Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester was dedicated in 1838 as the first municipal cemetery in the US. It was opened in response to the Cholera outbreak of 1831 to 1834. The location of the cemetery was selected for its challenging landscape, and was intended as a park-like cemetery to enhance the quality of life of the city residents. This hike will explore the hills, valley and heavily wooded areas of the cemetery in addition to visiting some of the well known graves including the graves of Susan B Anthony, Frederick Douglass, William Warfield and if we are fortunate, Harriet Hollister Spencer. You can read stories from Mt Hope Cemetery from the City Newspaper, and Wikipedia.

We have planned three separate hikes, which will be selected based on our turnout. All hikes will start at the North Gate entrance parking area in front of the 1862 chapel. You may download maps of the hikes here.

The Tourist hike will start by visiting the North end of the cemetery and Susan B Anthony’s grave-site. We will head up Linden Ave to Anthony’s grave near the corner with Maple Ave. The tourists will travel around the cemetery in a counterclockwise direction.  In addition to the Anthony grave (11.), we will try to visit the following:

11. Susan B Anthony
6. Hiram Sibley
10. Bausch and Lomb monument (also look for mausoleums on Grove Ave).
12. Margaret Woodbury Strong
14 Earliest burial
15. Col Nathaniel Rochester
70. William Warfield
57&58. Civil War and Spanish American War plots
45. George Washington’s drummer boy – Alexander Milliner
69. Alexander Lamberton
18 Frederick Douglass
24. Elizabeth Hollister Frost

The Climbers will head up the hill on Lawn Ave to the right of the entrance toward Frederick Douglass’ grave. We will travel around the cemetery in a clockwise direction, Expect more hill climbing on this hike, as we explore the geologic feature of the cemetery. In addition, we will check out the following historic sites:

17. George Ellwanger monument
18. Frederick Douglass
69. Alexander Lamberton
45. Alexander Milliner, George Washington’s drummer boy
57 & 58: Spanish American and Civil War plots
70. William Warfield
24. Elizabeth Hollister Frost, and maybe Harriet Hollister Spencer
15. Col Rochester
14. First Burial
12. Margaret Woodbury Strong
11. Susan B Anthony

The Naturalists will head to the south end of the cemetery where they can explore as much as desired. But be sure to watch the time and head back along Indian Trail Ave to the north end and the Susan B Anthony site.  The route plan will go past several interesting sites:

69. Alexander Lamberton
46. Algernon Crapsey
70. William Warfield
26. General E. G. Marshall
12. Margaret Woodbury Strong
11. Susan B Anthony
6. Hiram Sibley
10. Bausch and Lomb monument

Following our hike, join us for a social at the The Distillery – Sports Bar & Grill, 1142 Mt. Hope Ave, a half mile south of the cemetery entrance.

Directions

Mt Hope Cemetery is 47 minutes north of Springwater, so car pooling is recommended. Leave a comment on here on the website to plan carpooling.  Good places to meet would be the Springwater Town Hall, Hemlock Lake Park at the north end of the lake, or Sandy Hook in Honeoye.

From Springwater: Head north on NY 15A for 19 miles to Lima. Turn left on US-20 for 4.2 miles. Turn right onto I-390 N. At the split with 590, stay left on I-390 and then stay right to exit 16B for NY 15A/E Henrietta Rd. Continue straight past South Ave and turn right onto Mt Hope Ave. Go up and over the hill for 1.8 miles to the second entrance to the Cemetery.  There is parking inside the entrance.

From Naples: Take CR-36 (West Lake Rd) to Honeoye. Turn left on US-20A. In 5 miles turn right onto NY-15A and follow the Springwater directions.