Salem Street Burying Ground
Why it's listed
Salem Street Burying Ground occupies about three-quarters of an acre between Salem Street and Riverside Avenue on the edge of Medford Square. It began in the mid-seventeenth century as a family burying place on Major Jonathan Wade's estate, in a sloping pasture overlooking the Mystic River, and the town acquired it in the early eighteenth century. Between 1717 and 1848 the original quarter-acre plot grew to its present size. A brick wall in Flemish bond with granite coping encloses it, and a formal path system, entrance gate and a monument to Governor John Brooks were added later. More than 600 people were buried here until about 1881, including members of the Hall, Tufts, Wade, Bradshaw, Brooks, Francis, Whitmore and Willis families. Some 425 stones survive, dating from 1683 to 1880, showing the shift from death's heads to cherubs, willows and neoclassical motifs. Over 50 enslaved people lie in unmarked graves. The site was listed for its historical associations and its record of funerary art.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the ground holds the graves of all of Medford's founding families and figures such as Governor John Brooks and Sarah Bradlee Fulton. Its 425 surviving stones form a historical, genealogical and educational record. The stones also document New England funerary art from 1683 to 1880, and over 50 enslaved people lie in unmarked graves.
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 81000115, listed August 27, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Medford Sq., Medford |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | August 27, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000115 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1660-1880 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and unaltered, on its original site; most slate stones are in fair condition. Status is marked unoccupied, with present use as park and religious. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.35522, -71.10551 (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 81000115.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7404188
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.