Fairview Cemetery (New Britain, Connecticut)

Fairview Cemetery (New Britain, Connecticut) is an 80-acre public cemetery established in 1861 in the city of New Britain, Connecticut. It serves as the final resting place for many prominent citizens, industrialists, and civic leaders who shaped the development of the "Hardware City." The cemetery's rolling landscape, notable monuments, and diverse architectural styles reflect the city's growth from a manufacturing powerhouse to a modern urban center, offering a tangible record of New Britain's social and economic history.

History

The establishment of Fairview Cemetery in 1861 coincided with the rapid industrial expansion of New Britain, driven by firms like The Stanley Works and Landers, Frary & Clark. As the city's population swelled with immigrants and industrial workers, the need for a new, expansive burial ground became apparent, leading the New Britain City Council to authorize its creation on former farmland. The cemetery's design initially followed the rural cemetery movement, emphasizing a park-like setting with winding roads and picturesque plantings, a contrast to the crowded churchyards of the era. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the cemetery expanded several times, with additions mirroring the city's annexation of surrounding land from Berlin and Newington. The construction of elaborate mausoleums and monuments during the Gilded Age underscores the wealth generated by the city's manufacturing elite, while simpler markers chronicle the lives of the broader community, including veterans of the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II.

Notable interments

Fairview Cemetery is the burial site for numerous individuals integral to the history of New Britain and the state of Connecticut. Industrial pioneers interred here include Frederick T. Stanley, co-founder of The Stanley Works, and Lucius F. Robinson, an early partner in the Stanley Rule and Level Company. Notable political figures include John B. Phelps, a former Mayor of New Britain and Connecticut State Senator, and William A. Buckingham, who served as Governor of Connecticut during the American Civil War. The cemetery also contains the graves of military personnel such as Brigadier General Charles L. Hodges of the United States Army, and recipients of the Medal of Honor including Civil War sailor John H. Lloyd. Cultural contributors buried at Fairview include architect George Keller, known for designing the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Hartford, and several prominent local physicians, educators, and clergy from institutions like Central Connecticut State University and the First Church of Christ.

Location and characteristics

Fairview Cemetery is situated at 120 Smalley Street in the western section of New Britain, near the municipal border with Newington. The 80-acre grounds feature a varied topography of gentle hills and valleys, with sections organized into distinct lots including a large Jewish section and a veterans' plot. The landscape architecture incorporates mature specimens of oak, maple, and evergreen trees, alongside decorative plantings that enhance its serene, park-like atmosphere. Architectural highlights range from grand private family mausoleums built in the Neoclassical and Gothic Revival styles to more modest headstones and obelisks, with a centrally located chapel and administrative building. The cemetery's main entrance is marked by an imposing stone gate, and its roadways provide access to all sections, including areas dedicated to fraternal organizations like the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Administration and maintenance

Fairview Cemetery is owned and operated by the City of New Britain under the jurisdiction of its Department of Public Works. Day-to-day management, including burial services, lot sales, and record-keeping, is handled by a dedicated cemetery superintendent and staff appointed by the city. Operational funding is derived from a combination of municipal tax revenue, a perpetual care trust fund established through lot sales, and fees for interment services. Maintenance activities encompass groundskeeping, roadway repair, monument preservation, and seasonal decorations, with special attention given to the veterans' sections in coordination with local chapters of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The cemetery's rules and regulations are codified in the City of New Britain municipal code, ensuring the preservation of the site's dignity and historical integrity for future generations.

Cultural and historical significance

As one of the primary burial grounds for New Britain for over 160 years, Fairview Cemetery functions as an open-air museum of the city's heritage. The concentration of monuments dedicated to industrialists from The Stanley Works, Landers, Frary & Clark, and Fafnir Bearing Company provides direct insight into the economic forces that established the city's global reputation in hardware manufacturing. The diverse surnames and ethnic associations found on markers document waves of immigration, including significant communities from Poland, Italy, and Lithuania, who contributed to the city's labor force and cultural fabric. The cemetery is also a site for public memory and civic ritual, hosting annual Memorial Day ceremonies organized by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and local veterans' groups. Its preservation is supported by historical organizations like the New Britain Industrial Museum and the Connecticut State Library, which utilize its records for genealogical and sociological research into the region's development.

Category:Cemeteries in Hartford County, Connecticut Category:New Britain, Connecticut Category:1861 establishments in Connecticut