Whispers of Georgetown’s past linger here. We stand before the site of the former Presbyterian Burying Ground. This wasn’t just any cemetery. It was once one of Georgetown’s most prominent burial grounds. Think of the elegant mausoleums the wealthy families built. Think of the simple vaults for those of more modest means.
Established in 1802 the ground was a bustling place. The church offered low prices for plots. It quickly filled with the remains of Georgetown’s residents. Aristocratic families like the Campbells and Morfeats chose it. So did middle-class families. Even the humble had a place here.
The cemetery wasn’t always popular. Congressional Cemetery opened in 1807. It offered more space and grandeur. By the 1840s and 1850s the Presbyterian Burying Ground was in decline. Oak Hill Cemetery opened in 1848. Families moved their loved ones. The Presbyterian Burying Ground fell into disrepair. Records were lost in fires. Weeds took over.
Then came the 1891 attempt at demolition. The church lacked funds for upkeep. They revoked burial permits. Families were asked to remove remains. Some did. Many did not. Disinterments began. Workers discovered graves of important figures. Mary Stevens Livingston’s grave was found. So was that of Joseph Carleton. The exhumations were difficult. Winter weather delayed the process. Many graves remained untouched.
The Presbyterian Burying Ground became a desolate place. Vandals looted. Local people used it as a garbage dump. The chapel was used as a classroom for African-American children.
The final demolition came in 1909. The District of Columbia purchased the land. Volta Park now stands here. Thousands remain buried beneath the playground. Even today remains are occasionally discovered. Tombstones fragments and bones are sometimes unearthed. The whispers of the past continue to echo. They remind us of the lives once laid to rest here in the former Presbyterian Burying Ground.