T.F. Green, Dunkin' and the DMV: The strangest places to find historical cemeteries in RI
Historical cemeteries are a ubiquitous feature of Rhode Island's landscape.
So ubiquitous, in fact, that you can buy a car at one of several dealerships that have historical cemeteries on the premises, fill it up at a gas station with a historical cemetery in the parking lot, and then visit yet another historical cemetery when you register it at the Division of Motor Vehicles in Cranston.
Thanks to the state's small size and long history, incongruities like these abound. Centuries-old headstones sit across from Burger King and Dunkin' drive-thrus, at the edge of grocery store parking lots, and even near the runways at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport.
Early Rhode Islanders – who probably couldn't have conceived of airplanes, cars, or fast food – were often buried at home on family farms. Hundreds of years later, their final resting place may overlook a golf course or a gravel pit.
Since the 1990s, state law has prohibited historical cemeteries from being destroyed or demolished. New shopping centers and subdivisions are routinely designed around them, leading to surreal juxtapositions of past and present. Their weathered fieldstones contrast with the bland suburban sprawl, and serve as a reminder of a time before highways and Home Depots.
Here are some of the strangest, most surprising places where historical cemeteries can be found in modern-day Rhode Island.
More: 'There's people buried everywhere': Do RI's historic cemeteries need more protection?
Airports
Warwick 26 (Peter Freeman Lot) and Warwick 81 (John Kinnecom Cemetery)
Both of these family cemeteries can be found on the grounds of T.F. Green, on land that was annexed during an expansion. Warwick 26 can be seen from Main Road, while Warwick 81 faces Warwick Industrial Drive but is harder to see. Since they're within the security fence, you won't be able to get any closer without permission from the Rhode Island Airport Corporation.
Smithfield 117 (John Angell Lot)
Located on the grounds of North Central State Airport.
Burger King
North Kingstown 9 (Col. Royal Vaughan Lot)
Faces Namcook Road but sits behind the Burger King on Post Road and is visible from the drive-thru when the foliage dies back, according to a reader.
Car dealerships
Cranston 26 (John Stafford Lot) and Cranston 50 (Elder Elisha Greene Lot)
Located in the back lot behind the Tasca Automotive Group's massive dealership and service center on Pontiac Avenue in Cranston. While you're there, you can also visit Cranston 50, which is located on a hill facing the road, just outside the dealership's fence and before Swarovski North America.
East Greenwich 15 (Stephen Greene Lot)
The building that now houses Flood Ford has an unusual shape because it was designed to avoid disturbing any of the graves that now sit right next to the showroom, The Providence Journal reported in 1993.
Johnston 15 (Resolved Waterman Lot)
Directly in front of Tasca Jeep Chrysler Dodge Ram, and easily visible from Route 6.
Warwick 10 (Vincent Gardiner Lot)
Directly behind Balise Chevrolet's building on Post Road, separating two sides of the lot.
Division of Motor Vehicles
Cranston 28 (Samuel Stone Lot)
Located in front of the Division of Motor Vehicles headquarters on Route 2, and next to the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.
Dunkin'
Coventry 78 (Anthony Lot)
Sits across from the drive-thru window at the Dunkin' on the New London Turnpike, and backs up to a car wash.
Gas stations
Cranston 64 (Charles Bennett Lot) and Cranston 18 (Fenner-Lawton Lot)
The parking lot of the Shell station directly west of Interstate 295 on Plainfield Pike has been designed around these two small family cemeteries, giving it an odd polygonal shape.
Golf courses
Burrillville 20 (Harris-White-Darling Lot)
Located in the middle of Crystal Lake Golf Club.
Foster 77 (William Harrington Lot) and Foster 101 (Thomas Brayton Lot)
Both these small family plots can be found on the grounds of Foster Country Club.
Warwick 99 (Holden-Bicknell-Taylor Lot)
Situated behind the ninth green at Valley Country Club.
Warwick 159 (Dr. James Greene Lot)
According to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission database, this small burial ground with unmarked fieldstones is located 150 feet southwest of the clubhouse at Potowomut Country Club.
A gravel pit
South Kingstown 30 (Brig. Gen. Isaac P. Rodman Lot)
Located on a grassy hill overlooking South County Sand and Gravel's operations on Fiore Industrial Drive in Peace Dale. According to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission database, this family burial ground inspired the law that made it that makes it illegal to excavate within 25 feet of a historical cemetery, and requires the company's permission to visit.
Home Depot
Johnston 62 (Waterman-Sheldon Lot)
Located at the southern edge of the parking lot of the Home Depot off Route 6. A set of stairs leads down a slope from the parking lot to the cemetery.
Highway medians
Lincoln 6 (Willard Ballou Lot) and Lincoln 7 (Henry Allsop Lot)
According to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission database, these family cemeteries are located by the cloverleaf where Route 146 meets Interstate 295. They sit between the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 295.
North Kingstown 127 (Hunt Family Lot)
According to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission database, this cemetery is located between the northbound and southbound lanes of Route 1, roughly parallel to Riverhead Building Supply. It is overgrown and has mostly unmarked stones.
Warwick 87 (Ephraim Arnold Lot)
Located in between the eastbound and westbound lanes for Route 37, east of Interstate 95 and west of Jefferson Boulevard. According to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission database, the cemetery was in fair condition when a volunteer last visited in 2013.
Office parks
Johnston 69 (Dr. Benjamin Belknap Lot)
Located on the campus of Citizens Bank's corporate headquarters, near the edge of a sports field.
Lincoln 10 (Jenckes-Manton Lot)
Located in the midst of a suburban office park next to Amica's headquarters.
Smithfield 94 (Dr. Simeon Brown Lot)
Sits directly behind the corporate offices for Fidelity Investments, in a wooded area.
Shopping centers
Cranston 52 (Josiah Westcott Lot)
Located on a slope above the Panera and below the Staples at the Chapel View shopping center, overlooking Sockanosett Cross Road. The nearest business is ClearChoice Dental Implant Center. According to the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission database, it was moved 65 feet east of its original location, which was once home to the state institution.
East Greenwich 34 (Bailey-Hall Cemetery)
Located behind the building that houses Dave's Marketplace and the Savory Grape on Division Road, near the Tesla charging station.
Warwick 8 (George H. Arnold Lot)
Sits on a hill behind the loading dock for Savers on Bald Hill Road, sandwiched in between a shopping plaza that also holds a Best Buy and the Herb Chambers car dealership.
Warwick 43 (Rowland Barton Lot)
Located on a grassy triangle directly north of Showcase Cinemas Warwick and the parking lot for Texas Roadhouse on Route 2. Surrounded by a stone wall, but can be easy to miss because numerous trees are planted around it.
Smithfield 83 (Peter Barnes Lot)
Located on top of a manmade stone embankment that surrounds the Smithfield Crossings shopping center, between Target and Michael's. A set of stairs leading to the cemetery can be found behind Michael's.
Stop & Shop
Narragansett 6 (Lucky Star Cemetery)
At the edge of the parking lot for the Stop & Shop at the Salt Pond Shopping Center, facing Point Judith Road.
Walgreens
Johnston 23 (William Waterman Lot)
Located at the intersection of Atwood Avenue and Cherry Hill Road, on the north side of the drugstore's parking lot.
Is there a historical cemetery that you think should be on this list? Email afarzan@providencejournal.com with coordinates, photos or the number of the cemetery.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Strange locations for historical cemeteries in RI include airport, DMV
