Rutland in Rutland County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)

Historic West Street Cemetery

Governor Israel Smith

Historical West Street Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 9, 2019

1. Historical West Street Cemetery Marker

close up, side A

Inscription. Historic West Street Cemetery was first used in 1810, with the interment of Governor Israel Smith. This city cemetery replaced the North Main Street Cemetery, which dated to the 1780s. With the establishment of the Evergreen Cemetery in 1861, West Street Cemetery received fewer interments, and by the end of the 19th century, was no longer used. Eventually, many interments were relocated to Evergreen Cemetery. Among the more than 600 graves are the final resting places for veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, and Civil War, as well as the 4th governor of Vermont.

(Continued on other side)

Governor Israel Smith was buried at the West Street Cemetery. Smith served in the state legislature and as a delegate to the Vermont Constitutional Convention, which ratified the US Constitution. When Vermont became a state in 1791, he was elected for the first time to Congress. Smith was named Chief Judge of the Vermont Supreme Court in 1797. In 1803, he served in the US Senate, serving until he was elected Vermont’s 4th governor in 1807. He said at his inaugural “Our duty as legislators is to provide wholesome laws for the promotion of virtue, happiness, and prosperity among the people over whom the laws are to operate. The end of all government is to teach each individual of the community the necessity

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of self-government.”

Erected 2018 by Vermont Division for Historical Preservation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Government & Politics.

Location. 43° 36.452′ N, 72° 59.048′ W. Marker is in Rutland, Vermont, in Rutland County. Marker is at the intersection of West Street (U.S. 4) and Forest Street, on the right when traveling west on West Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 257 West St, Rutland VT 05701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Governor Israel Smith (here, next to this marker); Rutland Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Harriet Quimby (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Tribute to the Brilliance of Christo & Jeanne-Claude (about 700 feet away); Why Trains? (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ann Story (approx. ¼ mile away); The 54th Regiment (approx. ¼ mile away); Andrea Mead Lawrence (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rutland.

Historic West Street Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 9, 2019

2. Historic West Street Cemetery Marker

( reverse side )

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 9, 2019

3. Historic West Street Cemetery Marker

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 9, 2019

4. Historic West Street Cemetery Marker

reverse side

Historic West Street Cemetery Gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, May 9, 2019

5. Historic West Street Cemetery Gate

the gate, on West Street, opposite Forest Street

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2019, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 351 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 18, 2019, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.