No Stone Unturned: Newark’s Grove Street Cemetery

Abstract

This paper examines the history and current status of Newark’s Grove Street Cemetery, the first section of which was established in 1885. The cemetery, plagued by deterioration and vandalism for more than 50 years, represents a microcosm of the Jewish immigrant experience, with each headstone telling a story. Given the number of people buried at Grove Street, there are more than 10,000 stories that need desperately saving. Drawing largely upon interviews and papers held at the Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey and site visits, this piece evaluates the cemetery’s caretaking efforts and makes recommendations for a path forward.