Historic Saratoga Cemetery Seeking Trustees with Ancestral Ties to Saratoga Pioneer Families

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Southside Cemetery – the oldest still-existing cemetery in the city of Saratoga Springs – recently had control returned to a local Board of Trustees.

Formerly known as the Whitford Cemetery, it is located on Crescent Avenue just east of South Broadway, with an earliest burial that dates to 1801. 

A recent meeting was conducted by the sole remaining trustee – renowned tombstone photographer, Thomas L. Dunne – during which Mary Ellen Ryall and Wayne T. Senecal, both of Saratoga Springs, were appointed trustees. Mary Ellen appeared representing her Ryall family ancestors buried in the cemetery and Wayne representing his wife Susan’s Eddy family ancestors buried there.

Corinne Scirocco, also of Saratoga Springs, was nominated to become a trustee representing the Saratoga Chapter of the DAR, there also being five American Revolutionary War veterans buried in the cemetery. 

The board is seeking additional trustees who will hopefully come from the over 30 Saratoga Pioneer families with ancestors in the cemetery.

After reestablishing the association’s tax and legal standings, plans call for a fundraising campaign to be followed by an extensive cleanup and restoration of the cemetery beginning in the spring and summer of 2022.

Descendants interested in more details or becoming Trustees or Friends of the Cemetery should write to SSCA-Historian, P.O. Box 711, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 12866, or email: wsenecal@nycap.rr.com.