PROSPECT CEMETERY INFORMATION

THE PROSPECT CEMETERY OF PORTAGE, CAMBRIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF MAIN STREET ALONG CEMETERY ROAD. IT IS THOUGHT TO BE THE OLDEST CEMETERY IN PORTAGE.

THERE ARE TOMBSTONES RECORDING DATES OF DEATH IN THE 1880'S.

ALL RECORDS BEFORE MID 1919 WERE DESTROYED IN A FIRE. IN LATE 1918 AND EARLY 1919, A SEVERE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC CLAIMED THE LIVES OF MANY AREA PEOPLE IN PORTAGE and THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

A MASS GRAVE IS IN THE CENTER SECTION BUT THE NAMES OF THOSE BURIED THERE WERE DESTOYED IN THE FIRE. THERE IS A GRANITE MARKER THERE, LOCATED IN THE CENTER SECTION OF THE CEMETERY.

ON APRIL 11, 1923, THE PROSPECT CEMETERY ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED AND ADOPTED A SET OF RULES, REGULATIONS AND LAWS. THE RULES CAUTION VISITORS TO "ALWAYS DRIVE OR RIDE AT A SLOW TROT AND DO NOT ERECT ANY HITCHING POSTS".

THE ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TODAY WITH FOUR MEMBERS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE CEMETERY,PLEASE CONTACT lindmik@hotmail FOR  MORE INFORMATION. REQUESTS FOR ANCESTERY INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE HANDLED THROUGH THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS. AS MENTIONED, WE DO NOT HAVE COMPLETE RECORDS, BUT WE WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION WAS COMPILED BY SHIRLEY LAVANCHE WHO DEVOTED COUNTLESS HOURS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ASSOCIATION.