Berlin Cemetery Office

A log cabin was built about 1762 and used as a church and school. King George the III, of England, deeded the land to Samuel Scull for 5 shillings. The deed was written in 1766 on sheepskin. The present-day building bears that date over the door. The deed covered 3 acres "beginning at a White Oak standing at the Fork". This oak, still standing, is rumored to have served as a hanging tree.

The log cabin was used by the Presbyterian Church and was open to all denominations. Rev. John Brainerd, a trustee of Princeton College and famous Indian missionary, preached here and raised funds build the log cabin. It later served as a district school which was Berlin’s first school. The cabin was replaced by the present-day building about 1850 and continued to serve as a school until the late 1870's. It then became the town cemetery.

The cemetery fell into neglect and in 1884, the Berlin Cemetery Association was formed and the building became the office. Renovations were made in 1971. The siding was made to the exact size of the original clapboard.

Some interesting people buried here include a Lenape Indian family, 3 Hessian soldiers, Thomas McCann (Civil War soldier), Arthur Eldred (the first Eagle Scout in the United States), Carlton R. Rough (a World War II Medal of Honor winner), Captain Thomas Clark (the Chrissie Wright ship wreck), and Mary Swain (Revolutionary War camp follower). Several of the Berlin's founding fathers are buried here including Richard Moss (the first settler here), Thomas Wright (first owner of the Berlin Hotel and a charcoal burning works), Samuel Scull (mentioned above and tavern owner), and Joseph L. Thackara (prominent merchant and Berlin's first railroad station agent).

Wright, Charles W.. The History of Berlin, New Jersey (Long-A-Coming). Privately Published, 1979.

Long-A-Coming Historical Society, Fiftieth Anniversary, 1927-1977, a History of Berlin. Privately Published, 1977.