Selectmen hired 50 men. They worked using funds from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. They worked three days a week during the summer. They cleared the hill. It was bounded by Catalpa Walk, Cedar Avenue and Hemlock Avenue. They removed trees, stones and graded the land. The Selectmen also set aside another hill for veterans of World War I. This was done at the request of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. This work was also funded by an ERA grant.
Brookdale Cemetery also features memorials to veterans of other wars. These include the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. There are memorials to the Fire Department, the police and public works departments. A memorial also honors John “Roscoe” Maloney. He was a longtime superintendent of cemeteries in Dedham.
Among the notable people buried here are Henry Bailey Alden, Benjamin H Bailey and Charles A Finn. Brookdale Cemetery stands as a testament to Dedham’s history. It honors those who shaped the town’s past. As you leave Brookdale Cemetery, remember the stories etched in stone. They remind us of the lives lived and the community that endures.