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Canarsie Cemetery, Remsen Blvd., Brooklyn, New York

Canarsie Cemetery. The decrepit boneyard that was the last in the five boroughs to be managed by the city is coming back from the dead thanks to new private ownership, and it won't be long before people will once again be dying to get in. The city sold Remsen Avenue's dilapidated, 167-year-old graveyard to the owners of Cypress Hills Cemetery three months ago, and new management is breathing life into the final resting place of more than 4,900 while finding room for more customers. The new ownership says it's added 200 new grave sites to the neighborhood stone farm that is bordered by Avenue K, Church Lane and E. 86th Street, and its installed a handsome, wrought iron balustrade to replace the existing worn-down, chain link fence at its borders. And the new owners say that fix up is just the beginning. We're clearing out areas that had nothing but weeds, unsightly brush and debris that had been thrown in the back over the years,he said. Patrick Russo, Canarsie Cemetery's new vice president. We're also redoing the front entrance and repairing a ramp visitors use as they come inside. The changes will certainly improve the dilapidated memorial park which the city left to die, investing just $250,000 a year in employee salaries and maintenance costs before selling it to Cypress Hills in August for the ghoulishly low price of $50,000 about $10 a headstone! Russo admitted that the cemetery was in ghastly shape when Cypress Hills was given the keys. I met a woman on Remsen Street two weeks ago who told me, Welcome to the ghetto cemetery Russo recalled. But I told her it was going to change. I've seen other cemeteries in worse condition. [Canarsie Cemetery] is a quaint community cemetery that just needed a little TLC. But Cypress Hills isn't just going to beautify the place. In addition to the purchase price, it has agreed to buck-up an additional $1 million $500,000 at closing and an additional $500,000 over the next 10 years for a state-mandated permanent maintenance fund to guarantee the necropolis an eternal life. Cypress Hills also agreed to keep Canarsie Cemetery's name, which other buyers refused to do, and work with a community advisory board on future changes. Local leaders hailed the resurrection. This is a win-win for everyone, said Councilman Lew Fidler (D-Canarsie). The city of New York had no business being in the cemetery business. It just wasn't good at it and it was losing money. At the same time the community benefits because [Cypress Hills] is going to spruce up and maintain the cemetery. Democratic District Leader Frank Seddio, a Canarsie native, agreed. Cypress Hills is really going to make the Canarsie Cemetery a dignified place once again, he said. And even more people will soon be able to call the cemetery their final resting place, as new ownership plans to find even more room for, well, able bodies. We're also scouting out locations for mausoleums that will be built in a year, Russo explained. ©2011 Community Newspaper Group (Scroll Down To See All Names) Left Click on Photos to See Enlarged Version.

"Surname Unknown": Anna Marie b. Jun 1875, d. 1957
Behncke: Wilhelmina b. Sep 1863, d. 27 Apr 1887
Bennett: Cornelia L. b. c 1831, d. 19 May 1894
Denton: Anna M. b. Nov 1898, d. 1984

Charles E. b. 30 Nov 1855, d. 27 Feb 1911

Cornelia Ann b. 10 Feb 1854, d. 11 Mar 1949

Daniel V b. 13 May 1831, d. 22 Dec 1898

Edna M. b. c 1906, d. 1923

John Augusta b. 19 Jul 1850, d. 1941

John F. b. Oct 1899, d. 1985

Katherine b. 21 Apr 1890, d. 13 Aug 1899

Mary Louise b. 1876, d. 1959

Walter C. b. Feb 1868, d. 14 Apr 1943

William R. b. 1910, d. 2 Mar 1954
Ecks: William H. b. Jun 1861, d. 13 Jun 1932
Ford: Florence M. b. 1907, d. 2 Mar 1934

Frank Edward b. Jul 1882, d. 14 Apr 1955
Fredrick: Clara B. b. Oct 1875, d. 1936
Lack: Mary Lousia b. 9 Feb 1833, d. 2 May 1902
Lankenau: Meta b. 1863, d. 23 Dec 1935
Radcliffe: Ella b. Oct 1870, d. 29 Jun 1948
Seaman: Samuel Dipmes b. 28 Apr 1887, d. 6 Jun 1976

Selina b. 4 May 1879, d. 30 Oct 1953

Stephen Eldert b. Jan 1853, d. 10 Mar 1915
Sitzabee: George b. Jul 1872, d. 1951
Van Dyke: Charles Edward b. 3 Feb 1899, d. 29 Dec 1953

Stephen R. b. 4 Mar 1870, d. 12 Apr 1955

Compiler: John W. Van Dyke: