The Garden of the Dead: A Walk Through Evergreen Cemetery

If you stand in the center of Evergreen Cemetery on the border of Elizabeth and Hillside, it is easy to forget where you are.

Just a mile away, jets roar out of Newark Airport, trucks rumble down the NJ Turnpike, and urban life buzzes. But inside these 115 acres, it is silent. Designed in the 1850s as a Victorian “garden cemetery,” Evergreen is a tranquil oasis of rolling hills, serpentine paths, and over 100,000 stories carved in stone.

From Civil War heroes to literary giants and Gypsy kings, here is why this cemetery is one of New Jersey’s most fascinating historic sites.

The Victorian Solution to Overcrowding

By the mid-19th century, the church graveyards of Newark and Elizabeth were overflowing. The solution was the Rural Cemetery Movement—a trend of building large, non-denominational cemeteries outside city limits that doubled as public parks.

Established in 1853, Evergreen was designed by German engineer Ernest L. Meyer to reflect the Romantic Victorian view of death.

• The Design: Instead of grim, straight rows, Meyer laid out winding carriage paths named after trees (Oak, Elm) and pedestrian paths named after flowers (Violet, Primrose).
• The Maintenance: In the early days, the lawn wasn’t mowed by machines. The cemetery kept a flock of sheep to trim the grass in the summer! (Later, the sheep were replaced by students from the nearby Pingry School looking for summer jobs).

Famous Residents

Evergreen is the final resting place for a “Who’s Who” of New Jersey history.

Literary Legends:

• Stephen Crane: The author of The Red Badge of Courage died tragically young at 28 but left an indelible mark on American literature.
• Edward Stratemeyer: The prolific creator of the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Tom Swift series.
• Mary Mapes Dodge: The author of Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates. Her grave is marked by a simple natural boulder with a bronze plaque.

The Heroes: The cemetery holds three Medal of Honor recipients: Rufus King, J. Madison Drake, and William Brant. A dedicated Civil War section features two Spanish-American War cannons and a flagpole erected in 1912.

The Gypsy Funerals

One of the most unique aspects of Evergreen is its connection to the Romani (Gypsy) community.

In the late 19th century, Romani groups frequented the area due to the nearby Waverly Park race track. Even after the track moved, the community continued to bury their dead here, starting with John Smith in 1926. Today, an estimated 3,000 Romani people are interred at Evergreen.

Their section is known for its opulent and personalized monuments.

• “Singin’ Sam” Stevens: One of the most famous markers belongs to this musician who died in 1984. His massive black granite monument features a laser-etched electric guitar, a granite amplifier, and a list of his greatest hits engraved on an oversized record.

Architectural Oddities

Walking the grounds is a lesson in funerary art.

• The Van Buskirk-Jaques Vault (1854): Built in the Egyptian Revival style (popular after Napoleon’s campaigns in Egypt), this vault features an entrance lintel ornamented with the winged sun disk and snake head emblem.
• The Administration Building (1907): A stunning rock-faced Colonial Revival structure that originally served as the office and chapel.
• The “Iron Cross”: A rare, hand-forged iron cross marks the grave of Mary Hyra (1922), created by her ironworker father.

If You Visit

Evergreen Cemetery is an active burial ground, so visitors are asked to be respectful of mourners.

• Location: 1137 North Broad Street, Hillside, NJ 07205.
• Hours: The gates are generally open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Maps: The office often provides maps to help locate the graves of notable individuals like Stephen Crane.

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For More Information

• Evergreen Cemetery & Crematory (www.evergreencrematory.com)