Riverside Cemetery
Why it's listed
Riverside Cemetery is a level, rectangular, 2.3-acre burial ground beside N.Y. Route 97 near Long Eddy, Sullivan County. New York City businessman Robert Halsey, who owned land in the area, donated the tract in 1885 for a non-denominational community cemetery. Plots follow a simple grid, a wrought iron fence and gateways line the north edge, and a bluestone sidewalk leads to a small Queen Anne style chapel at the center, built in 1887. The chapel has fishscale shingles, stained glass and scroll-sawn rafter ends. About 550 monuments stand here, roughly two thirds from the 1885-1943 period, including carved obelisks, diamond-shaped headstones and a rustic monument shaped like a gnarled tree trunk. The cemetery reflects vernacular small-town design rather than the grand rural cemetery movement. It was listed for its architecture and landscape qualities, and it remains well maintained with its historic setting largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cemetery is a distinctive local expression of late nineteenth and early twentieth century cemetery design, with a rectilinear layout, wrought iron fence, bluestone sidewalk and a small Queen Anne chapel. Its collection of finely carved monuments is described as among the finest in the river valley. The chapel is called an unusually fine example of its type and unique within the Upper Delaware region.
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 93001226, listed November 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 97 SE of jct. with Church St., Long Eddy |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | November 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001226 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1885-1943 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The cemetery and its restored chapel are described as well maintained and still in use as a cemetery. The chapel was used as a maintenance shed by the mid-twentieth century and returned to its original configuration and use in 1972. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.84724, -75.12633 (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 93001226.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7338440
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.