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Archdiocesan Closed Cemeteries

Baltimore City

Holy Cross Cemetery (1863-1969)

North Ave & Broadway

Baltimore MD

Established in 1863, Holy Cross Cemetery was used by St. Patrick (1791-), St. Ignatius

(1856-), and St. John the Evangelist (1853-1966) parishes. The majority of the over

13,000 burials took place between 1867 and 1903. The property was sold to the City of

Baltimore in 1969. The bodies were transferred to Woodlawn Cemetery, where they were

placed in one large plot designated as the “Holy Cross Section.” There are no individual

graves. The “Holy Cross Section” is located off the Liberty Heights entrance to

Woodlawn and has a marker.

Interment cards for the cemetery have been microfilmed and are available for researchers

to work with at the Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University and the

Maryland State Archives. Please note that these cards are incomplete and should not be

relied on solely to determine if a family member was buried at this cemetery. The most

complete records for the cemetery are maintained at Woodlawn Cemetery. (2130

Woodlawn Drive, Baltimore, MD 21207; 410-944-2600)

Note: Holy Cross Church (German), est. 1858, has operated a cemetery since 1891 and is

separate from the cemetery described above. The records have not been microfilmed. The

cemetery office must be contacted directly for information (6020 Gov. Ritchie Hwy.,

Baltimore, MD; 410-789-5400).

Old Cathedral Cemetery (1816-1887)

In 1814 the trustees of St. Peter’s pro-Cathedral (1770-1841) acquired six acres of land in

the city for use as a burial ground for the Catholics of Baltimore. The cemetery was

opened two years later and eventually was comprised of 13 acres that was divided into

approximately 1800 lots. The boundaries of the cemetery were Riggs Avenue (formerly

Tenant Street) on the south, Winchester Street on the north, Fremont Street on the east,

and Whatcoat Street (formerly Calhoun Street) on the west. By the 1860s it had become

apparent that the cemetery would run out of space. In 1869 land was purchased at the

junction of Old Frederick Road and Edmondson Avenue for the site of a new cemetery.

First known as Bonnie Brae (beautiful slope), it is now known as New Cathedral

Cemetery and is comprised of 100 acres.

The decision to close Old Cathedral Cemetery and sell the property was made soon after

the new cemetery was opened. Unless other arrangements were made, the remains were

transferred out to New Cathedral Cemetery over the period 1877 to 1890. The

information recorded at the time of re-interment includes: name of the deceased, date of

re-interment, last known address, cemetery lot, section and grave number, and,

sometimes, cause of death. Please note that the original date of death and burial were not

recorded in these registers. It is not known where the records (ex, lot sales and interment

registers) for Old Cathedral Cemetery are located. A small number of headstones from

Old Cathedral Cemetery were transferred out to New Cathedral, but the majority was not.

The remains transferred from Old Cathedral Cemetery are located, for the most part, in

the single letter sections of the cemetery.

Information on Cathedral (1821-) parishioners buried at Old Cathedral Cemetery can be

found in the Cathedral’s death registers, which date back to 1822. These records are

available on microfilm at the Associated Archives at St. Mary's Seminary and University,

the Maryland State Archives, and the Maryland Historical Society. They are also

available in published form at the Maryland Historical Society under the title Old

Cathedral Burial Records, Baltimore, Maryland, 4 vols., which covers the time period

1793-1874 and includes the records for St. Peter's pro-Cathedral (1770-1841). Please note

that the death register that covers the time period 1875-1922 has been lost.

Old Cathedral Cemetery interment records have been transcribed and published as

Burials in Pro-Cathedral and Cathedral Cemeteries, Baltimore Maryland, 1791-1874

(Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, 2004), compiled by Hans Grogaard and Mary

Warfield. Copies of the original interment books are housed at the Maryland Historical

Society. The original interment books (1792-1813, 1814-1842, 1836-1874) can no longer

be located.

The records located at New Cathedral Cemetery consist of plot books and interment

registers that are arranged chronologically and alphabetically. New Cathedral Cemetery

records for the years 1871-1975 have been microfilmed and are available for researchers

to work with at the Associated Archives at St. Mary's Seminary and University, the

Maryland Historical Society, and the Mormons’ Family History Library.

New Cathedral Cemetery contact information: 4300 Old Frederick Road, Baltimore, MD,

21229; 410-566-7770.

