Goodale Cemetery
The other day I was searching for pictures of Salem on Flickr, curious to see what people were finding photo-worthy. I happened upon this woman's photoset of a trip she took to Massachusetts this past summer. There were a few pictures of a cemetery located in Danvers. What could be more intriguing than a cemetery nestled somewhere in the woods?
I did some searches online for "Goodale Cemetery" and amongst what little I could find, I did happen upon a map. Yesterday Henry and I got into the car and headed out 114 to Danvers in search of Cemetary Road. As it turns out, Cemetary Road is aptly named. I assumed it was named after Goodale, but after traveling up the road a bit, we were greeted by the site of four Jewish cemeteries, each fenced off and separated from the other, and each serving different communities. I drove around for a while looking for a sign for Goodale, but didn't have any luck. As I rounded one corner I noticed a large sign denoting the entrance to the Danvers Town Forest. Who knew Danvers had a town forest? Anyway, there was a map of trails posted so I got out and took a look to see if perhaps Goodale was hidden away there somewhere. There was nothing on the map so I got back in the car and continued looking around. I ended up back on 114 headed in the direction of Salem and was thinking of just going home. Instead I turned around and went back to the Danvers Town Forest trail entrance, deciding we'd come all that way (all of six miles), we might as well go for a bit of a walk. Naturally, twently feet into the forest we were greeted with this sign:
The cemetery's not too far into the forest. I posted a photoset of a few pictures I took. Because it's Fall, there were lots of acorns falling and chipmunks making a racket scampering over dried leaves. Those random noises coupled with the fact that you could see where people were buried because of the body-length mounds of moss that grew over their plots made everything seem a bit eerie. I should note that I'm very easily freaked out, so someone else might have found it very peaceful. As for myself, I kept thinking of the Blair Witch.
We'll have to go back sometime and hike some of the trails. With Dave.
Comments
This is the cemetery of my ancestors. I presume the orignal Goodale/Goodell settlers are buried there, including those who arrived in Salem in 1634. Their farm is now the site of the Goodale Farms housing development, which is about a mile south. I definitely will visit one day. Until then, these pictures are great. Thanks for posting them.
Posted by: Brian Goodell | January 24, 2007 06:57 PM