Lancaster in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Stevens Greenland Cemetery

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., June 10, 2021

1. Stevens Greenland Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Established for “burial of persons of the colored race or their families..."
From Certificate of Incorporation, 1906

Lancaster New Era 19 June 1907
Cemetery Dedicated
For Use Exclusively of Colored People

Stevens Greenland Cemetery Consecrated on Sunday Afternoon to Its Holy Purpose--Mayor McCaskey Makes an Address.

The Stevens Greenland Cemetery, a burial plot exclusively for people of the colored race, was formally dedicated on Sunday afternoon, the exercises attracting a large number of people. The following programme was carried out: Hymn, A. M. E. choir of 20 voices; prayer, Rev. W. B. Williams; address, Edward Millen; address, Hon. J. P. McCaskey; selection, A. M. E. choir; address, Rev. P. P. Galnes, Bristol; selection, A. M. E. choir; address, Rev. J. M. Palmer, D. D., Bryn Mawr; address, James Prangley, Jr.; doxology; benediction.

Incorporators and Original Managers
13 October 1906

Dr. J. W. Kinard
President

Edward Millen
Vice President

James Prangley, Jr.
Secretary

C. F. Widmyer
Treasurer

George Lord
Albert E. Wilson
J.K. Wiegler

[picture of grave marker]
Edward Millen
July

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

3, 1873
Feb. 22, 1925

First African American Police Officer
to serve in the City of Lancaster,
Edward Millen, Jr. managed this
cemetery following the death of his
father, Edward Millen, Sr. (1827-1917)

This cemetery established due to lack of space at Bethel AME Church, the traditional local burial site for African Americans, and with racial restrictions at other cemeteries. More than 850 burials here, including the remains of 53 veterans of wars & armed conflicts, foreign and domestic.

May 2021 Sponsored by SACA Development Corp. Elm Street Program, with grants from Wells Fargo Regional Foundation and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Property owned and managed by Conestoga Elks Lodge No. 140, Lancaster, PA. Gary Wilson, Manager. Design by Randolph Harris, consulting historian, with research courtesy of Gordon Reed, Leroy T. Hopkins, Jr. PhD, Gerald Wilson, Kathleen Anderson & Nelson Polite, Jr., members, African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania. Aerial photography by Carmelo Cruz. Millen photo courtesy of Lancaster Bureau of Police.

Scan for more information

Erected 2021.

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., May 26, 2021

2. Stevens Greenland Cemetery Marker

Plaque is off camera to left and was blank when this photo was taken; thus, the plaque could not be submitted at that time.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical date for this entry is October 13, 1906.

Location. 40° 1.508′ N, 76° 17.222′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. It is on Duke Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 S Duke Street, Lancaster PA 17602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Proclamation (within shouting distance of this marker); At Rockford near here lived & died General Edward Hand, M.D. (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., June 13, 2021

3. Stevens Greenland Cemetery Marker

Plaque is no longer blank.

marker also named Stevens Greenland Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Rock Ford (approx. ¼ mile away); In Reverent Memory (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Rock Ford (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tenant Farmer's House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Native Americans in Lancaster County (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lancaster.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. This page has been viewed 786 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 10, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. 2. submitted on June 11, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. 3. submitted on June 15, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.