Geneva Historical Society to Hold New Cemetery Tours

Geneva, N.Y.:  This October, the Geneva Historical Society will conduct two fall cemetery tours. The tours will be “off the beaten path” at two cemeteries which we've never toured before. On Sunday, October 13, we will tour Brookside Cemetery in the Town of Geneva. Many original settlers of the Towns of Seneca and Geneva are buried in the oldest section of the grounds, dating from 1820. The cemetery is kept up by the Brookside Cemetery Association and is located a few miles from the city on Snell Road where it meets Pre-Emption Road.
 
The second tour will be on Sunday, October 27 at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cemetery on East North Street. St. Patrick's is a relatively large cemetery, and while this tour will cover a small number of those buried there, it will include several interesting stories of families and immigrants who lived in Geneva in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Associated with the old St. Francis de Sales Church (now part of Our Lady of Peace Parish), St. Patrick's burials consist of mostly Italian and Irish immigrants and their descendants. The tour will focus on the history of ethnic groups in Geneva and will address their various experiences. Notable Geneva names and families that will be discussed include: DelPapa, Calabrese, Coursey, and Kane, as well as many others.
 
Both cemetery tours start at 2 p.m. They go on rain or shine and cost $5 per person. Payment must be by check or exact change. Reservations are appreciated, but not required. Call the Geneva Historical Society at 315-789-5151 to make reservations or for more information.