St. Alphonsus Cemetery (1850-1917)

St. Alphonsus cemetery was originally located in northeast section of the city (Biddle

Street & Edison Highway) and was comprised of 17 acres. It was established by the

Redemptorist Fathers for use by St. Alphonsus, (1845-), St. James the Less (1834-1986),

and St. Michael the Archangel (1875-), parishes. It was popularly known at “Home Sweet

Home,” but was also referred to as St. Michael’s Burying Ground and the Redemptorist

Cemetery. The cemetery was closed in 1917 and the property sold to the City of

Baltimore in 1961. A total of 2,431 remains were transferred to Most Holy Redeemer

Cemetery (4430 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21206), at this time. This cemetery is also

owned by the Redemptorist Fathers. There are no individual graves for these remains,

only designated sections that are identified by 4” x 4” marble markers.

St. Alphonsus Cemetery records are maintained by the Redemptorist Fathers and have

not been microfilmed. Questions regarding St. Alphonsus Cemeter

y should be sent to

Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery Office, 7401 German Hill Rd, Baltimore, MD 21222;

410-284-0648. (Note: Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery no longer operates an office on-

site. Operations have been transferred to Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery. )

Death registers for all three parishes have been microfilmed and are available for

researchers to work with at the Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University

the Maryland Historical Society, and the Maryland State Archives.

St. James Cemetery/St. Vincent de Paul Graveyard (c. 1834- c. 1853)

The original cemetery for St. James the Less Church (1834-1986) was located on Harford

Road for the use of St. James the Less and St. Vincent de Paul parishioners. [St. Vincent

de Paul Church was created for the English-speaking members of St. James the Less

Church when the latter became of national parish placed under the care of the

Redemptorist Fathers.] In 1853 the cemetery was closed at the City’s request for a

planned road. The remains were transferred to the new cemetery acquired by St. Vincent

de Paul parish cemetery in what is now Clifton Park (Rose Street and Belair Road).

Death records for the James the Less parish date back to 1845. Records for the period

leading up to 1845 are with St. John German Church records. These records have been

microfilmed and are available for researchers to work with at the Associated Archives at

St. Mary’s Seminary & University, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Maryland

State Archives. Death records for St. Vincent de Paul date back to 1870. These records

have been microfilmed and are available for researchers to work with at the Associated

Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University and the Maryland State Archives. No

information is known about cemetery records.

St. John the Evangelist (aka St. John German) Cemetery (1800-1833)

The original cemetery for St. John the Evangelist, aka St. John German Church (1799-

1841), was located on the premises of the first church on the corner of Park Avenue and

Saratoga Street. The bodies were removed when the decision was made to build a larger

church. It is not known where the remains were sent.

The earliest death records for this parish date back only to 1820. These records have been

microfilmed and are available for researchers to work with at the Associated Archives at

St. Mary’s Seminary & University, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Maryland

State Archives. No information is known about cemetery records.

St. John’s Cemetery/ Roman Catholic Burying Ground (1833-1873)

The second of two cemeteries used by St. John the Evangelist, aka St. John German

Church (1799-1841). It was located at Madison Avenue, Robert Street, and Druid Hill

Avenue. The land was acquired from Mr. Frederick Jordan in 1833

by the trustees of St.

John’s for use as a burying ground. The cemetery remained in used until 1873 when the

land was sold. The remains were transferred to St. Alphonsus Cemetery at this time. St.

Alphonsus Cemetery (1850-1917) was located on Biddle Street near Edison Highway

(aka Loney’s Lane) and owned by the Redemptorist Fathers. St. Alphonsus Cemetery

was closed in 1917 and the property was sold to the City of Baltimore in 1961. The

remains were transferred to Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery on Belair Road at this time.

See the entry on St. Alphonsus Cemetery for more information.

The earliest death records for this parish date back only to 1820. These records have been

microfilmed and are available for researchers to work with at the Associated Archives at

St. Mary’s Seminary & University, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Maryland

State Archives. No information is known about cemetery records.

St. Patrick’s Cemetery I (1801-1830)

The original cemetery for St. Patrick’s Church (est. 1792) was located on Dulaney (now

Baltimore) and Wolfe Streets. St. Michael the Archangel Church (est. 1875) now stands

on the property that was once the cemetery. When the new St. Patrick’s Cemetery on

Philadelphia Road was acquired in 1830, the original cemetery was closed and the

remains transferred out to the site of the new cemetery. The second St. Patrick’s remained

open until 1936 when it was closed and the property sold. The remains were transferred

to New Cathedral Cemetery at this time. (New Cathedral Cemetery, 4300 Old Frederick

Road, Baltimore, MD, 21229; 410-566-7770) St. Patrick’s also jointly owned Holy Cross

Cemetery (c. 1850-1969) located on North Avenue and Broadway. See entry for Holy

Cross Cemetery for more information.

