South Cortland Cemetery

South Cortland Cemetery Cortlandville, Cortland County, New York
Lat: 42° 34' 09"N, Lon: 76° 03' 13"W

Contributed by John Hoeschele, Apr 17, 2010.

To reach this cemetery from city of Cortland, at the intersection of Routes 13 and 281, drive south onto Route 13 for approximately 0.5 miles. The cemetery is on the west or right side of the road, across from the Wal-Mart.

This cemetery's history is not well documented, but this much is known:

1. While the early town of South Cortland (circa 1800-1930s) was known to have at least one "house of worship," this cemetery is located several hundred feet north of that church's known location based on Census and other period maps showing South Cortland. It also does not appear to be affiliated with any single family, as approximately two dozen families were interred here. Accordingly, the cemetery would best be termed a 'community graveyard' or 'rural' graveyard.'

2. To date (Spring 2010), research of deeds and other records at the Cortland County clerk's office archives do not reveal clear ownership and title of the cemetery; indeed, lack of clarity on this point led the Town of Cortlandville to gradually assume responsibility for the property's care and upkeep in the 1970s and 1980s, in accordance with NYS laws/regulations regarding abandoned cemeteries.