About

Webster Rural Cemetery Historical Notes

• About 1825 - One-acre plot was procured for cemetery purposes and called "Webster Central Burying Ground".
• 1874 - At meeting, it was resolved that an association be organized in and for the Town of Webster, to be known as the "Webster Rural Cemetery Association" with the number of trustees set at nine. The Certification of Incorporation was filed on September 18, 1874.
• 1876 - Alexander & James Beatty purchased from Margaret J. Bass, some three acres of land bordering on the north and east sides of the original plot. The understanding was that the Beattys were to enclose the entire grounds (old & new) and conduct it as a private cemetery. James sold his interest to Alexander who became insolvent and deeded the plot to George A. Downs.
• October 3, 1882 - A public meeting was held for the purpose of incorporating a Cemetery Association.
  It was decided to retain the name chosen in 1874. Nine trustees were elected; 3 for 1 year, 3 for 2 years, and 3 for three years. The annual election was set for the fourth Monday in October.
• January 27, 1883 - After much consideration, three acres of land were purchased from George A.
  Downs for $450.00.
• October 22, 1883 - The first annual meeting was held and elected trustees as provided by the newly drafted bylaws.
• November 5, 1883 - It was decided that the Association would build a fence to enclose the grounds, the work to be overseen by 2 of the trustees.

As a matter of interest; In 1883 the sexton was allowed $1.75 for digging a child's grave and $2.75 for an adult's grave under ordinary conditions with " reasonable compensation" when the ground was frozen. When the money was received for his work, he was required to pay the Cemetery Association 25 cents for a child's grave and 50 cents for an adult's grave.

• May 1, 1908 - To increase the size of the cemetery, 12 acres of land were purchased from Jonathan
  Bass for $3,000.00.
• 1922 - The chapel was built with a vault for 40 caskets. It was noted as being the "most fireproof building" in Webster.

Total Burials: ±6,000 - 7,000

Military Burials:

We have many veterans of World War II, Korea, and Peace Time. There are four from Viet Nam and several that are not dated. At this point we have no burials from the Middle East

Webster Rural Cemetery Chapel

From a 1922 Democrat & Chronicle article entitled"Western New York Flashes - News Boiled Down for Busy Readers":

Webster is Erecting New Cemetery Chapel

Building Will be of Early English Low Pointed Gothic Style

Webster, Sept. 29. - A combination chapel land (sic) vault is being erected in the Webster Rural Cemetery. The building will be of the early English low pointed gothic style of architecture, with heavy buttressed sides. The general dimensions are twenty-four by thirty-four feet. The walls are of tapestry brick laid in English bond, with foundations of pressed stone, in regular Ashlar tool dressed style, surmounted with bevel (sic) water table from which the brick work rises, extending up to the roof lines. The roof covering is of verde green tile with copper trimming.

Above the basement the interior is arranged for chapel services and entered from an octagonal vestibule on the west side of the building, facing the main drive in the cemetery and about forty feet from the main entrance. The iron stairs leading to the basement are from the vestibule at the right of the main entrance. The basement has a large vault with bench floors for caskets, and will hold forty caskets. Entrance is by large iron doors and grill leading to the receiving room. There is a lowering elevator from the first floor to the receiving room.

The walls of the building are hollow. The interior finish is in grey brick laid with pattern dado struck joint finish carried up to the ceiling, which will be of heavy panel in steel finish. The building will be lighted by electricity and heated by pipeless furnace. The architect is H. L. Larzelere.

From the book "Architecture and Architects of Rochester New York" by Carl & Ann Schmidt published in 1959:

HENRY L. LARZALERE (LARZELERE) was born in Penn Yan, N.Y., in 1861 and settled in Rochester in 1885, when he entered the office of Louis P. Rogers. In 1889 he opened an office in the Osborne Block and later had offices in the Granite Building and Mercantile Building. He was the architect for Corn Hill M. E. Church, the first Mt. Hor Presbyterian Church, as well as many small business blocks and residences. He retired in 1917 and died in 1938.

Also:
Pike Stained Glass Studio is fairly certain that they produced the windows. Unfortunately a fire in the 1930s destroyed most of their records. That studio did the windows for the Parsells Ave. Methodist Church about the same time. The details are very similar and that structure was also designed by Mr. Larzalere.

Webster Rural Cemetery Cannons

Both cannons were cast at the Fort Pitt Foundry near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are IX-inch Dahlgren shell guns and are named for their designer, John A. Dahlgren. These "soda-bottle" pieces were the ultimate refinement in smooth-bore, muzzle-loader design. They were extremely reliable and widely used throughout the U.S. Navy; none are known to have burst in service. There were 1185 guns produced at 7 different foundries between 1855 and 1864.

These guns are mounted on reproduction Marsilly naval carriages with much of the ironwork embedded in place. This carriage is known for the lack of rear wheels which, along with "breeching tackle", helped check recoil when firing. Horizontal positioning was done using "train" and "running in" tackle with assistance from a lever tool called a "roller handspike". Vertical positioning was done using an "elevating screw". (Sources say that it is unusual to see the elevating screw in place as most disappear over time.)

These guidelines will help to locate most of the legible markings and other features on the cannons. The founder's identity, registry number and weight can be found on the top of the breech, just behind the vent. The initials of the inspecting officer are located on the left trunnion beneath a "P" for "Proofed". The year of manufacture is on the right trunnion below the bore size designation. Most iron Navy cannon dated after 1840 has a plain anchor on the top either between or behind the trunnions.

The large ring on the carriage and the hole in the cascable portion of the neck are for the recoil breeching. The smaller fittings on the carriage are for the running-in and train tackle.

A sharp pointed tool resembling an ice pick and called a gunner's pick or priming wire was used to clear the vent. It would also pierce the powder bag so that flame from the primer could ignite the charge. Over a period of time, with much use, the vent would be enlarged beyond a useful diameter. That side could then be sealed shut and a new hole drilled on the other side. Both can be seen on the top of the breech.

East Cannon Markings
Fort Pitt Casting No. 704 weighing 9,248 pounds, proofed by John M. Berrien, 9-inch bore, and cast in 1863. (Berrien was a Navy Inspector from 1862-1864.) It was first placed at the Yard at Sacketts Harbor, New York.

West Cannon Markings
Fort Pitt Casting No. 694 weighing 9,281 pounds, proofed by John M. Berrien, 9-inch bore, and cast in 1863. This gun was inspected by the same man as 704 and was also first placed at the Yard in Sacketts Harbor, New York.

Both cannons are the property of the New York State Museum and remain at the Webster Rural Cemetery on a year-to-year loan.

We are deeply indebted to the following sources for most of this information:

• The New York State Museum for their accuracy in recording the markings and carriage information.
• Robert M. Browning, who responded to an e-mail to the United States Coast Guard Museum and provided me with numerous pieces of information and contacts at places I would never have found.
• Mark C. Mollan, Archivist of Old Navy/Maritime Reference at the National Archives and Records Administration. He found the cannons listed in their
  "Register of Naval Guns " (RG 74, entry 112) and provided the transcription that placed them at Sacketts Harbor.
• The website The Civil War Artillery Page that provided general information on markings, John Dahlgren, Fort Pitt, and the listing of Naval Inspectors.
• The website National Parks Service - NPS Interpretive Series: "Artillery Through the Ages" that provided information on carriages, accessories, and methods of use.