On Bruton Street, in a quiet residential area of Port Hope a short distance north of Walton Street and two blocks west of Pine Street, there is a Pioneer Cemetery. It is on a sandy hillside, where the terrain commences its western descent into the Ganaraska River Valley. About sixty early pioneers of the area are known to be buried in this tranquil shaded site. The first church, a small frame structure, was completed in 1831 and was located to the south of the cemetery. It stood in a pathless wood separated from Walton Street by a deep gully which necessitated a long detour to the west for the worshippers to reach the church. After a time a bridge was built across the ravine which was later filled in and is now Church Street. It is indicated that the first burial took place in 1829 and the last in 1873 about the same time the Union Cemetery on Toronto Road was established. With weathered tombstones and a rustic charm, it offers visitors a glimpse into the past and provides a solemn space for reflection and remembrance of the early settlers and their contributions to Port Hope's development.
The Old Presbyterian Pioneer Cemetery was restored by members of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in the 1980s.
The Municipal Cemetery Office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Visitors are often advised to make an appointment to meet with the Supervisor, Cemeteries by calling 905-885-5459 or email.
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.
