Cemetery Seeks New Life

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Cemeteries are not at the top of most people’s priority list, but just like all other properties, they need continual care. Blawenburg Cemetery, located on Route 601 in Blawenburg, has provided a final resting place for families for over 200 years. It began as the Van Zandt family burial grounds on their farm in the early 1800s. While the earliest documented interment was 1835, it is believed that burials happened as far back as 1801. In 1859, John Van Zandt gave the first of several family donations of land at the burial grounds to Blawenburg Reformed Church to enlarge the cemetery for future use. Other land donations from the VanZandt family were made in 1884, 1911, and 1986 to bring it to its current size. In 1988, the Village of Blawenburg, including the cemetery, was placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.

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Realizing the need to care for this national treasure, the Blawenburg Church Cemetery Committee has embarked on several projects with community help in recent years. For his Eagle Scout Project, Bruce Allen of Scout Troop 46 reset the unique stone pillars at the entrance and built adjacent iron fencing. With community donations, a new sign was installed in 2024.

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In 2025, scouts from Troop 46 recognized the importance of the 75 veterans buried in the cemetery by putting flags on their graves for Memorial Day.

Other projects are in the works. Of primary concern is the old iron fence along Route 601 that is misshapen and worn. The Committee is working with the Montgomery Township Landmarks Commission to determine how to replace this in a cost effective manner.

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Another goal of the Committee is to repair gravestones that have fallen over or are broken. Many stones also need to be cleaned. This will be an ambitious project requiring both time and money.

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Today, many more people are being cremated than in earlier years. The Committee has plans to build a cremains garden in a peaceful location in the cemetery for the ashes of the departed.

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There are other projects being discussed, and they all carry costs that exceed the current funds available. For this reason, the Committee is reaching out to the community for financial help. They have launched a campaign to raise at least $100,000 to begin these projects. The Blawenburg Church Cemetery Committee is honored to be the caretaker of the cemetery, and they welcome donations in support of their efforts. Donations may be sent to Blawenburg Church Cemetery, PO Box 266, Blawenburg, NJ 08504.

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