Longmeadow Cemetery

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

Here's another "then and now" photo

04/28/2026

One of the rare times when the sun hits the north-facing stones just right!

04/01/2026

Creatures in the cemetery--last night we watched a deer cross the street and easily leap the fence! Here's some other wildlife sightings.

02/04/2026

I look forward to the rare occasions when the full moon makes bright Moonshadows in the cemetery. Here are some photos.

01/02/2026

Reading the diaries of Stephen Williams, Longmeadow's first minister and came across his description of the death of little Stephen Ashley, aged 3.

August 8, 1775; "This day I went out with a design to see a child of Stephen Ashley, that was sick, but met the father, who gave me an account that it was dead--disease the rattles or throat distemper."

This was likely diphtheria, a frightening and often fatal disease.

He mentions the services (which were very well attended), the ringing of the church bell, and the sermon, which included exhortations to be prepared for death, or until all the people, old and young are "covered with the cold clods of the valley."

The stone was likely carved by Jonathan Burt.

12/18/2025

then and now photos, before picture taken by Paesiello Emerson

12/08/2025

While researching in the Rev. Stephen Williams' diaries, I ran across this entry from October 31, 1776 ( I have edited his spelling, abbreviations, and punctuation for readability) "This day Lt. Stebbins was buried--the co**se was brought in (from his son William's at whose house he died) in a wagon to the meeting house. The people assembled in great numbers at the meeting house, & I prayed with them and then the body was carried and deposited in the dark silent grave." Wow!

Lieutenant William Stebbins (1693-1776) was in the midst of Longmeadow's gravestone carvers--his sons Ezra (1731-1796) and William Jr (1726-1797) were gravestone carvers, and we believe that his grandson Zadock (1758-1803) carved his stone. Zadock's brother Eber (1773-1826) was also a carver and moved to Wilbraham (carving stones that resemble the work of Sikes). The family was related to Burts and Newells as well.

Oh, and gravestone carver William Holland sold property--likely a quarry--to William Stebbins, JR and that property was adjacent to Lt. William Stebbins' land--known as the "mouth of the Pecousic"

10/06/2025