Pause for a moment and think about a forgotten sanctuary. It is a place where time seems to slow down. Welcome to Darnes Cemetery. This is not just a burial ground. It is a chronicle of lives lived and a testament to enduring memory.
Darnes Cemetery was established in 1770 on Col. James Wren’s estate. The estate was sold and became residential properties. His original home named Longview still stands nearby. It is only a few hundred yards from the cemetery.
For years the cemetery was overgrown. But caretaker Pete Greene his family and the local neighborhood worked together. Members of the Wren and Darne families joined them to preserve this piece of history. The once-forgotten are now remembered.
Many headstones are gone. But there are more people buried here than you might think. We know the names of 19. But many more are unknown. Original headstones are gone. But you can see dornick stones or footstones throughout Darnes Cemetery.
The location of Col. James Wren is known. He now has a new stone in its proper location. Three more new stones were added. They are for Col. John S. Wren Capt. Robert Darne and John Robert Darne. A plaque stands in memory of all those resting here known and unknown.
Throughout much of the 19th century this cemetery was part of the Longview and Winterhill estates. The Wren and Darne families ran them. The Winterhill home is gone. But apartments stand on the land and share its name. The Longview home still stands. The Magness family lovingly cares for it.
Every December Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies. They take place at Arlington National Cemetery and over 2100 locations. Darnes Cemetery is one of them.
As you wander through Darnes Cemetery remember its humble beginnings. Think about the families connected to this land. Reflect on the lives that shaped its story. It is a place of rest and remembrance. It stands as a reminder of the past.