On an early, autumn day last year, Louis and I
were driving along Lakeshore Road as it meandered through the cities of Burlington and Oakville, admiring the many grand waterfront homes and the majestic trees that towered overhead.
Exploring the many side streets that lead to the water's edge, we happened to turn down a small road that led to a quiet, lakeside neighbourhood where a peaceful cemetary lay in the middle. 
Gazing at the old gravestones that lay scattered under 200 year old oaks and pines, I felt myself entranced at how such a halcyon place had survived all of these years while the city had grown up around it. 
The blueness of Lake Ontario caught my eye, where the road ended, and I noticed the cemetary lay along the shore with some headstones very close to the eroded embankment.
Being a history buff, the site remained in my mind and I vowed to one day find the cemetary again. The next time I would take pictures and learn of it's history, I quietly thought to myself.
On an early spring day, not too long ago, I set out once more
to find the old cemetary that held secrets of the area's early beginnings; tales of schooners sinking in gales and small children dying of the numerous diseases of the day.
Traveling up and down various roads that led to the water's edge, I came home unsuccessful and even more determined to locate this beautiful, heritage area.
Googling Oakville pioneer cemetary, I at last found what I hoped was my cemetary. Once again I set out with my Garmin close by in search of West Street along the shores of Oakville.
Traveling down the tree-lined street, I sighed with satisfaction as I spotted that , yes indeed, I had found the pioneer cemetary that had so marked my soul last autumn.
Parking my car and gathering my camera, I began to meander amongst the almost 200 year old gravestones and marvel at their beautiful carvings and simple inscriptions.
My heart felt a deep sense of sadness as I noticed that many of the graves were those of children and very young men and women. I could only imagine how hard times must have been back then.
Bronte Pioneer Cemetary came to be in 1830 when Phillip Sovereign, a farmer in the area, designated the peaceful eastern corner of his property as a cemetary. Many local people had already been laid to rest there.
He wished for it to be a burial ground for people of all 'orders, sects, nations and parties' and officially deeded it as such. Many of the earliest people's who had escaped slavery via the Underground Railway came to be buried here.
Childhood mortality was very high in the 1800s
and the cemetary has an even more sadder feel with 1/3 of the graves being those of children.
Schooner and shipwrecks were common on the Great Lakes in the early days of settlement and many mariners who's boats were lost in storms off the cemetary's coast, were laid to rest here.
One of them, Jimmy Baker, a young man who was the 1st mate of the schooner Magellan, was the only body found when the Magellan collided with the U.L. Hurd in 1877.
Two brothers, the Dorlands, were young fishermen whose boat capsized in a great storm in December 1886. Both perished and were laid to rest in Bronte Pioneer Cemetary, leaving behind two young families.
The fierce storms of Lake Ontario have wreaked their havoc on the cemetary over the years and 70 feet of cemetary have been swallowed by the crashing waves, taking along some graves of the early pioneers.
Today it is a peaceful place with towering old Oak trees where Gray Squirrels scamper about looking for acorns and building nests.
It seems very fitting that Mourning Doves are commonly seen now, walking serenely amongst the old stones.
Some of the stones have suffered vandalism through the years, and the sands of time have eroded many inscriptions away, however the feeling of reverance and sorrow for those whose lives were lost, still remains.
In 2003, the Bronte Pioneer Cemetary was registered under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a Heritage Site.
The cemetary is a peaceful place to visit for those who are interested in historical sites and in the early history of the Village of Bronte and the City of Oakville. There are benches where a traveler can sit and gaze in awe at the beauty of Lake Ontario while the silence of the heritage site washes
over a harried soul.
©2009JoSmith
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Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group - Quantum Realty Inc., Oakville, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.Oakville-BurlingtonHomes.com |
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Jo-Anne Smith, the author of this article, is a REALTOR® with Your Choice Realty , Mississauga, Ontario and welcomes your real estate inquiries. To contact her, visit www.oakville-burlingtonhomes.com |
Jo-Anne, I'e been reading Doris Kearnes Goodwin's book on Lincoln (Team of Rivals), and one of the things that struck me was the number of dealths of young children from all kinds of things. Also, the number of women who died in childbirth was pretty staggering. Your photos are beautiful.
Jo, what a wonderful tour of Bronte Pioneer Cemetery, and its peacefulness with the large trees and the background of the lake. I am a BIG FAN of touring cemeteries cause it connects us all with our own mortality. It is a shame to see gravestones or markers cracked or not taken care of. You chose such a wide array of photos too, all which are excellent. Another great Group to post this one in is Local History, Debe Maxwell's group.
Jo-Anne, I've been there a couple of times - very sad times.
Some of those trees are just amazing.
It is a beautiful spot, though. I could sit on the bench looking out to the water, forever.
