St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery - Rochester, NY
N 43° 08.074 W 077° 35.488
18T E 289230 N 4779018
Small Catholic cemetery in use from 1838 to 1900, with the last bodies removed in 1935.
Waymark Code: WMF1N0
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 08/07/2012
Views: 3
Small Catholic cemetery in use from 1838 to 1900, with the last bodies removed in 1935. The 21 acre cemetery included the highest point in Rochester, known as Pinnacle Hill, so the cemetery was also known as Pinnacle Cemetery. The cemetery contained approximately 6,000 bodies. In 1872 Holy Sepulcher Cemetery was opened to consolidate catholic burials in one location. The first removals to Holy Sepulcher were in 1872, with the last 4769 removed in 1935. It is believed that at least 6 unmarked graves still remain. Human remains were found by hikers in 1991. Use of the property has been a controversy for years, with the owners wishing to develop the land and the neighborhood association fighting to keep it wild. At present the property is overgrown and it's many trails are popular with joggers and mountain bikers.
The cemetery's most famous resident was Colonel Patrick Henry O'Rorke, who commanded the 140th New York Infantry. At the Battle of Gettysburg, his was the first unit hastily sent to defend Little Round Top. Arriving at the hilltop, he sent his troops down the hillside to stop the advancing rebels. Standing on a large bolder to encourage his men, he was shot in the neck and died instantly. A monument to him is located at the spot where he died.
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