| Trinity Cemetery | |
| Established: | 1869 |
| Country: | United States |
| Location: | Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates: | 42.1025°N -80.1508°W |
| Type: | Private; Catholic |
| Owner: | Diocese of Erie |
| Size: | 30acres |
| Website: | Trinity Cemetery |
| Findagraveid: | 46488 |
| Politicalgeo: | PA/ER-buried.html#cms03893 |
Trinity Cemetery was founded on Trinity Sunday (20 June) in 1869 as the first cemetery of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. It is located on West Lake Road in Erie, Pennsylvania. The parish cemeteries of Holy Trinity and St. Stanislaus were incorporated into Trinity Cemetery.[1]
The earliest known Catholic cemetery in Erie was on land purchased on East 9th Street in 1837 and consecrated to that purpose on 2 August 1840. A site on Chestnut Street was acquired by the pastor of St. Mary's Church in 1848 and used by German Catholics. Remains were relocated from the East 9th Street cemetery to the Chestnut Street site during this period. The Chestnut Street cemetery was closed to new interments when Trinity Cemetery opened in 1869.[2]
Circa 1837, St. Patrick's Church purchased a small lot on 3rd Street between German Street and Parade Street as its first cemetery. When 5acres were acquired in 1852 at 24th Street and Sassafras Street, the congregation moved remains from Third Street to the new site. This cemetery was closed to new interments and many bodies relocated to Trinity Cemetery after it opened. As of 1884, some families had refused consent for the bodies of loved ones to be relocated.[2]
Trinity Cemetery, consisting of 30acres of well-appointed walks, driveways, and ornamental trees and located about 4miles west of the city, was dedicated on 23 May 1869 in a consecration ceremony conducted by representatives of the diocese and area parishes and witnessed by thousands of local area residents. Bishop Tobias Mullen and a host of local clergy processed from 8th Street to the cemetery that Sunday afternoon.[2]
Notable people buried at Trinity Cemetery: