by Cathy Miller

Historic Cemetery Receives Major Manicure

An unplanned stop at a centuries old Warren County graveyard gave way to a story of community and a lesson on local history.

Born and raised in Washington Borough, Christopher Steiner, a 2018 Warren Hills graduate, is employed by Dirty Dan’s Lawn Care in Washington. The company was recently contracted to spruce up the grounds of the Mansfield-Woodhouse Cemetery at the intersection of Cemetery Hill Road and South Lincoln Avenue in Washington Borough.

Sign at entry to Mansfield-Woodhouse Cemetery

Steiner noted that he thought a large mower could take down all the overgrown grass and weeds. Upon closer inspection, so many of the headstones were shorter than the grass was tall, he realized a mower wouldn’t cut it. Judicious use of a weed whacker was the only option.

On this third day of clean up, there’s still a long way to go.

Steiner is happy to be a part of this huge undertaking. He’s often driven by the cemetery and lamented its state of disrepair – and he’s not the only one. He’s amazed how many people thank him for what he and Dirty Dan’s Lawn Care are doing to manicure the historic graveyard, and preserve the memory of those buried there.

The original log, hence the name “Wood House,” church was erected on the site in 1741. In 1765, a stone church was built after the log church was gone, and retained the name “Wood House.” The cemetery is now under the authority of the First Presbyterian Church in the Borough.

Around the turn of the 20th century, burials began to move across Cemetery Hill Road to the current Washington Cemetery.

According to research by NJ historian Al Frazza (www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/), Mansfield-Woodhouse Cemetery contains the graves of several Revolutionary War soldiers, including Captain John Axford (Dec. 22, 1761-Jan.14, 1843); Robert Beavers (died Oct. 11, 1822 at age 74); Thomas Bowlby (Apr. 2, 1744-Jan. 8, 1827); and Cornelius Carhart (Sept. 6, 1729-June 13, 1810).

John B. Parke, along with three members of the Castner family, all murdered in Changewater on May 1, 1843, are also buried in this cemetery.

Local Revolutionary War era doctor Margaret “Peggy” Warne (1746-1840) is buried at Mansfield-Woodhouse Cemetery. According to “A Medical History of the County of Warren,” published in 1890, Warne “was perhaps the most skillful, successful and widely known of any obstetrician in Warren County, in her day. She flourished very extensively about the time of the American Revolution, and held on very tenaciously to her particular branch of practice for many years after.”

“Dirty Dan” opened his business two years ago, and according to Steiner, “I jumped right in.” When asked what he enjoys doing in his spare time, he laughed and explained he has no spare time, he works all the time!

References:
www.google.com/search?channel=fen&client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Mansfield+Woodhouse%2C+Washington+Borough%2C+NJ
www.revolutionarywarnewjersey.com/new_jersey_revolutionary_war_sites/towns/washington_township_nj_revolutionary_war_sites.htm
www.sleuthsayers.org
www.findagrave.com