Historic African American Cemetery in Rye gets new signage, revitalization

People who lived from the 1820s through 1960s are buried at the cemetery, which is located within Greenwood Union Cemetery.

News 12 Staff

Oct 13, 2021, 10:08 PM

Updated 1,057 days ago

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Visitors will now have an easier time locating the historic African American Cemetery in Rye, thanks to new signage.
People who lived from the 1820s through 1960s are buried at the cemetery, which is located within Greenwood Union Cemetery.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer was among the local officials on hand for the unveiling of the updates to the site.
"It's a matter of respect. It's saying that the people who lived here, who were neglected in the time of their life and in the time of their immediate death for many years are now remembered," he says.
African American veterans from the Civil War and WWI and WWII, along with their families, are among some of the more than 300 people buried there.
"African Americans in this area were brought here and interred here...because there was literally no place else for them to be buried," says Dave Thomas, with Friends of the African American Cemetery.
Eagle Scout Jack Lawler and his troop recently completed a beautification project at the cemetery, putting in a planter near the new sign and a bench.
"I feel very proud to help make the cemetery look how it should be like very professional and important historical place for the state," says Lawler.
The Friends of the Cemetery says the revitalization of the sacred and historic site has just begun.
The Rye African American cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
The last documented burial there was in 1964.