Union Valley Cemetery & Chapel Approaches 150th Anniversary

We all know why cemeteries exist, and we try to forestall our permanent residence in them as long as we can. But as a temporary visitor, they can also have a unique peace to them, and they offer a way to be outdoors, explore local history, and get some perspective about what is—and is not—important in our own lives.

I’ve been exploring a few of Putnam County’s cemeteries recently, and have noticed a couple of things. One is that in the “old days” the first few years of life were precarious, because the number of infants and children interred was startling. Another is that, for those that did make it past those first few years, many lived a great deal longer than I would have expected to see.

The day after my wife and I climbed Breakneck Ridge, we were still sans kids and were looking for something tamer for our second day of freedom. After a short hike at Voltz Park in Mahopac (look for a late Fall article on Voltz Park) we came across Union Valley Cemetery & Chapel, a little less than a mile north of the Westchester border.

To get there from the intersection of Stoneleigh Ave. and Drewville Road, head southwest on Drewville Road for about 1 mile. Make a left onto West Shore Drive and go 2.1 miles, then make a right onto Union Valley Road and go about .8 miles. The chapel and cemetery will be on the northwest corner of the intersection with Sandy Street. There is an area to park in front of the cemetery fence along Union Valley Road.

The small white chapel sits a few steps above the road. The cemetery spreads out behind it, sloping uphill from the church. A small knoll marks the high point of the 4.5-acre property.

We walked up to the knoll, circled around it and then came down toward the back of the chapel. Close to the rear of the church, we came across a headstone for Charles Vores. His headstone reads that he was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. An article from the July 12, 2000 Putnam County News & Recorder seems to indicate that he was officially declared missing by the government, and I have been unable to determine if he is actually buried there. Regardless of the final answer, this first-person encounter with history led me on a research quest about Gettysburg that I will remember better than any history book could have inspired.

The names on many of the headstones are familiar names for the area—Ganung, Sloat, and others. Over time, many of the older stones have weathered or broken, rendering them unreadable. The grounds themselves, however, are well taken care of.

We spent about 30 minutes exploring. What were these people like? Rich, poor, happy, sad? At the service for the aforementioned Gettysburg soldier, did the family and friends know at the time the historic importance of that battle? Or were they too grieved to care.

A great time to visit Union Valley Cemetery and Chapel would be this Sunday, September 12. From 2 to 5pm, they will hold their 150th Anniversary Celebration, with a service at 3pm. They will be serving refreshments, and will have memorabilia on display.

Coincidentally, two weeks ago the COURIER ran an article submitted by the cemetery association that covered its history.

Steven Mattson has been a resident of Brewster for over 10 years. He is on the board of the Putnam County Land Trust, and is currently writing a book about family-oriented things to do in and around Putnam County. He can be reached at stvnmattson@yahoo.com.