Hale Cemetery:
Honoring Two Centuries of Norfolk History
Founded in 1823, Hale Cemetery has been a cornerstone of the Norfolk community for more than 200 years. Originally known as the “Burial Ground for the Neighborhood,” the land was officially deeded to Colonel Ira Hale on May 29, 1836, by John and Alida Van Rensselaer Constable. By then, several graves already existed on the site — including that of 10-year-old Hannah Thatcher, whose 1823 gravestone marks the same year Norfolk became a separate town from Stockholm.
On August 9, 2024, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation listed Hale Cemetery on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historic and cultural significance to Norfolk and St. Lawrence County.
Over the years, Colonel Hale expanded the cemetery, and his son, Oscar Hale, continued that legacy by adding more land. In 1834, a portion of the property that had once been part of Stockholm was annexed by the Town of Norfolk, giving the cemetery its permanent address. The Hale Cemetery Association later purchased the front section in 1928 to ensure its long-term preservation and care.
A Resting Place for Generations
Hale Cemetery is the final resting place for many of Norfolk’s earliest settlers and generations of families who helped shape the town and surrounding communities. It is also home to more than 90 veterans who served in the American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Among them are Revolutionary War soldiers Amos Kimball, Phineas Judson, and Samuel Bogue, whose lives exemplify the profound history and courage that have shaped this community.
A Unique Chapter in Military History
Hale Cemetery holds a special distinction in St. Lawrence County as the only confirmed cemetery that also served as a military training ground. From the 1820s through the 1840s, Colonel Ira Hale used the front lot for the annual September training days of the local militia — the 153rd Regiment, 49th Brigade, 12th Division West Company of Stockholm Infantry of New York State.
Local historian Susan Lyman explains, “The New York State militia, composed of North Country men, gathered annually for a day of rigorous military training under the guidance of Colonel Ira Hale, who had been commissioned a colonel in the New York State militia by General Andrew Jackson.”
Today, Hale Cemetery stands as a lasting tribute to the Hale family and to the people of Norfolk. It is a place of remembrance, reflection, and pride — a peaceful reminder of the generations who built and sustained this community.
