Searles Hill Cemetery
Also known as: South Yard, South Cemetery
Why it's listed
Searles Hill Cemetery is a rectangular, 3.3-acre burying ground at the southern foot of Searles Hill in Phillipston, Massachusetts. Established around 1777 on land donated by an early settler, it predates the town's incorporation by about ten years and is the oldest known burial place in town. Cut-granite and fieldstone walls enclose the grounds, and a sugar maple allee lines the road. Its 98 markers, mostly slate with later marble, stand in neat rows and carry winged heads, willow-and-urn motifs and other carved imagery. Some stones are attributed to the Park brothers of Groton, and others are signed by mid-19th-century carvers from Barre, Athol and Fitchburg. Buried here are war veterans, farmers, town selectmen, and relatives of Thomas H. White, founder of the White Sewing Machine Company. The last burial occurred in 1915. Town volunteers keep the grounds in very good condition, though funds for stone conservation are lacking.
Significance in brief: It is one of the oldest known burial places in Phillipston and holds the graves of early settlers, veterans and town officials. It also typifies the layout of a late 18th-century New England burial ground, with rows of slate and marble tablets, many carved by regional gravestone carvers.
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 11000665, listed September 15, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Searles Hill Rd., Phillipston |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | September 15, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000665 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1777-1915 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Exploration/Settlement, Landscape Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained by the town's volunteer Cemetery Commission and in very good overall condition; the last burial took place in 1915, and the town lacks funds for gravestone conservation. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.53359, -72.12619 (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 11000665.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16899884
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.