Bringing history to life in Spotswood
Tours of St. Peter's cemetery offer glimpse into community's past
BY MARY ANNE ROSS
Correspondent

JEFF GRANIT staff Sally Runyon points out some of the older headstones at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Spotswood. Some of those buried in the cemetery, along with the history of the town and the 250-year-old church, will be the subject of guided tours Oct. 28.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Spotswood has the kind of cemetery one might see on a postcard of an old New England church.

There are Celtic crosses and monuments standing over family plots, and headstones in different shapes and sizes from the 1700s and 1800s. Some are worn smooth while others bear tender inscriptions that reach out through the centuries.

At the bottom of the headstone of 15-year-old Isaac Walton DeVoe, who died just before Christmas in 1877, the words "My boy!" are etched. The simple endearment echoes a parent's grief nearly 130 years later.

There are soldiers from the Revolution-ary War buried alongside past rectors, founders of the church and local captains of industry.

On Oct. 28, parishioners at St. Peter's, located at Main Street and DeVoe Avenue, will offer free guided tours of the cemetery. Residents can expect to be greeted by people dressed in period garb, portraying some of the more interesting and influential people buried there.

Sally Runyon looks at a slab of metal used to keep a headstone stable at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Spotswood.

"They tell the story of that person's life, including a lot of odd facts and anecdotes," said Sally Runyon, one of the organizers. "At each graveside where we are doing a portrayal, we will have a table displaying pictures, memorabilia and artifacts from that era. People are going to learn a lot about local history."

On hand will be stone carver Henry Sillcocks portrayed by John Zielenski, who carved the headstone for Elbert Van Coff in 1816. Zielenski, in character as Mr. Sillcocks, will discuss the art of stone carving and demonstrate the particular skills and tools involved in this craft.

The Rev. Charles Lochner, now the pastor of the church, will portray the Rev. Augustine W. Cornell, who served as pastor there from 1863 to 1899. Lochner speaks with admiration about Cornell.

At left, a lych-gate at the cemetery is said to have been donated by George Helme, founder of Helmetta's snuff mill. JEFF GRANIT staff

"He started the first choir, which as was the custom of the time, consisted of all men and boys. He also helped establish the first parish hall."

Researching his character gave Lochner renewed respect for people living in those days.

"He was also the pastor of the South River church. Imagine traveling between South River and Spotswood with no car. It's amazing how much they were able to accomplish under such difficult circumstances," Lochner said.

Among some of the other notable people buried at the cemetery are Arthur Appleby, who was elected the first mayor of Spotswood in 1908 when the town of 800 residents became independent. Appleby, who died in 1929, owned a general store and lived on the current site of the Rite Aid and Cambridge Inn.

The oldest grave belongs to Mathias Campbell, who died at the age of 13 months in 1760.

But the people who will be noted during the tours don't all date back to olden days, as the cemetery continues to be used for burials. Douglas Reynolds, for example, lived form 1948-99 and left an indelible mark on the parish and community. Some of his volunteer activities included heading up St. Peter's fundraising efforts, serving in the soup kitchen, and leading a group that restored headstones in the cemetery.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church was founded exactly 250 years ago, in 1756, with 30 families meeting in private homes to worship. The church grew and expanded with the community, its members often playing a key role in the history of Spotswood.

In the early 1800s, Isaac DeVoe, whose name was originally spelled Deveaux, opened a snuff mill by the lake that bears his name today. His son Augustus, who died in 1929, is one of the parish ancestors who visitors will "meet" on the tour.

Joe Sapia, of Monroe, is the unofficial historian for Helmetta, where a different snuff mill thrived for more than a century.

"At the time there were many mills in the area," Sapia said. "Water was used to drive the mills, and the water supply was good in this area."

Among those being portrayed during the tours is former Helme snuff plant bookkeeper William Bissett, who was an original councilman in Spotswood.

In 1979, the Spotswood church was entered into the state and national registries of historic places. The cemetery has been carefully maintained over the years, and a parish committee has worked to identify and chart the graves. Stones have been repaired and the retaining wall has been restored.

The tours are another event in the yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary of the church.

"The founders of the church would be gratified if they could see it today," Lochner said of the overall church. "Just imagine the church that they helped create has survived the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, two world wars and the Great Depression. We are still thriving with 90 children in Sunday School and over 250 family members."

He also noticed some similarities between the church at present and that of the past. The reputation the Rev. Cornell helped start a century-and-a-half ago is maintained. At the time, the church had an "Acorn Society," which served as an outreach program to people in need.

"Today we are known as a jubilee parish by the diocese because of our outreach efforts," Lochner said. The church offers a thrift shop, free Wednesday night suppers, a bag lunch program for working individuals who cannot afford lunch, and a continuum of services for home-bound seniors.

The guided tours of the cemetery will begin at 1 p.m., leaving approximately every 15 minutes until 5 p.m. Visitors can also view historical displays in the Parish Hall, where there will be headstone etchings for children and refreshments. The rain date for the event is Oct. 29.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.stpetersspotswood.org or call (732) 251-2449.