Fact-finding in Fernhill
Fernhill Cemetery spans three centuries of burials
By Ruby M. Cusack
Winter seemed to be lasting forever so Cliff and I really appreciated this sunny Saturday with mild temperatures. But our playing in the snow was put on hold as Dad suggested it would be a great day for us to take the can of Brasso and shine the brass on the harnesses.
We sat on overturned nail kegs and rubbed and rubbed until we could almost see our faces in the shiny bells and ornamental decorations. All this labour and the harsh odor of the brass polish made us thirsty. Luckily the wooden puncheon that served as a watering trough for the horses was by the stable door. I put my hands to my face to keep my straight hair from getting in my way as I leaned over the tub and drank from the spout of the pipe. The cold spring water tasted some good to us, even though Mum thought it was not very sanitary to be drinking from a rusty water pipe in the barn.
Children visiting Fernhill Cemetery were able to get their drinks from the stream of water running down from the goat head spouts on the decorative cast iron Ruel fountain. The fountain had been placed there by James Rhodes Ruel in 1895 in memory of his wife Sophia and son Ernest. The obituary of Mr. Ruel in March of 1900 states. . "He was interested in many good works, and always showed a generous spirit in helping those whom he felt needed assistance. This was done in an ostentatious way. No matter what he undertook to do he showed much persistency in carrying out the undertaking. His connection with Fernhill is an example of this. Under his management the place has been remodeled and beautified so that the burial place of the dead is robbed of many of its horrors by beautiful walks, blooms, etc., and it may well be said, 'in the place of death there is life, beauty and joy'.... ".
James Ruel also presented the cemetery with twenty elm trees to be planted near the main entrance and under his presidency the system of Perpetual Care was adopted.
The first burial in the Saint John Rural Cemetery, as Fernhill was called in the beginning years, was 153 years ago when Georgenna Campbell was interred in lot 10 on Spruce Avenue on March 8, 1848. Since that time about 38,300 people have been buried in this cemetery. The burials in Fernhill have spanned three centuries, thus tombstones reflect the changing times and styles and will continue to do so as new ones are erected as memorials to those who will rest in peace in this quiet setting during the twenty first century.
Over the years, the Cemetery Office has recorded internments and other information concerning the deceased on Lot Cards. Copies of these can be purchased. I have solved many a genealogical mystery by using the Lot Cards. Fernhill has kept up with modern day recording and their burial records can be quickly found on a computerized database.
A handout titled "Fernhill Cemetery Walking Tour" has been compiled
and is available for the asking at the Fernhill Office. It gives a brief
history of the cemetery, pertinent information on points of interest of the
cemetery as well as information on a number of individuals who are buried
in this park-like graveyard.