"Every Life is worth living and remembering always"
( Be sure to scroll down the page and see "What's New At Glenwood" )
These poignant words greet every visitor as they enter picturesque Glenwood Cemetery in Picton. Inscribed in stone, the words beckon to the visitor to look ahead of them where peaceful, rolling hills, an historic chapel, a pond and attractive blend of conifers and deciduous trees provide a peaceful backdrop to over 11,500 grave sites. Incorporated in 1871, it’s an urban forest, a parkland, a wildlife habitat, and a final resting place of early settlers and their descendants who played a major role in shaping the history of Prince Edward County.
The over 11,500 monuments of lives lived, range from a simple, black boulder that pays tribute to an eight year old boy who died in 1898, to the impressive Kinney Mausoleum, regarded as the finest of its kind between Toronto and Montreal. There is one area fondly known as "Cannery Row," a line of imposing monuments attesting to the affluence and position in the county of some of the early canning pioneers. There is the very old and very new as burials continue to be performed in this strikingly beautiful cemetery, located in the heart of town. Adding to its park like setting is Marsh Creek that cascades down an escarpment and wends its way to Picton Bay.
It is this unique blend of both natural history and human history that has contributed to the cemetery’s popularity as a place of tranquility and well being. Roadways meander over hills, beside the creek, and along the escarpment where rose-breasted grosbeaks and wood thrushes proclaim their nesting territory. Marsh marigolds carpeting the slower moving areas of the creek dazzle the eyes of those who enter the cemetery in spring, while goldenrods and New England aster vie for attention in areas intentionally left natural as a further effort to maintain this unique blend of the natural and the historical.
Through this web page, I hope to accomplish several things. Number one - we want to draw your attention to the importance of Glenwood Cemetery in its time of need. In recent years, the small volunteer Board of Directors has undertaken an ambitious campaign to restore the grounds and buildings of the cemetery. We want to show how you can make a difference toward that goal by either a straight cash donation or by paying a lasting tribute to someone by assisting in the restoration efforts with any of several memorial and tribute gifts, such as a section of Victorian fencing, dedicating a bench, or a birdbath, or an urn, or through adopting an existing tree, or planting a new tree.
We also want to show you through rotating photographs and short articles what a wonderful place this is to take a walk, and enjoy the wonders of Nature. Periodically, we will feature a particular monument and tell you a bit about its history and the story behind the person who is remembered.
Finally, we want to keep you updated on some of these ongoing projects, through a special section on this page, titled "What’s New At Glenwood."
Stay tuned to this web page as it will change frequently as events come up and new projects are either started, completed or contemplated. Things are happening at Glenwood, and I am pleased to be playing a small role in keeping you informed through this special page.
(all photos by Terry Sprague)
WHAT’S NEW AT GLENWOOD?
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Glenwood Cemetery Company is seeking volunteers and donated garden tools. Volunteer opportunities include light gardening, archives, records, special projects, etc. For more information call Peter Scott, Volunteer Committee Chair at 613-847-2757
Glenwood Cemetery has installed a 48-niche columbarium for cremated ashes. Each niche holds two cremation urns. The graceful, granite structure provides an enduring, secure memorial to past lives. Advance purchase of niches is now available at a 10% discount through August 31, 2007. Glenwood continues to offer traditional burial plots. Additional services include monument restoration and cleaning. Memorial trees, benches and wreaths can also be purchased. Contact Manager Gerald Zwart at 613-476-3511 or613-849-2902, or e-mail:
New Manager of Glenwood, Gerald Zwart is assisted by Ernie Everhardus who serves as Assistant Manager. Ernie spent several years with the Campbell Monument Company of Belleville in their cemetery management division.
This year, we will complete our $300,000 restoration of the Chapel. We are currently seeking another $48,000 to re-install the Chapel's six stained glass windows, an insulated wooden floor, new doors and security systems. We are also continuing to install Victorian iron fencing along the entranceway to the cemetery, to restore the Cook Fountain, to re-forest Glenwood through our Memorial Tree Program, and to expand our gardens. Work has begun on the restoration of documents, maps and records, thanks to grants from the Earl B. Connell Foundation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This information is being entered into computer databases that make this historical material readily available to staff, families, researchers and visitors.
These poignant words greet every visitor as they enter picturesque Glenwood Cemetery in Picton. Inscribed in stone, the words beckon to the visitor to look ahead of them where peaceful, rolling hills, an historic chapel, a pond and attractive blend of conifers and deciduous trees provide a peaceful backdrop to over 11,500 grave sites. Incorporated in 1871, it’s an urban forest, a parkland, a wildlife habitat, and a final resting place of early settlers and their descendants who played a major role in shaping the history of Prince Edward County.
between Toronto and Montreal. There is one area fondly known as "Cannery Row," a line of imposing monuments attesting to the affluence and position in the county of some of the early canning pioneers. There is the very old and very new as burials continue to be performed in this strikingly beautiful cemetery, located in the heart of town. Adding to its park like setting is Marsh Creek that cascades down an escarpment and wends its way to Picton Bay. 
grounds and buildings of the cemetery. We want to show how you can make a difference toward that goal by either a straight cash donation or by paying a lasting tribute to someone by assisting in the restoration efforts with any of several memorial and tribute gifts, such as a section of Victorian fencing, dedicating a bench, or a birdbath, or an urn, or through adopting an existing tree, or planting a new tree.