Pioneer Cemetery
Also known as: Evans Center Cemetery
Why it's listed
Pioneer Cemetery, also called Evans Center Cemetery, is a small burial ground of under one acre on North Main Street in Evans Center, Erie County, New York. Its first burial, in 1810, was that of two-year-old Sawyer Barrell, and the land was deeded to the Town of Evans in 1844. Burials continued until 1928, with the largest number in the 1850s. About 300 names have been inventoried. Most graves have simple tablet headstones, and six family plots have large obelisks. The hilly, naturalistic site has no paths, fence or structures. The cemetery records the settlement of Evans Center, an early community that lost its prominence after the railroad shifted the town's center to Evans Station. Buried here are many early settlers, including members of the Ayers family, three Revolutionary War veterans and at least ten Civil War veterans. Also interred is Asa Ames (1824-1850), a folk artist who carved wooden portrait sculptures now held in several museum collections.
Significance in brief: The cemetery is tied to the settlement and development of Evans Center, one of the earliest communities in the town, and holds the graves of many prominent early settlers. It also contains at least three Revolutionary War veterans, at least ten Civil War veterans, and the grave of folk sculptor Asa Ames. It is significant under Criterion A in Exploration/Settlement and Social History.
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 11000997, listed January 4, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W. side of N. Main St. between Gold St. & Beach Rd., Evans Center |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | January 4, 2012 |
| Reference number | 11000997 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1810-1928 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still a cemetery. The site is somewhat overgrown, and many of the oldest markers are weathered, fallen or damaged. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.65510, -79.03522 (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 11000997.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7196657
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.