Church (if this cemetery is affiliated with a church): Almonte United Church
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When established, first interment, where land orginated, etc: HISTORY OF THE AULD KIRK CEMETERY: This picturesque cemetery, built around historic Auld Kirk dates from 1834, when the congregation elected its first session, celebrated the first communion service, made preparations to acquire a burial ground, and to build a place of worship.From the Mitchell family, the first two and one half acres were purchased. later, three acres were acquired from Elizabeth Mansell, and the final section from James Camelon. This forms the present cemetery.
In the beginning, the plots were divided among members of the Congregation of St. Andrew's Church, free of charge. The grass was cut but once a year, for the value of the hay. New members and other congregations, began requesting plots, so the decision was then made to keep the grass cut all summer, and plot owners required to pay one dollar per year. Many owners could not be reached fees remained unpaid, so The Endowment Plan was instituted.
Andrew Cannon, who choked to death on a bean, when he was four years old, was the first interment. His Memorial can be found recorded in Block A, No 25. Re-interments were made from other Burial Places in the district, some from the nearby Free Kirk, an area unsuitable for a cemetery, and some from The Anglican Burial Grounds which at that time, were situated beside St. Paul's Church in the Town of Almonte.
In 1876, the first section was surveyed by Robert McFarlane, and laid out in Plots ten feet square, intersected by footpaths. The second parcel was surveyed in 1896, by E.T.Wilkie. The third by Malcolm McFarlane, Robert's cousin. The entire cemetery is now laid out in parallel strips and divided by roadways, shown on map as Range A,.B,.C,.D, E, F. and G.. The Plots in each Block, are numbered consecutively from left to right,{beginning each Block with one) and returning to the road after each double row. The double rows are divided by footpaths.
Recording the cemetery, we have used our own numbers for each stone, refering, when possible, to original survey map plot numbers, for each Block of double rows. This will easily identify the general location of any particular'stone. Example; Plots B270 to B299, is in B Range about halfway up thus limiting search to one double row.
In 1938, a beautiful new set of entrance gates was installed at the cemetery, in memory of Mr. and Mrs James McLeod, financed by Dr. Stuart Cameron McLeod. A record crowd gathered on Sept.11, to dedicate the gates. People came from all parts of the Ottawa Valley, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and New York to attend this event.
Each year a Memorial Decoration Day is held at the cemetery, usually in August. The Church is open to the public at this time.
SOURCE: Forward of the 1980 ed Auld Kirk Cemetery Book Reprinted in the 2003 ed Auld Kirk Cemetery Book
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