North Cemetery
Why it's listed
North Cemetery occupies 3.5 acres at Cold Street and North Road, about a mile from Worthington Corners. It was established before 1795, and the oldest burials lie in the lower eastern end, with newer graves toward the west. A field stone wall encloses three sides, mature sugar maples line it, and turf cart paths lead in from three entries. Two entries have mortared stone gateposts. Of the 711 markers, about half are marble and 41% granite, and a few are Goshen Stone or schist. Some stones show the work of regional carvers, including H. Fox of West Stockbridge and J. Dougherty of the southern Berkshires. The Horace Cole family plot has a zinc obelisk and an iron fence dated 1865. The cemetery holds the graves of town founders, mill owners, a Revolutionary War financier and sixty-two veterans. Its landscape and markers, along with the people buried there, account for its local significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cemetery is significant locally under Criterion A for the many town founders, leaders, mill owners and veterans buried there. It meets Criterion C for its walled, tree-lined landscape and for locally carved grave markers, including signed work by regional carvers and Goshen Stone markers. It is also noted for archaeological potential.
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 04000121, listed March 3, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cold St., Worthington |
|---|---|
| County | Hampshire County |
| Listed | March 3, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000121 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1795-1954 |
| Architect / builder | H. Fox, "G.B.W.", J. Dougherty (carvers) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Social History, Landscape Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active cemetery; burials continued as late as 2001. The cut-stone burial vault in the southeast corner is a ruin, out of use since about 1950. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.42299, -72.94657 (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 04000121.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7054717
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.