The death records for St. Patrick’s date back to 1806, but the records for the years 1854-

1875 are missing. Surviving records have been microfilmed and are available for

researchers to work with at the Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary &

University, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Maryland State Archives. No

information is known about cemetery records.

St. Patrick’s Cemetery II (1852-1936)

Property for St. Patrick’s (est. 1792) second cemetery was acquired in 1830 and was

located on Philadelphia Road. Bishop Chanche consecrated the cemetery on May 17,

1852. The cemetery remained in use until 1936 when it was closed and the property sold

to the city for the extension of Orleans Street. Arrangements were made for the remains

to be transferred to New Cathedral Cemetery at that time. (New Cathedral Cemetery,

4300 Old Frederick Road, Baltimore, MD, 21229; 410-566-7770) Entries for these

remains were made under the name of the individual who purchased the lot at St.

Patrick’s Cemetery. Information recorded includes the names of the individuals buried in

the lot, the date the remains were transferred to New Cathedral Cemetery, and lot

identification. It is not known whether all the remains were transferred to New Cathedral

or if families made alternate arrangements for reburial at another cemetery. St. Patrick’s

also jointly owned Holy Cross Cemetery (c. 1850-1969) located on North Avenue and

Broadway. See entry for Holy Cross Cemetery for more information.

The death records for St. Patrick’s date back to 1806, but the records for the years 1854-

1875 are missing. Surviving records have been microfilmed and are available for

researchers to work with at the Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary &

University, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Maryland State Archives. No

information is known about cemetery records.

St. Peter’s Kirkyard (1795-1816)

St. Peter’s was the first organized Catholic faith community in Baltimore – dating back to

the 1760s – and built the first Catholic Church (c. 1770) in Baltimore on Saratoga Street.

St. Peter’s was designated Bp. John Carroll’s pro-Cathedral in 1790 and served as the

episcopal seat for the Bishop of Baltimore until the Cathedral of the Assumption of the

Blessed Virgin Mary was dedicated in 1821. The parish was closed in 1841 and its

records were transferred to the Cathedral (now Basilica) of the Assumption on Cathedral

Street. St. Peter’s Kirkyard was initially comprised of .5 acre of land. In 1795 parish

trustees obtained permission to designate another one acre of the property held by St.

Peter’s on Saratoga Street for use as a burial ground. It remained in use until 1816, when

the decision was made to sell the property. Two years prior, in 1816, 6 acres of property

had been acquired in another part of the city for a new cemetery, which eventually

became Old Cathedral Cemetery. Families were asked to arrange for the removal of their

family members. The remaining bodies were transferred to the new cemetery in a

common plot. There are no records of transfers from St. Peter’s Kirkyard to Old

Cathedral Cemetery.

St. Peter’s death records date back to 1793. These records have been microfilmed and are

available for researchers to work with at the Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary

& University, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Maryland State Archives.

Cemetery interment records for the period 1791-1841 have been transcribed and

published as Burials in Pro-Cathedral and Cathedral Cemeteries, Baltimore Maryland,

1791-1874 (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, 2004), compiled by Hans Grogaard and

Mary Warfield. Copies of the original interment books are housed at the Maryland

Historical Society. The original interment books (1792-1813, 1814-1842, 1836-1874) can

no longer be located.

Outside of Baltimore City

St. Mary’s Cemetery (1894-1986) – Ellicott City

The original cemetery for Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ellicott City, was located on

Ilchester Road and was comprised of about 4 acres. It is believed that only .5 acre of the

cemetery was ever used for burials and that about 130 bodies were buried there. The

property was sold in 1986 for a housing development. No remains were found when

ground was broken.

Death Records for Our Lady of Perpetual Help date back to 1899. Contact the parish

office for information on the cemetery: 4795 Ilchester Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043-

6898; 410-747-4334; www.olphparish.org.

St. Thomas Cemetery (1852-c. 1950) - Mooresville

The original cemetery for St. Thomas Mission in Mooresville, it was often referred to as

Mount St. Thomas. St. Thomas Mission was attended by St. Peter’s in Hancock. St.

Thomas’ was closed in 19 and the cemetery was closed and razed in the 1950s.

For the death records of St. Thomas Mission, as well as for information on the cemetery,

contact St. Peter’s Church in Hancock:16 East High Street, Hancock, MD 21750; 301-

678-6339; www.hows.net/21750spcc.

Helpful website for info on Baltimore City Cemeteries:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdcbalti/