The Hammond Cemetery

Also Known as Maple Dell Cemetery

August 1987 – By Louise Trinkle

The Hammond Cemetery is located about one and a half miles north of Cuba, NY and six to seven hundred feet west of the main road NYS Route 305, in a maple grove owned by the descendents of Francis Eugene Hammond (1841 – 1913).

It was his idea to start the private cemetery, and the body of his mother in law may well have been interred in the first grave.  She was probably the owner of the 16 ½ acres of land before he owned it.  The Maple Dell as he named it, consists of 1 ½ acres spanning the creek bed.  He deeded it to all his descendents, while the other 15 acres adjoining to the north, including his home, he deeded to his youngest daughter, Evangeline Trinkle.

F. E. Hammond served four terms as Town Supervisor.  He was a surveyor with the added ability to settle disputes.  He was also in the oil business spending much time near Titusville, Pennsylvania.  He computed the first railroad tank tables showing in quarter inches the capacity from bottom to top, tables still in use.

It was his son, Cleo, who moved the huge boulder marked “Hammond” to the cemetery.  Cleo was his helper in the oil fields, and moving heavy machinery was a part of the job.  The boulder came from Abbotts Creek and it was hauled on a stone boat with a team of horses. – Louise Trinkle.