Damon Cemetery
Chesterfield, Massachusetts

The Damon Cemetery is located at the end of the old Cemetery Road, which is approx. 2 miles down Indian Hollow Road (Huntington Road on the old maps) on the left hand side. A gate runs across the old road here. About 200 yds down this dirt road is the sugar house of Robert C. Paine, the Overbrook Sugar House (on the right side). Just over the small bridge in front of Mr. Paine's cottage, a grass covered road continues off to the right. Following this old path into the woods leads us to the cemetery.

Click Here to Go to Page of Individual Stones and Transcriptions of Carvings

click on picture for full size	The old road towards the cemetery.Following this overgrown road into the woods for a few hundred yards, it comes to a fork. One old way goes off to the left and another forward for another few yards before seemingly stopping.	click on picture for full size	At the end of this 'dead-end', we noticed a bright spot through the very thick trees. I could just make out the stone walls and then saw the unmistakable outline of the headstones.The cemetery is 20 yards ahead through the dense trees.
click on picture for full size	Through what appears to be the old entranceway, the cemetery comes into view. The ferns and moss makes it seem the cemetery has lied undisturbed for years, but the still-bright silk flowers in the ground let us know some relative has been here recently.	click on picture for full size	Looking into the southwest corner where you can just make out the flag on the unmarked grave of a civil war veteran.
click on picture for full size	Towards the northwest corner of the cemetery. This shady spot is thick with ferns.	click on picture for full size	Looking towards the northeast corner and the majestic, towering maple there. Too large for two people to put their arms around, it may have even preceded the first burial here.
click on picture for full size	The southeast corner and the huge rhododendren planted here. The moss on the ground in this area is two inches thick and makes walking as if on a carpet.	click on picture for full size	The main row of headstones in the cemetery face the stone wall that runs along the west side of the cemetery. The carvings all face west. It appears that before the trees directly ahead had grown so large, the view extended over across the Westfield River to the Ireland St. hill
click on picture for full size	Looking back into the cemetery from outside the wall in the northwest corner.	click on picture for full size	The stone wall along the west side of the cemetery.
click on picture for full size	The ferns and moss in the sunny patch in the center of the cemetery.	click on picture for full size	Another view of the large rhododendren and the stone wall along the south side of the cemetery.
click on picture for full size	Looking along the main row of stones towards the north and the huge maple there.	click on picture for full size	I have drawn a rough sketch of the relative positions of the headstones and the orientation of the entire cemetery. This drawing is NOT done to scale.
Click Here to Go to Page of Individual Stones and Transcriptions of Carvings