In 1847 a small group of Methodists began meeting in the one-room Briar Hill School (or School House #2) located in Hickory Township in what was then southern Mercer County – soon to become Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (in March 1849). In March 1851 the growing congregation was able to purchase several lots across the street from the school and soon erected a small, one-room wooden frame church. The property was formerly owned by William Painter (1760-1842) and his wife Martha Torten Painter (1762-1839). They were both buried (in unmarked graves) on the land and several other burials were conducted there between 1850-1851. It seems to me the cemetery was originated by the Painter family, but evolved into a burial ground for the Methodist Church.
The church started burying its deceased parishioners in the existing cemetery, which became known as the Eastbrook Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery. In later years it became known as the Briar Hill Cemetery, and was occasionally referred to as the Painter Hill Cemetery.
By the late 1870’s the Methodists had outgrown their small wooden church and decided to build a larger structure. A debate was underway on where to build the new edifice and eventually it was decided to relocate eastward and into the heart of the village of Eastbrook. A parishioner named James Craig donated some property in the village center, and the new Eastbrook Methodist Church was erected there in 1881.
The old church was razed at some point and burials became more frequent at the location. In June 1930 a group of local citizens filed an application for a charter to take over the old cemetery, which I believe was successful. On Sunday October 21, 1956, as part of the 75th anniversary of the opening of the original Eastbrook Methodist Church, a commemorative tablet affixed to a large stone was placed at the site where the original church building was once located. The Reverend James Williamson, former pastor from 1945-1947, read a dedicatory speech during a ceremony held at the cemetery. Other speakers were also featured during the afternoon ceremony.
In May 2002 the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) placed a flat burial marker on the grave of William Painter, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War who served with a unit hailing from near Philadelphia. The Briar Hill Cemetery sits in a very peaceful rural location and is well maintained. Several distant relatives of mine from the Reiber family are buried there.
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Comments
Janet Quimby #
I went to school with Michelle Lohr. She passed just a couple months after we graduated High School. :(
charles s mizner #
my grandparents arno & mary krause , aunts julia mazur, laura krause, uncle george mazur, and george mazur jr, charles mazur are buried here, i know quite a few people buried here , the circle of friends and neighbors are getting smaller now.
Dale Kline #
My Mom and Dad (Clair and Molly Kline) brothers Jerry and Jack Kline, Brother in Law Jennings Barber and Sister in Law Lottie Kline are interned in Brier Hill, as my wife and I will be someday.
carrie cade #
in a small cemetery I can visit with a lot of family and old friends and neighbors My Father Russ Cade Grandfather Russell Cade Great Grandfather William Cade Great anut and Grant Uncle every corner there is someone you know
carrie cade #
in a small cemetery I can visit with a lot of family and old friends and neighbors My Father Russ Cade Grandfather Russell Cade Great Grandfather William Cade Uncle Don Cade Great anut and Grant Uncle every corner there is someone you know
Mary Mizner Nichols #
BRIER HILL IS WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS ARNO AND MARY KRAUSE , AS WELL AS MY AUNT JULIA AND UNCLE GEORGE MAZUR AND THERE CHILDREN GEORGE JR. AND CHARLIE MAZUR ARE INTERNED THERE. AND QUITE AFEW FAMILIES I GREW UP AROUND.. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SERENE CEMENTARY.
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