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Map views courtesy Google Maps. No street address is assigned. Listed only as Main Street (State Route 370), the 5.9 acre parcel is located between Main Street addresses 2971 and 3013. Actual location of the monument is Google Earth confirmed; 43°10'05.05"N 76°32'31.53"W. Current owner of record, Cemetery, Meridian Association, Town of Cato, as of date (YMD) 190304. Also known as Monument Grove Cemetery.
Town of Cato and Cayuga County Maps
Additions to Schmidt's list - A monument in the Meridian Cemetery is about 20 feet tall with a main column made of cobblestones laid in a slightly tapered cylinder and topped with a cast cement ornament. Because of its structure, the stones are exposed about one-third, while the other two thirds is embedded in the mortar matrix. No other similar structure is known. Roudabush Survey page 45
One of a Kind Cobblestone Monument in Meridian Restored, By Richard F. Palmer
Standing on the hillside cemetery in the village of Meridian is what may be the only cobblestone monument in the United States. The Town of Cato had it restored in 2017. The oldest inscription dates it to at least 1840. This was at a period when cobblestone architecture was at the height of popularity in this region.
The monument is engraved with the faded names of the family of Robert G. Kimball, an early pioneer, who resided on Bonta Bridge Road south of the village. He was a carpenter by trade. Here he lies, along with his wife, five sons and two daughters. He was predeceased by his wife and most of his children.
Kimball came here from Rhode Island in 1831 and was a carpenter. He died here on Dec. 2, 1889, when he was 89 years old. His wife, Margaret, died April 23, 1876, at the age of 78. They had three daughters and five sons. Only two sons, Charles M. and John P., survived into adulthood.
A close-up inspection of the upper part of the monument reveals the structure was carefully constructed of round and smoothly worn stones, probably carefully selected from the shoreline of Lake Ontario, some 12 miles to the north, and hauled to Meridian by wagon. The stones were mortared in patterns by a highly skilled stone mason.
The monument is now in excellent condition and should stand for generations to come. The lower part of the monument, which essentially supports the cobblestone portion, consists of four square marble slabs fastened by iron clips forged at a local blacksmith shop. The marble tablets are inscribed with the names of the deceased, including the dates of the Kimball family.
As far as can be determined, this may be the only cobblestone tombstone in the United States. A spokesperson for the Cobblestone Society Museum in Albion NY said knows of no other such monument. There are hundreds of cobblestone structures throughout upstate New York, including five houses in the Cato area. But this is the only known cobblestone monument.
The upper part of Meridian Cemetery, where this monument is located, contains monuments even older than this one. But in most cases, there are no descendants to care for them. Town governments are responsible for cosmetically maintaining essentially abandoned cemeteries. When old tombstones in old cemeteries are broken, they are frequently thrown into piles to escape the path of mowers, or even hauled away. But this cemetery is well cared for.
Additional information and photographs for the Robert G. Kimball Monument. Courtesy Find A Grave website.
- "Cayugas Cobblestones", by Ward O'Hara 1991
- Pages 71 - 72
¹ Image courtesy Cobblestone Museum.
² Photography courtesy Martin and Sheila Wolfish.
³ Photography courtesy Richard Palmer.
