Hidden in the Palisades Cemetery
One of the highlights of "Palisades History Day" in June of 2005 was a tour of the Palisades Cemetery, which contains the gravesites of many locally renowned people.
Consisting of three acres on the north side of Closter Road, its entrance gate is behind 15 Closter Road. It was originally the Lawrence family burial ground and stayed in the family until about 1892 when it was bought, in pieces, by Sam Brown. It passed to his son, George, then to his widow, Helen, who sold it to real estate dealer Karl Kirshner in 1949. It was then sold to Adolfo Luca, of Brooklyn, in the early 1960s. There are close to 370 plots; of these about 200 are unsold. Plots can still be purchased from Mr. Luca (845) 566-0979. The cemetery is open daily. Visitors are asked to please enter and leave the cemetery quietly, as they have to cross private property to enter, and to shut the gate behind them.
A brief description of some of the gravestones:
Mary Lawrence (d: 1774) and Jonathan Lawrence (The "Elder Senior") (b: 1695-d: 1777). These are the oldest stones in the cemetery.
Jonathan Lawrence Jr. (b: 1759-d: 1802). Revolutionary War veteran and grandson of Jonathan Lawrence. The Palisades Lot Owners Tribute (PLOT) structurally restored his headstone in 1998.
Mary "Mollie" Sneden, (b: 1709-d: 1810). Mollie and her husband were the first Snedens of Snedens Landing. Robert died before 1756. Mollie then became the operator of the ferry across the Hudson River to Dobbs Ferry. A new headstone was erected in 1982.
Nicholas Gesner (b: 1765-d: 1858). He kept a diary from 1829 to 1850 that chronicled life in Palisades. Besides being an active farmer, he was a schoolteacher, surveyor and lawyer for his neighbors. Gesner was the original owner of one of the oldest area houses at 95 Closter Road, built in 1793.
Baby Jane Sisco (d: 1846, fourteen days old). Jane's stone is the only one left from the 'Mountain Church' cemetery at the Skunk Hollow settlement. The stone was moved to Palisades Cemetery in 1974.
Sam Brown (b: 1847-d: 1918). He owned the cemetery and also some greenhouses that were located on the land where the Palisades Library now stands. His son George, who was Sheriff of Rockland County, inherited both properties.
Winthrop Sargent Gilman, Jr. (b: 1839-d: 1923). An early historian of Palisades, he built and owned Neiderhurst estate on Ludlow Lane. In 1863 Gilman designed and founded Palisades Presbyterian Church. He also wrote an extensive Library subject index. He was the father of gardening author Anna Gilman Hill.
Adele (b: 1910-d: 1977) and husband Harry Sisco (b: 1904-d: 1976). Adele was the first cook at the Palisades School in the 1940s.
Mike Evans (b: 1886-d: 1940). African-American World War I veteran. Buried in the farthest northwest corner of the cemetery.
Post Monument - Abram (Abraham) Post (b: 1814-d: 1872) and his descendants. Mr. Post gave land to seven of his eight children on the south side of Oak Tree Road, which became known as Post Row. His family donated land for the Palisades School (now the Community Center).
August Dumpkin (b: 1854-d: 1922). He operated a blacksmith shop on Oak Tree Road next to the present day post office in the late 1800's to early 1900's.
Holstead "Hollie" Post (b: 1870-d: 1948). Post cut and delivered ice in a horse-drawn wagon from his family's large ice pond on Closter Road behind Albon Man's house.
Charles Waldron (b: 1858-d: 1935) and wife Catherine (b: 1885-d: 1955). Proprietors of the Country Store lo-cated at the intersection of Oak Tree and Closter Roads from 1930 to the early 1950's.
Harry Schaffer (b: 1884-d: 1957). He owned land along Oak Tree Road. Locally famous for his turkey shoots and his baseball field where semi-pro teams played. Spectators watched the games on Sunday afternoons in the 1920's.
Harold Post (b: 1898-d: 1970). Son of Hollie Post. In the 1920's he delivered ice in a truck, which doubled as a school bus. He also owned a gas station on the western side of 9W next to Yonderhill.
Fay Hollingshead (Ellison) (b: 1948-d: 1988). First female pastor at the Palisades Presbyterian Church from 1975 to 1981.
Kathleen Stewart Martine (b: 1887-d: 1991). She was the organist and choir director at the Palisades Pres-byterian Church from 1944 to 1980.
Mildred Post Rippey (b: 1901-d: 1995). A local personality and historian, she was the librarian at the Palisades Library from 1948 to 1983 and the last "Post" to live on Post Row.
Helene Stansbury (b: 1912-d: 1999). Founder of PLOT in 1982. This organization was started to maintain and preserve the cemetery after it had been neglected for many years.
Much of the historical information about the cemetery was obtained from Alice Haagensen's book, Palisades and Snedens Landing.