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Reviving the “City of the Dead”: The Fight for Newark’s Woodland Cemetery

In the heart of Newark, New Jersey, hidden behind overgrown brush and crumbling walls, lies a sleeping giant.

Woodland Cemetery is the final resting place for over 80,000 souls. Once a manicured Victorian garden that rivaled the finest parks in the state, today it faces the slow violence of time and neglect. However, a dedicated group of descendants and volunteers is working to reverse forty years of abandonment, proving that even the most forgotten places can find a new lease on life.

From Shooting Park to Garden Cemetery

Incorporated in 1854 by the West Newark Cemetery Company, Woodland was part of the “Rural Cemetery Movement.” As church graveyards in downtown Newark and Elizabeth became overcrowded and unsanitary, city planners looked to the outskirts to create park-like burial grounds.

They selected nearly 50 acres of rolling hills lush with chestnut, oak, and cedar trees.

• Local Legend: Historical texts suggest the land was previously an “Old Shooting Park,” likely a shooting gallery used by local social clubs, though this predates the official maps.
• The Gatehouse: In the 1870s, a stunning Gothic Revival brownstone gatehouse was constructed. It featured a three-story bell tower and a grand archway. Today, it stands in ruin—roof collapsed, floors caved in, and trees growing through the foundation—a stark symbol of the cemetery’s struggles.

A Mirror of Newark’s Diversity

Woodland Cemetery serves as a demographic time capsule of Newark, New Jersey. The names on the stones tell the story of the city’s shifting population over the last 170 years.

The German Era (1855–Early 1900s): In its early years, the site was colloquially known as the “German Cemetery.” West Newark was a hub for German immigrants, and the earliest markers are inscribed almost exclusively in German.

• The Beer Barons: The most prominent German family interred here are the Kruegers. Gottfried Krueger (founder of the massive Krueger Brewing Company) built a family plot here, where his father William and brother William Jr. are buried.

The African American Era (Mid-20th Century–Present): As Newark’s demographics shifted during the Great Migration and the mid-20th century, Woodland became a primary resting place for the city’s African American community, particularly when other cemeteries remained segregated or prohibitively expensive.

• Notable Burial: Peter P. O’Fake (1820–1884), a vital figure in Black history who was the first African American to conduct the Newark Theater Orchestra.
• Notable Burial: Ike Quebec (1918–1963), a legendary jazz saxophonist and pianist whose work defined an era of Blue Note Records.

The Veterans: The cemetery is the final post for over 500 military veterans, spanning conflicts from the War of 1812 to the Vietnam War. This number includes a confirmed 350 veterans of the Civil War.

The Decline and The Rescue

Since the 1960s, Woodland has suffered from severe vandalism. Thousands of headstones have been toppled, iron fencing has been stolen for scrap, and the grounds became a dumping ground.

However, a new Board of Managers and a “Friends of Woodland” volunteer group are fighting back. They are engaging local students to help with cleanup, turning the site into an outdoor classroom for history and civic responsibility.

How to Save a Cemetery

If you have a local cemetery in New Jersey (or elsewhere) that is suffering from neglect, the volunteers at Woodland suggest the following protocol to assess and protect the site without causing further damage:

1. Map the Damage Before moving anything, create a map. Mark the location of damaged stones, walls, and vegetation. If you move a stone without recording it, its history may be lost forever.

2. Document Everything Take photos of broken markers before and after clearing brush. Write down inscriptions, materials, and the type of damage.

3. Clean with Care

• Vegetation: If trees have fallen on stones, cut the limbs away in small sections. Do not let cut branches fall onto the fragile stone.
• Fragments: Never discard “rubble.” Small stone chips can be vital for future restoration. Store fragments in a dry, indoor location and label the box (not the stone!) with the location it was found.

4. Security through Community High fences often trap vandals inside rather than keeping them out. The best security is community presence. By clearing brush and inviting schools and neighbors in, the cemetery becomes a visible, cared-for space that discourages crime.

If You Visit

Woodland Cemetery is an active restoration site. While visitors are welcome, caution is advised due to uneven ground and toppled stones.

• Location: 66 Rose Street, Newark, NJ 07108.
• Access: The gates are generally open during the day, but it is best to visit during scheduled volunteer cleanup days or tours to ensure safety and access.

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