History

Crown Cemetery, Puslinch

Crown Cemetery, on the east side of the highway between Aberfoyle and Morriston, is a landmark of the countryside and a spot that is hallowed by many precious memories. Its history and present state is close to the heart of the vicinity and to many who have gone out from here.

In response to a petition of the Presbyterians of Puslinch to the Crown Lands Department, Toronto in 1837, Lot 28, Concession 8, was granted to certain trustees and their heirs and assigns forever to be used for a burying ground. In this way the early desire of the first settlers to bury their dead in a place set apart was met. Originally there were five trustees appointed at a public meeting of those whose loved ones were buried in the cemetery. These early years marked a growth in size of the cemetery, but there was little organized effort directed to its upkeep. There seems to have been no charge for a lot, people were allowed to choose their own plots, and these were sometimes placed at varying angles to each other. Evidence of this can be seen in the older part of the cemetery.

After fifty years the cemetery had taken on a neglected appearance, and a meeting in 1886 of all interested parties was called to face the situation. All the former trustees had either died or moved away, and five new ones were appointed in 1887, viz., Messrs. R. B. Morrison, Hugh Cockburn, Charles Colfas, Robert Watson and Allan Stewart. By-laws governing the cemetery were approved at a public meeting. A subscription list was circulated, money raised, and the next years were marked by a series of improvements. Maple trees were planted in 1888 and spruce in 1890. A house was built for a caretaker and in 1893 the roads were graded and gravelled.

Steps were taken in 1889 to clarify the title of the property. Since the land had been granted, there had been a disruption in the Established Church, to whom the property was deeded, and later a reunion of the Presbyterian Churches in Canada. So it was that when the Trustees wished to dispose of a part of the property, they were in doubt as to what to do with the proceeds and sought the advice of the Presbytery of Guelph. This body interested itself in the matter, and in 1889 an act of the Provincial Legislature made the manner of holding the property clear in the following terms:

"It is enacted that, Crown Cemetery, as soon as two trustees are nominated and appointed by each of the two congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in the Township of Puslinch, shall be held by them and their successors in office, in trust, for the purpose of a burial ground for the use of members and adherents of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in the Township of Puslinch, and other denominations upon such terms as the Presbytery of Guelph of the said church may from time to time determine." It has been the custom to augment the board of four thus fixed, by three others chosen by the plot holders, to form a Board of Management.

Again in 1929, the unsatisfactory condition of the cemetery awakened a renewed interest, and men and teams were employed to level the plots and generally improve the appearance of the cemetery. Again in 1934, work was commenced on the front part of the cemetery, filling up a depression and cutting away a part of the grade. There was a splendid response on the part of the community to this enterprise. Men came a distance of five and six miles with their teams and nine work bees were held in one year. This work transformed the appearance of the cemetery in a much-appreciated change.

The genuine interest in the care of this burial ground had been revealed by the very generous response to the appeal sent out by the Cemetery Memorial Committee for funds to build memorial gates at the front entrance in honour of the pioneers. This entrance, a beautiful work of art, was erected only a few feet in front of where the original log church stood.

When a charge was first made for space in the cemetery in 1887, the rate was one dollar a foot. At this time efforts were being directed to provide adequate care of this ground for future years. There are many plots where all relatives have either died or their whereabouts are unknown, and there is no one to care for the plot. To prevent a repetition of this, a system of perpetual upkeep was inaugurated.

Since 1937, the Crown Cemetery has continued to be well kept. In 1953, five thousand trees were planted and in 1960, an area (110 feet x 600 feet) was purchased from the adjacent farm to the north, the former James Tawse farm, for future burial grounds. In 1981 and 1982 several work bees were held to cut trees and brush and to level an area at the rear of the burial ground. It was seeded in time for the first memorial service held on June 10, 1984 with over 200 people in attendance. Surveying of the plots was completed in 1985.

In January 1985, a motion was made at the Plot Holders' Annual Meeting to proceed with plans for a mausoleum and chapel. The committee included: Duncan McFarlane, Chairman of the Board, William J. Kerr, Vice-Chairman and Douglas Mast, Secretary-Treasurer. On July 31, 1985, the excavation began. On August 2, the mausoleum walls were poured. The work was completed in the spring of 1986.

On June 22, 1986, a memorial service was held with the guest speaker Rev. F. N. Young who spoke on "Remembering The Past". Rev. Anne Yee-Hibbs dedicated the Mausoleum and Chapel. Mrs. Helen Schwartz and Mrs. Wendy McDonald led a community choir. Gordon Crow was chairman for the service.

In 1996-1997 a right of way was negotiated with Hammond Manufacturing and an entranceway to the cemetery was constructed with Township road crews clearing trees for the wood. Donald M. Stewart did the stump, stone and topsoil removal. Cox Construction drew fill from Hwy. 401 construction and added recycled asphalt.

In 1998, Norm's Welding, Guelph, replaced the 1936 fence. In the fall of 2006 and the winter of 2007, Dave Bartram of Guelph thinned the wood lot to rejuvenate the new growth.

From 2006-2008 constructors for Royal Canin, built up the line fence on the east side of our property, providing fill and topsoil to slope the field from their property so it can be used for future burial grounds.

In 2010 the centennial pillars were pointed and new gates replaced the original ones. A new roof was put on the chapel and repairs were made to the barn foundation in 2011.

In 2014 a beautiful information station was erected on the cemetery grounds to help visitors find their loved ones. The roadways were named and signs erected to help visitors find grave locations.

In 2015 the road in front of the cemetery was widened which made the fence and pillars very very close to the roadway. After many discussions regarding compensation we came to an impasse with the County. In 2019 we engaged Ken Williams to continue negotiations on our behalf. Negotiations were finalized in December 2019 with a settlement large enough to build a new fence away from the road and move the pillars back as well. Due to the Covid-19 shutdown the project got off to a slow start spring 2020, however the following was accomplished: the property line was adjusted to the agreement with the County of Wellington, the new location of the pillars staked, Savery Bell Masonry dismantled the pillars, built new foundations and reconstructed them by closely following photos of the original pillars. Savory Bell made an excellent job of the pillars. Brandon Viol made and installed a framework to hang the gates and curved fence sections. Final touches to the project including moving and planting new trees was completed in 2021.

In 2018 a new lawn mower was purchased and in 2023 a John Deere utility tractor to help with ground maintenance.

For 87 years (as of 2024) annually board members and community volunteers gather together at the cemetery for a work bee. This is a special day, as a lot of dedicated hard workers volunteer their time to do repairs and general upkeep to ensure the cemetery is well maintained and beautiful.

Since 1937, there have been the following Secretary Treasurers: Miss Grace McNaughton, Miss Mable McNaughton, Reid McNaughton, Peter C. McLean, N. Bruce Smith, Ronald McLean, Douglas Mast and Darlene Harrietha.

Caretakers since 1937 included: Andrew Ord, Len Geiss, Douglas MacQueen, Donald Stewart, Richard Mast, Dan Redmile, Paul Reuber and Max Harrietha.