Vale Cemetery - Directions

VALE CEMETERY - HISTORY OF THE LAND

From humble beginning of the original 38 acres Vale Cemetery grew over the next 80 years to 100 acres. Union College under President Eliphalet Nott gave Vale Cemetery an entrance of Nott Terrace - an avenue entrance that was 66’ wide.

In 1863 two tracts of land were purchased from Union College – these lands adjoined the avenue to the north and south for its present boundaries in that area.

There was another purchase of land from Union College along Cowhorn Creek and these lands included the Union College Burial Grounds (still owned by the College) as well as land from Jonathan Levi.

The State Street entrance was acquired from the Dutch Reformed Church in the Fall of 1867. Land to the east of this avenue also came from the Dutch Reformed Church – land to the west came from the Estate of Barent Mynderse in 1869.

The land to the east of the avenue was to include the re-interment of those buried in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery on Green Street.

A third entrance off Brandywine Avenue was added by the purchase of 2 parcels: from the Estate of Mary Lindley in 1889, another tract from the City of Schenectady in 1907, lands from the Estate of Barent Mynderse in 1876 and from the Estate of Judson Landon in 1893.