Jo: I TOTALLY Understand how you'd want to meander through Bronte Pioneer Cemetery. I ALWAYS go to the old cemeteries when we're on vacation... because I love to discover the past of the towns I visit, and the cemeteries are the HISTORY. Like you, I am always sad when I come acrossthe childrens' section. Sigh. One of the saddest cemeteries I visited was at "Boot Hill" , in Lead South Dakota. So many children had died of "the fever," or some other horrific disease that would sweep through a town like lightening.
Thanks for sharing this!
JoAnne, I Loved your post and history lesson. I love visiting old cemetaries. My daughter and I have been checking out the ones in our area but they don't have near the history that yours do. If those trees could talk; just imaine all they have seen!
Jo, Your pictures are magnificent, I felt as if I were beside you. I have gone into some old cemetaries but have never looked up the history and it was so interesting to read about it. It does look peaceful and I too always feel very sad when I see the stones of children.
JOAnne, I am intrigued by cemeteries too...great post/info/photos. Take care!
Hi Patricia,
I remember reading a book about the westward journey of the wagon trains...a compilation of women's diaries and similar to you, was very saddened at the childhood mortality rates back then. I know that many of us wouldn't be here today if it weren't for modern medicine....I never would have made it to childbearing age if not for antibiotics, and even if I had of, I would have been one of those women who died while having my first son. We've certainly come a long way.
Thank you so much for your kind comment, re. my photos....greatly appreciated.
Jo
Hi Jo,
Thank you for the wonderful tour. Great photos, too. One of the features of Active Rain I really appreciate is the local information we've been posting. Yes, it is written mainly for the general public, but I find it fascinating to read information from various places in the country most of which I may not have an opportunity to visit.
hi Jo, isn't it strange how such a sad place can be equally beautiful at the same time. There is a small cemetery near where I live (the suburbs of Montreal) and it has a large pond with ducks in the summer. It's gorgeous and we often see people having picnics by the water. Have a great weekend/Easter.
Hi Gary,
Happy Easter to you and your family...
I'm not surprised that you also like to visit old cemetaries and are history buff like myself. It's very sad that many of the gravestones have been damaged over the years, however they remain a testament to times past and it seems a fairly protected area now.
Thanks for letting me know about the other group...
Jo
hi Sylvie,
I'm looking forward to having a cup of tea with you in Bronte Village sometime this spring....
Jo
Hi Kat,
My son was visiting recently from Kelowna, BC and I told him about the cemetary. Being a history buff, like you and I, he wanted to go and visit it also. We spend an hour or so there and then took a walk along the beach hunting for fossils.
Boot Hill sounds like a place steeped in history also....I hope to visit it some day.
Jo
Hi Jo - Barrie and I used to enjoy driving the Missauga to Oakville shore line roads checking out all the wonderful vistas and hidden spots such as this when we lived in the GTA.
hi Marchel,
It's amazing the stories that can be found in our pioneer cemetaries....yes, just imagine what those tall, old trees have seen over the years.
Thank you so much for dropping by and I hope everything is going well in your corner of the world,
Jo
Carole,
When you come to visit, we'll have to make a trip to this spot. It's a very beautiful and peaceful place....
thanks for your kind words!
Jo
hi Kristin,
Thank you!
Jo
hi Marzena,
You're so right....it's just amazing how much I've learned about other states and provinces by reading the blogs of people here on AR.
Thanks so much for your nice comment and for visiting,
Jo
Marti,
Hello!
I hope to get to Montreal some day soon....my Mom is French Canadian and lived there for many years a child. She tells so many charming stories of visiting the local baker, etc every day for fresh food and of skating on a local pond. She lived near downtown. Things must have changed so much, however I'm glad to hear that old cemetaries have remained and people find peace and respite from their day there.
thanks for stopping by!
Jo
Hi Kathy!
I can just envision you and Barrie doing that.....when are we going to get together again? Do you ever make it down to Burlington-Oakville area these days?
Jo
Hi Jo - we have not travelled that route for some time now other than passing through on our way to Niagara On The Lake or Niagara Falls New York for some cross border shopping. That time should be sooner rather than later as we tend to go north during the summer months. We will give you a shout if time permits (its a longer trip from home than it used to be)
Hi Kathy,
Sounds good! I look forward to seeing you and Barrie whenever your schedule permits.....
Jo
Jo Ann
Aren't old cemeteries fascinating places? Some of the headstones have wonderful artwork on them and I love the patina that covers them through the years.
hi Trey,
Old cemetaries have so much to say and are usually places of quiet beauty. The artwork is truly amazing considering the tools they had at that time....I agree with you wholeheartedly.
thanks for stopping by!
Jo
Hi Jo-Anne, was just doing a little "Bronte" cruising tonght and found your post. I grew up from the ages of three to 21 about a block and a half from this cemetery.....it was always one of my favourite spots. I have many personal stories about the old cemetery that include many of the "locals" from the 50's & 60's.......some of the stories relate to the erosion of the cemetery and the exposed coffins/skeletons........thank you for your post!
Ted Fitzgerald formally of 3103 Chisholm Street (now 3103 Seneca Drive) Bronte (Oakville) Ontario.