Brinckerhoff Cemetery

Brinckerhoff Cemetery
View from 182nd street facing northeast.
Details
Established	Before 1730
Location	Fresh Meadows, New York
Country	US
Coordinates	40°43′55″N73°47′18″W / 40.73194°N 73.78833°W / 40.73194; -73.78833
Owned by	NYC Parks
No. of graves	More than 77
Find a Grave	Brinckerhoff Cemetery

Sign installed by NYC Parks to describe the site for visitors located on the southwest corner of the cemetery facing 182nd street.

View from 182nd street facing southwest.

Brinckerhoff Cemetery (also called Black Stump Cemetery) is a colonial-era burial ground located in the Fresh Meadows neighborhood of Queens, New York City. It was primarily used by the Dutch settler families of the area, including the Brinckerhoff family, where the name originates. At least 77 burials have been documented on the site, but there are no extant gravestones. ^{[1] [2]}

History

Brinckerhoff Cemetery was created sometime before 1730 as a family cemetery shared by local farmers and landowners. A 1919 survey identified 77 remaining gravestones dating between 1730 and 1872, but made no mention of whether or not the cemetery was actively used at that time. ^[3] By 1900, burials were no longer occurring in the cemetery, and it was vandalized several times during the 20th century. ^[2] In 1952, the City of New York declared the land abandoned, and it was sold at auction. The status of the site was a source of conflict for several decades as the land was unmaintained and remained undeveloped. Many attempts were made to obtain ownership of the land by parties who opposed its development on the grounds that the cemetery was historically significant. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

In 2012, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission declared the site a landmark. ^{[7] [1]} Complaints about the site's cleanliness continued, and the debate over its ownership and administration was reinvigorated. ^[8] in 2018 it was announced that a nonprofit called Friends of Brinckerhoff Colonial Cemetery was purchasing the land and would "work with the city and the Department of Parks and Recreation on a long-term plan for the cemetery and its continued maintenance." ^[9] However, in 2023 it was reported that the land was owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and that the Fresh Meadows Homeowners Civic Association had recently lodged complaints about the site's maintenance. ^[10]

References

1. Newman, Andy (August 14, 2012). "Old Queens Burial Ground Is Declared a Landmark". City Room. The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
2. Shockley, Jay (August 14, 2012). Brinckerhoff Cemetery (PDF) (Report). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
3. Powell, Charles U. (February 10, 1932). Meigs, Alice H. (ed.). "Description of Private and Family Cemeteries in the Borough of Queens" (PDF). Long Island Collection. The Queens Borough Public Library.
4. Martinez, Gina (March 3, 2018). "Purchase of Brinckerhoff Cemetery Moves Forward". QNS.com. Schneps Media. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
5. Antos, Jason D. (May 9, 2012). "Historic Brinckerhoff Cemetery Awaits Final Fate". The Queens Gazette. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
6. Rose, Veronica (August 17, 2012). "Brinckerhoff Cemetery in Queens Landmarked Despite Owner's Objections". CityLand. The Center for New York City Law. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
7. "Colonial-era Burial Ground in Queens Named a New York City Landmark" (PDF) (Press release). New York City Cemetery Project. New York City Landmarks Preservation Commisssion. August 14, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
8. Suriel, Alina (December 30, 2015). "Fresh Meadows group and lawmaker urge owners to sell historical cemetery". QNS.com. Schneps Media. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
9. Monteverdi, Suzanne (May 8, 2018). "Plans to restore historic Fresh Meadows cemetery move forward with sale". QNS.com. Schneps Media. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
10. Krichevsky, Sophie (July 6, 2023). "Brinckerhoff still in bad shape, but there's hope". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved October 22, 2025.

40°43′55″N73°47′18″W / 40.73194°N 73.78833°W / 40.73194; -73.78833