Melrose's Cemeteries

Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover

Did you know that Melrose is home to seven cemeteries, each with its own story to tell? These resting places are more than just silent grounds — they're living records of the city’s evolving history, culture, and community.

The Lost Cemetery on Main Street.

Once, across from the Melrose Fire Station on Main Street, there stood the town's original burying ground, established in 1828. As the town grew, the small cemetery could no longer meet the needs of a burgeoning population. In 1891, the town made the bold decision to relocate all 432 bodies to the newly developed Wyoming Cemetery. Today, this once-sacred ground is the site of the Coolidge Apartments — a quiet reminder that Melrose’s history lies just beneath the surface.

Wyoming Cemetery

Founded in 1857, Wyoming Cemetery is Melrose’s primary municipal burial ground, sprawling across 83 acres of landscaped beauty. Encircled by a stone wall constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1937, it is a place of both reverence and architectural interest. The cemetery features winding, tree-lined paths and a stunning Gothic Revival chapel designed by noted architect Gridley J. F. Bryant. With over 26,000 interments, it offers a range of services including traditional burials, cremation interments, and mausoleum entombments.

Netherlands Cemetery

Situated at 38 Linwood Avenue, Netherlands Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery managed by the Jewish Cemetery Association of MA.

In 1859, a group of Dutch Jews living in the greater Boston area, formed a fraternal organization, the Netherlands Cemetery Association. They opened Netherlands Cemetery for their members. Everyone buried in the cemetery is either from the Netherlands, married to someone from the Netherlands, or descended from someone born in the Netherlands. The still-active cemetery, with around 600 memorials, is unaffiliated with any temple.

The Broadway Cemeteries:

Melrose is also home to five additional Jewish cemeteries, all located along Broadway (Route 99) and overseen by the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts:

Agudas Achim Society Cemetery
Hadrath Israel Cemetery
Onikchty Society Cemetery
Vilkomir Cemetery
Workmens Circle Cemetery

These cemeteries are more than resting places — they are rich cultural landmarks that speak to the deep roots and diverse heritage of Melrose's Jewish communities.

Each of Melrose’s cemeteries offers a glimpse into the past, preserving the stories of those who came before us. Together, they form a quiet, powerful tapestry of the city’s evolution—one name, one stone, one memory at a time.