About Glenwood Cemetery
Glenwood Cemetery is one of the most beautiful and historic cemeteries in Ontario. With its rolling hills, winding dirt roads, and tall trees, the cemetery is typical of the Victorian era. It is the final resting place for many of the area’s early settlers and their families. The designated heritage site has served several purposes. It was once the site of a brewery. In the early 1860’s, a tannery was located on the grounds. When the tanning factory closed in 1864, Glenwood became a farm until 1883 when it was chosen as the site for a new cemetery. Today, Glenwood retains all its 19th century charm and beauty.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Prince Edward County is on traditional land that has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples from the beginning. We thank all generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years. We recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this land. Today, the County of Prince Edward is still home to many First Nations and Metis people, and we are grateful to have an opportunity to contribute to the stewardship of this land.
Notable Interred
There are several notable interred at Glenwood Cemetery, including Letitia Youmans who was a leader of the Canadian temperance movement, as well as canning magnate Wellington Boulter. There are also many graves of Canadian veterans including of the War of 1812, as well as United Empire Loyalists.
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Letitia Youmans (3 January 1827 – 16 July 1896) a Canadian school teacher who became an activist for the temperance movement. Youmans founded and served as the first president of the Ontario chapter of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. There is a commemorative plaque to honour Letitia Youmans at the entrance of Glenwood Cemetery placed by the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Wellington Boulter was born in 1838 in Prince Edward County, Ontario. He built the first canning factory in Central Ontario at Picton and was so successful that for over fifty years, Prince Edward County was known as the canning capital of Canada. He served as President of the Canadian Packers Association for thirteen years. A wealthy man, he was quick to donate to any worthy cause. He was active in local politics and served two terms as the Mayor of Picton. He was the chairman of the board for the Loyal True Blue Orphanage which was located at Picton. Boulter was a member of L.O.L. 488 and L.O.L. 574 and served as the County Master of Prince Edward. He attended the 1870 meeting of the Grand Orange Council of the World as one of the Canadian delegates. Wellington Boulter died on February 26, 1927.
United Empire Loyalists
In 2015 a dual ceremony marking decades of service to the Queen and Canada, two United Empire Loyalists were honoured at Glenwood Cemetery in Picton, Ontario. William Johnson, U.E., a veteran of the War of 1812 and one of the first settlers of Prince Edward County, was presented with a footstone commemorating his service during that war by the Graveside Project of the Government of Canada. The object of the project is to trace and mark the graves of as many of the veterans of that nation-building conflict as possible. Not much is known about William’s service beyond the fact that he was a member of 1st Militia Prince Edward County, served with Jacob Shortt (his daughter-in-law’s father) and both were at the Battle of Queenston Heights when Brock was killed. At the same time, Elizabeth Johnson Hancocks, C.G., U.E., was laid to rest in the family burying ground, and a U.E. Marker placed on her grave. For more than half a century, Elizabeth had been Dominion Genealogist of the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada, and responsible for compiling and editing Loyalist Lineages of Canada, a volume that attempts to trace the family lines of every known Loyalist in the country. She was awarded the Bicentennial Medal for her services to Loyalist Genealogy, as well as the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal, and most recently the Dorchester Award for her work. Her personal interests have always been in Prince Edward County, and she is responsible for many genealogical publications about that area.
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Staff and Board of Directors
Staff: Casey VanHaarlem and Jeff VanHaarlem
Volunteer Board of Directors: Sandra Latchford (Chair), John Thompson (Vice-Chair), Fergus Millar (Treasurer), Mary Corbett-Lazier, Ben Thornton, Maria DiMauro, Brock Warner.
Conservation Efforts
Glenwood is a rich natural resource and diverse ecosystem for local flora and fauna. Our grounds have low wetlands and natural springs, marshes, wildflowers, old growth trees as well as recently planted natural species. It is a great spot for birdwatching, as well as spotting deer and other wildlife that inhabit our adjoining parks and conservation areas.
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Bat Houses
Glenwood Cemetery has installed two bat houses, one located in Section G and another nearby Section N. These are intended as a temporary home for local bat species affected by habitat loss, and some of which are endangered or at-risk. Bat houses like ours are a safe alternative for bats whose natural roosting sites have been lost or destroyed.
Bat populations are also declining throughout North America due to White Nose Syndrome (WNS), a fungal infection which is spread among bats that live in cold, damp habitats such as caves. The dry and well-ventilated construction of an artificial bat house is a good alternative for bats to roost and rebuild their colonies. Our bat house is built in the “rocket box” style which is shown to be the preferred artificial roost style of the little brown bat which is common to this area. The bat house has been painted a dark colour with water-based, non-toxic exterior-grade paint which helps the roost attract and retain heat.
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Thank you to the local volunteers and businesses that helped make this bat house installation possible. If you want to contribute to the upkeep of the bat houses and support the ongoing operations of the cemetery, donations can be made directly to Glenwood Cemetery and are tax deductible. Want to volunteer or help in another way? Please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
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Did you snap a photo of a Glenwood Bat House? Tag us @glenwoodcemetery. We can’t wait to see it!
If you encounter an injured bat, do not touch or attempt to move it yourself. Contact the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre (613-354-0264) and notify Glenwood staff of the time and location of the animal.
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More Bat Reading and Resources
Ontario Bat Guide (Ontario Nature)
VIDEO: Little Brown Bat (Hinterland Who’s Who)
Bats at Ontario Parks (Ontario Parks)
Bat Houses (Bat Conservation International)
Build Your Own Bat House (Canadian Wildlife Federation)
How to Build a Bat Box (Ontario Parks)
Two-Chamber Rocket Box (Hinterland Who’s Who)
Veterans Area
Glenwood has an entire section devoted to veterans. It is located in the southeast area of the cemetery. It is annually the site of Remembrance Day commemorations. Visitors are encouraged to visit this area of Glenwood. If you or a loved one are a veteran and are interested in a plot or plaque in this area, please contact us to discuss your options in more detail.
Burial Records
Genealogical and Family History Research
If you’re researching your roots in the Prince Edward County area, consider starting with our most up-to-date Burial Records. This listing contains the names, dates of birth and death, and cemetery location of over 12,000 known records dating back to the late 1800’s. You’ll also find helpful resources and knowledgeable staff at the County of Prince Edward Archives, the Prince Edward County Heritage Advisory Committee, the Prince Edward County Historical Society, and the Museums of Prince Edward County.
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You can find Glenwood Cemetery on Find a Grave here, which includes open and fulfilled grave photo requests.