Abraham Ladew was a prominent public official who served in the Revolutionary War. His family’s plot in Sparta Cemetery contains the oldest known marker (1764) and the remains of the legendary “cannonball stone,” said to have been struck by British fire during the war. 

In his will, Ladew set aside funds to ensure the family plot would remain enclosed and protected. Today, that brick enclosure is crumbling, putting centuries of history at risk. To prevent further damage and restore the Ladew family plot, we are seeking your financial help. We have a generous donor who will match your donations up to $2,500. The time to help is NOW.

Founded in 2013, the Ossining Historic Cemeteries Conservancy (OHCC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Dale and Sparta Cemeteries. The OHCC provides assistance and opportunities for community outreach, fundraising, and cemetery enhancement through:

• Hands-on instruction in monument and grave marker cleaning and restoration

• Monthly cleaning workshops at Sparta and Dale Cemeteries

• Educational outreach programs

• Historic cemetery tours

• Picnics and concerts

The OHCC Mission

The mission of the Ossining Historic Cemeteries Conservancy (OHCC) is to preserve, enhance, and share the beauty and history of Dale Cemetery (est. 1851) and Sparta Cemetery (est. 1764) for the benefit of present and future generations.

Sparta Cemetery

Sparta Cemetery is a poignant place to explore Ossining’s early history. It contains over 100 gravestones, many of English settlers who founded the hamlet of Sparta in the 18th century. Soldiers from three wars, including the American Revolution, are buried here, as well as individuals who formed the civic, business, and institutional life of early Ossining.

Dale Cemetery

“Here is a place, of which all may be proud; here all classes, sects and parties may drop their distinctions . . . . ; here arrogance and envy, bigotry and intolerance, and all uncharitableness must be subdued by the consciousness, in all, of our mortality and need of mercy.”

—From the 1851 dedication address