Old Burial Hill (Marblehead, Massachusetts) Explained

Old Burial Hill
Established:1638
Type:Cemetery
Graves:1000 approx.
Location:Marblehead, MA

Old Burial Hill is a historic cemetery in Marblehead, Massachusetts. It is located on the high ground between Marblehead's colonial-era residential and retail district, called "Downtown" by longtime residents and "Old Town" by others, and the Barnegat neighborhood that stretches from Little Harbor to Doliber's Cove, and is accessible via a walkway at Redd's Pond and a stairway at the intersection of Orne and Pond streets. It was the location of Marblehead's First Meeting House built around 1638.[1] Old Burial Hill features scenic vistas of Marblehead Harbor and Salem Sound.

The burying ground was founded in 1638 and contains many historic Puritan gravestones featuring diverse stone carving artwork from the seventeenth century. The burial ground also contains a commemorative headstone of Wilmot Redd, victim of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.[2] It is referenced briefly in the horror author H.P Lovecraft's short-story, "The Festival".

It was the setting of the daytime cemetery scenes in Disney's 1993 Halloween comedy-drama film Hocus Pocus. Select scenes for the film The Good Son (1993) were also filmed here.

Notable burials and cenotaphs

Notes and References

  1. Book: Under the Golden Cod : a shared history of the Old North Church and the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, 1635-1985. 1984. Phoenix Pub. Old North Church.th Anniversary Book Committee. 0-914659-05-7. Canaan, N.H.. 10725026.
  2. Web site: Del Giudice . Rebecca . 2024 . A Sad Condition: Wilmot Redd and the Salem Witch Trials .
  3. Web site: Blander . Leigh . September 19, 2022 . Honoring Agnes: Special dedication on Old Burial Hill for enslaved woman . November 17, 2024.