Taking it to the grave
St. Ninian’s Pioneer Cemetery focus of new restoration and heritage project
When a loved ones passes on, we honour them by celebrating and commemorating their lives. But what about the individuals who literally laid the foundation for the communities in which we live? Remembering those who have made an impact on our way of life for generations is a sign of respect for not only them but our heritage, history and the places we call home.
In the spirit of honouring those who have paved the way for Antigonish, St. Ninian’s Pioneer Cemetery, located on Main Street, is now the focus of a restoration/heritage project led by the parish’s pioneer graveyard committee.
“In the late 70s, the cemetery was in really bad shape,” says St. Ninian’s board member Bill Landry, noting the tombstones’ unsightly condition (cracked after decades of lying on frozen ground and water damage) inspired the restoration.
“We decided to stand them all back up to salvage them for the future. We set up about 50 stones and we’re going to build a new fence around the old cemetery to protect it from vandalism.”
A BRIEF HISTORY
The Pioneer Main Street Cemetery, established in 1824, is the final resting place of many Scottish and Irish immigrants of Catholic faith who settled in Antigonish County during the early 1800s seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Creating a foundation for Antigonish town and county, they cleared the land and built roads, schools and places of worship in the community.
The cemetery was originally laid out to contain 185 plots, each of which could hold six burials. In 1874, the new Saint Ninian Cathedral was officially dedicated, and the former on Main Street was converted into a school. The last burial in the Main Street cemetery occurred in 1877. Since then, three buildings and a parking lot have been constructed on the cemetery property. In 1981, the remaining 46 headstones were laid flat, in a semicircle formation, at the back of the cemetery property. The remaining headstones were removed for safekeeping in 2020, with plans to reinstate them in the cemetery.
The settlers buried in the cemetery are from North Grant, St Joseph’s, Morristown, South River and areas all around the county, including the village of Antigonish.
HERITAGE PROJECT
The Pioneer Cemetery Heritage Project aims to salvage and enhance what remains of the Main Street Cemetery in honour of Antigonish’s forefathers.
The objectives of this threeyear project include:
• The creation of a beautiful heritage site to recognize the pioneers buried in the cemetery who established and developed Antigonish.
• A place where the religious and educational history of the community can be passed on to locals, tourists and future generations.
• A welcoming, accessible and environmentally friendly green space of serenity and relaxation.
• A respectful place that can host appropriate public functions.
“We want to make it a quiet, reflective place,” says Landry. “Sort of like a tourist area to visit but also still a cemetery.”
So far, the restoration project, estimated to cost $260,000, has achieved significant progress, thanks to more than 1,500 volunteer hours and financial support from municipal council, businesses and private individuals.
Two primary objectives have already been attained with the repair and installation of 50 headstones (dating from the 1840s to 1860s), a Celtic Cross and partial fencing. The remaining work includes the extension of wooden fence on the east and south sides of the cemetery, the installation of wrought iron fencing, benches, interpretive panels, security cameras and landscaping.
Additional proposals for the site include installing QR codes throughout the heritage site that will link to a historical website which will tell two stories: one concerning the pioneer settlers and the other concerning the development of education in Antigonish beginning in 1817 (when Catholics were prohibited from teaching) to the development of public schools and universities such as St. Francis Xavier.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT STILL NEEDED
With about $100,000 of the $260,000 goal reached, St. Ninian’s Parish continues to seek support from the community.
“There’s a lot of families with close ties to the cemetery that probably don’t know about it,” says Landry. “I like doing genealogy following old Antigonish families. I have 130,000 names in my computer and there are definitely people that are connected to the cemetery that are still alive and in Antigonish.”
A fundraising campaign has been open since July, inviting donations from the community. Individuals can give via cheque, money order or e-transfer. If adequate community financial support is attained, it’s anticipated the project can be completed in time for a grand opening during the 2023 Highland Games.
“Hopefully, people say, ‘I might have some relatives in that cemetery; I should donate,’” says Landry.
To learn more about St. Ninian’s Pioneer Cemetery and how you can contribute to the heritage project, visit www.stniniansparishcemetery.ca/st-ninians-pioneercemetery/
See the next edition of The Casket, which will include an article containing detailed information about specific pioneers buried at St. Ninian’s Pioneer Cemetery.