| Indian Hill Cemetery | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Established | 1850 |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Type | private |
| Size | 40 acres[1] |
| No. of graves | 9,000[2] |
| Website | www.indian-hill.org |
| Find a Grave | Indian Hill Cemetery |
Indian Hill Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located at 383 Washington Street in Middletown, Connecticut on a hill adjacent to Wesleyan University.[3]
The hill was originally named "Wunne Wah Jet" by the indigenous Wangunk people who lived in Middletown.[4] Sowheage, a grand sachem in the tribe,[5] built fortifications on the hill around 1639 to protect against enemy tribes and invading European settlers. Over time, the Wangunk lost much of the surrounding land to settlers by theft, but were able to keep the hill parcel for themselves. The Wangunk and settlers lived together for many decades until the hill parcel was eventually taken by settlers in the late 1700s.[6]
The cemetery was developed, in part to change the association of Indian Hill as having been central to Wangunk life, as part of the City Beautiful movement which promoted the development of rural environments and landscapes for public spaces including cemeteries. After the yellow fever epidemic of 1841, rural cemeteries were thought to be more hygienic since they were located on the outskirts of cities.[2]
The Indian Hill Cemetery was organized June 11, 1850, under a general act of legislation passed in 1841.[7] The cemetery was dedicated on September 30, 1850,[4] and became the burial site of choice for Middletown's elite.[8]
The brownstone gothic revival Russell Chapel was built in 1867. Samuel Russell was a businessman who owned the Russell & Company trading business in Canton, China.[9] He was the first president of the Indian Hill Cemetery Association and the chapel was built by his wife in his memory.[1]
The chapel houses the original bell forged at the Troy, New York Meneely Bell Foundry in 1868.[9]
The chapel is listed on the Connecticut Register of Historic Places.[10]
