North Cemetery
Also known as: Leverett Center Cemetery
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Why it's listed
North Cemetery is a rural burial ground of 3.5 acres on Cold Street in Worthington, Massachusetts, of which the town has developed 2.5 acres. Established before 1795, it is enclosed on three sides by a field stone wall lined with sugar maples 30 to 36 inches in caliper. Three entries, two with mortared stone gateposts, lead to turf and dirt cart paths. The 711 markers are about half marble and 41 percent granite, and include early stones in Goshen Stone and schist. Some display the work of regional carvers such as H. Fox of West Stockbridge and J. Dougherty of the southern Berkshires. A zinc obelisk and cast iron fence mark the plot of storekeeper and manufacturer Horace Cole. The graves include town founders, mill owners, and sixty-two war veterans, three from the Revolutionary War. Because little documentation of the cemetery's early development survives, the place preserves the record of Worthington's settlers, entrepreneurs and local figures, and it retains the character of an 18th century rural burial ground.
Significance in brief: The cemetery is argued to be locally significant under Criterion A for the many town founders, leaders, mill owners and veterans buried there. Under Criterion C it is significant for its landscape of field stone walls, mature sugar maples and cart paths, and for locally carved grave markers, including work by named regional carvers and stones of Goshen Stone and schist.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 100005276, listed July 1, 2020. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 114 Montague Rd., Leverett |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | July 1, 2020 |
| Reference number | 100005276 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1795-1954 |
| Architect / builder | H. Fox, "G.B.W.", J. Dougherty (carvers) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active cemetery; burials continued as late as 2001. The cut-stone vault in the southeast corner is a ruin that resembles a cellar hole. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.46756, -72.49850 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 100005276.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q97274029
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.