The "newest" of the three, Calvinist Baptist Cemetery was established in 1859 when the second Baptist church to be built in the area, Calvinist Baptist, was built. It is located on the west side of Highway 1 at the north end of the village of Port Maitland. While the church burned to the ground in 1879, the cemetery may have remained in use until as late as 1890. It was at that time that the new community cemetery was established. Many burials may have been moved from this cemetery to the new one, so it is unknown how many interments remain here. There are about a dozen headstones remaining in the cemetery.
All three of these heritage cemeteries had become abandoned and overgrown, with many broken and toppled headstones. In 1999 the Old Beaver River/Port Maitland Cemeteries Preservation Society was formed to renovate the three cemeteries and install signage. The cemeteries were cleared of underbrush, broken headstones repaired, toppled ones stood firmly in place and identifying signage placed at each cemetery. Each cemetery has also received a
Municipality of Yarmouth Registered Heritage Property plaque.
The
Old Beaver River/Port Maitland Cemeteries Preservation Society website includes a
COMPLETE LIST of known residents of the three cemeteries, with links to all known information on each resident. The list consists of 131 names.
For decades the Founders Cemetery, the Free Will Baptist Cemetery, and the Calvinist Baptist Cemetery in Beaver River and Port Maitland, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada were objects of neglect. Most people driving by did not know these cemeteries, overgrown with alders and brush, were even there.
In 1999 the Old Beaver River/Port Maitland Cemeteries Preservation Society, under the leadership of the Rev. Ulric Dawson, was formed. The group is committed to the restoration and maintenance of the three cemeteries. The Founders and Free Will Baptist Cemeteries have been restored to the point they are capable of being mowed. Several grave markers have been placed upright. The Calvinist Baptist Cemetery now has a sign and flagpole, and clearing of brush has begun.
This website documents the Society’s efforts to restore and maintain the cemeteries, and also serves as a way people may access information about the Society and its activities, and how one may also access information about the residents in the three cemeteries. The cemeteries are registered heritage properties in the Province, and many of the residents have interesting stories still to tell, and the information here can provide much genealogical detail.
The Old Beaver River and Port Maitland Cemeteries Preservation Society has information about each historic cemetery and profiles online of all the residents in them. You may view information about each cemetery (see the list under Cemeteries in the black bar above) or a
list of each of the Residents which then links to a web page for each Resident or Removal and some information about them.
From Old Stones
Calvinist Baptist Cemetery
DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACE
The Calvinist Baptist Cemetery was established circa 1859 when a Calvinist Baptist Church was built on this site. It is located on the west side of Highway 1 at the north end of the village of Port Maitland, Nova Scotia. Municipal heritage designation applies to the cemetery lot and grave markers.
HERITAGE VALUE
The Calvinist Baptist Cemetery’s heritage value lies in its being the burial site of a number of local residents and in its being one of three abandoned cemeteries in the Port Maitland / Beaver River area that has been “adopted” by a local cemeteries preservation society.<
The cemetery is in the village of Port Maitland and abuts the north boundary of the community. A Calvinist Baptist Church was built here in 1859 and the cemetery was established during this period. In 1879 the church was destroyed by fire; however the cemetery may have continued to be used up to 1890, when the current community cemetery was established. Over a period of years, many remains and grave markers were removed from here to the newer cemetery. Presently there are approximately one dozen grave markers remaining. More may be discovered as a local preservation society continues its work on the site.
In 1999 a letter was written to the Municipality of the County of Yarmouth asking for the abandoned, and over-grown cemeteries in Beaver River and Port Maitland to be cleared, improving access for a family reunion. A meeting of interested parties was held in Port Maitland and the Old Beaver River / Port Maitland Cemeteries Preservation Society was formed. The mandate of the Society is to clear the cemeteries of the overgrowth, inventory all markers, preserve the remaining markers, and to continue maintenance of the sites once the initial work has been completed. The Calvinist Baptist Cemetery is the final of the three to be cleared and to have the rest of the mandated items accomplished.
CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
- location on the west side of Highway 1 at the north boundary line of the village of Port Maitland;
- all grave markers;
- identifying sign and flagpole;
- relatively flat landscape.
From Historic Places Canada