Lockwood Cemetery's history respected and preserved

Byram -Tucked into a grove of tress along Route 206 north, in the Lockwood section of the township, just south of Lackawanna Road, is an intriguing old cemetery with a fascinating history. Drivers don’t usually see it, but once they noticed, they become curious. From the fringes, the wooded memorial park gives an ominous, haunting feel, but as the visitor walks closer to the graves, its peaceful nature makes it seem more inviting. The Lockwood Cemetery was part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, built on the site in 1835. The church foundation is the set of large stones laid out in a rectangle at the front of the site. It surrounds a smaller rectangle of stones, the outline of the church basement. Two, large, flat stones at the corners of the foundation are reminders there were two entrances to the church, one for the men and one for the women. The church was ministered by “Circuit Riders,” traveling ministers on horseback. It closed in 1859 and moved its congregation to the Waterloo Methodist Church. The cemetery is directly behind the church site, outlined by a stone wall about two and a half feet tall. Access to the cemetery entrance is through a brick stairway built as an Eagle Scout project. The graves of Civil War veterans have been marked by American flags by the VFW. Rumors abound about other graves: one may be of a Revolutionary War veteran, others from the War of 1812. No written proof exists. The first burial took place in 1819, although no marker remains on that grave. . The last burial was of a member of the Sutton family and was in 1927. Records indicate more than 30 burials. Headstones indicated there are more, but there is no exact count. The last burial was attended by Mrs. Beatrice A. Johnson, along with her young son, Carl O. Johnson. C. O. Johnson eventually became Mayor of Byram and helped to preserve the cemetery. It is now owned by Byram Township and is maintained by the historical society. The fate of the Lockwood Cemetery was in question when discussions began about the expansion of Route 206. In an effort to preserve the site, the foundation of the church will be moved back from the road and closer to the cemetery wall, keeping it out of the way of the state’s expansion of the highway. The site is now noticed from Route 206 thanks to a planter and sign erected by the boy scouts. It is open to the public. Although many headstones have been stolen or moved away, those that do remain are fascinating to look at and read. Crooked now, barely legible and often cracked, they remind the visitor of the ancient, hallowed and historical place. The waving flags add a reminder of the patriotism shown so many years ago. The portion of an iron fence that once surrounded a family plot demonstrates the families that are resting together. The caretakers are emphatic the site is not haunted, but it’s aura tends to keep nighttime visitors away. However, on a summer afternoon is just fine it doesn’t give off a sense of dread.