02/11/2026
Let’s take a historical look at the cemeteries of the Town of Lockport. Did you know there are over 12 cemeteries in the town? Some are small family cemeteries located on private property. Others are affiliated with churches past and present.
These cemeteries provide valuable insight into the history of Lockport and the families who shaped the area. They also serve as important resources for genealogical and historical research, preserving connections to generations of residents.
The largest and arguably most well-known cemetery in the town is Cold Springs Cemetery, located on Cold Springs Road. It was incorporated in 1841, although there are burials noted as early as 1812. It was designed as a traditional Victorian cemetery. Adjacent to Cold Springs Cemetery is Price Cemetery, likely named after the Daniel Price family. There are no boundaries, and for all intents and purposes, it has been absorbed into Cold Springs Cemetery. There is a potter’s field across the railroad tracks.
On the other side of the road, there is the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, established about 1889. The church itself is located in the city on Saxton St.
There is another Lutheran cemetery on Akron Road. The church, which is now a private home, was originally known as the Friedens Church, but later renamed St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Brookside Cemetery, at the corner of Slayton Settlement and Day Roads, as part of the Chapel of the Good Shepard, the summer chapel of Grace Episcopal Church, a now defunct parish located on Genesee Street in the city. Margaret Pearson, whose family owned expansive property on Slayton Settlement Road, donated the land to Rev. William Faber to build the chapel. There are only a couple of burials.
There are a couple of family cemeteries located in the Hickory Corners area of town. The Pomeroy Cemetery is on Townline Rd and is the final resting place for several Pomeroy family members tracing their roots to patriarch Daniel Pomeroy, who settled Lower Mountain Rd and served as the local postmaster. The Alvord Cemetery is on Lower Mountain Rd and the Freeman Cemetery is on Leete near the original homesteads of their namesakes. Please note both of these sites are located on private property and should not be visited without permission of the property owner.
Shaeffer Cemetery, on Dysinger Road, was earlier known as Brooks Cemetery, likely due to the Brooks family who lived across the street. It was Samuel Shaeffer who deeded the land, establishing the cemetery in 1848. However, there are documented burials as early as 1830.
Stahler Cemetery, on Beattie Avenue, was once known as the Zion Church Cemetery. Charles Stahler renamed it after making many improvements to the site. It was incorporated in 1891, although there are burials dating to the 1830s.
Chestnut Ridge Cemetery at the town’s eastern border on Chestnut Ridge Road is home to burials as early as the 1820s. It was originally known as the burying grounds and there was a connection with the Wesleyan Church down the road. It received its current appellation in 1859 by town supervisor Jacob Gaunt.
Queen of Heaven Cemetery is the newest town cemetery, formed in 1960 by the Buffalo Catholic Diocese. It is located on Tonawanda Creek Road in Rapids and owned by Buffalo Catholic Cemeteries.
There are two potter's field cemeteries in the town. The earliest is known as the Poor House Cemetery on Niagara Street Ext. After services were moved from the poor house location to the new infirmary site on Davison Road, a cemetery was established at that site. There are hundreds of documented burials there, but there are no individual markers. Several of the aforementioned cemeteries include a potter’s field section, as well. There are also mentions of other small family cemeteries and burials throughout the town.
I would like to find a couple of volunteers who are interested in helping with the maintenance of St. Paul’s Cemetery. If you are interested, please reach out. You can reach me at [email protected] or text me at 716-870-3911. Thank you!
Photographs are from the Niagara County Historian's Office. They depict Shaeffer and St. Paul's Cemeteries, circa 1955.
