Over 500 souls rest here. In Gethsemane Cemetery. A small plot of land. Yet a significant piece of history.
Gethsemane Cemetery isn’t just a resting place. It’s a testament to resilience. A symbol of struggle and triumph. Located in Little Ferry New Jersey this one-acre cemetery holds a powerful story. Opened in 1860 it served as a burial ground for African-American residents. A community denied access to other cemeteries.
Imagine the lives lived. The struggles faced. The dreams held. Each grave a silent storyteller. Elizabeth Sutliff Dulfer rests here. Formerly enslaved. She became one of the wealthiest business owners in Bergen County. Civil War veterans Peter Billings and Silas M. Carpenter also find their final rest here. Their sacrifices honored. Their stories untold for far too long.
Fewer than 50 gravestones remain. Yet over 500 individuals are documented as being buried within this sacred space. This highlights the importance of remembering. Of acknowledging the erased history. The stories of those who were marginalized. Who were denied the dignity of a proper burial elsewhere.
The cemetery’s history is intertwined with the fight for civil rights. The refusal to bury Samuel Bass a sexton at Hackensack’s First Baptist Church in a white cemetery sparked outrage. New Jersey Governor Leon Abbett intervened. He protested the discrimination. This led to the passing of the “Negro Burial Bill”. A landmark piece of legislation desegregating cemeteries in New Jersey.
Bergen County took over the maintenance of Gethsemane Cemetery in 1985. It was dedicated as a County Historic Site. In 1994 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Recognizing its significance in the fight for equality. And its unique connection to West African burial customs.
Today Gethsemane Cemetery stands as a powerful reminder. A reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice. A place for reflection. A space to honor the lives and legacies of those buried within. A quiet space where history whispers. A history of resilience. A history of hope. A history waiting to be fully explored.