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We are the town cemetery where generations of Danvers inhabitants have chosen to spend eternal life. Located in the heart of Danvers, Walnut Grove provides the ideal location for local families to visit and remember their loved ones. The peaceful, beautiful and historic grounds have served as a sanctuary in which to honor the memories of the departed since 1843.
Walnut Grove is a non-denominational cemetery offering both interment and cremation options. Given our commitment to the Town of Danvers and its citizens, traditional and cremation-only burial lots are offered to current Danvers residents and former Danvers residents with permission. Learn more here.
In addition to ground burial plots, the cemetery has two columbarium gardens including the addition of a new columbarium in Fall 2022. Each niche accommodates 2 urns. (See photo below).
Steeped in history and tradition, Walnut Grove is governed by a Board of Trustees with deep roots in the community who are committed to maintaining its heritage and integrity for many generations into the future. Sound financial management ensures the ongoing upkeep and maintenance of this beautiful cemetery for years to come.
This cemetery is referred to as GR11 Walnut Grove Cemetery in the "Vital Records of Danvers Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849".
Walnut Grove is one of the earliest, still functioning cemeteries of Danvers. Started in the mid-19th century there are numerous re-internments from other, presumed private, cemeteries. A large number of Putnams were re-interred here in 1852. The cemetery reflects the towns history with surnames that date back to the towns founding "Putnam", "Trask and "Nourse" to name a few. There are veterans of the Revolutionary War buried here as well as a number of veterans of the 2nd Mass Heavy Artillery and 17th Mass Infantry from the Civil War. In the 20th century a number of Eastern European surnames begin to appear.
A map of the cemetery indicating plots is available from the link above. Plot numbering is somewhat haphazard, especially in the oldest section "C". It should be noted that 10% or more of the memorials listed in the cemetery records have typos. These look to be transcription errors from handwritten records. Find-a-Grave has been updated for every headstone found, these corrections have been forwarded to the cemetery, who may eventually update their online records. There appears to be some duplication as well numerous missing headstones which have either been damaged or buried over the years. The entire cemetery has been photographed as of July 2015. If you are looking for a relative buried here who has not been photographed, please reach out to the cemetery to have their stone located and uncovered before making a photo request. If you are looking for a name that does not show up in the online records, figure out who else is in the same plot, then look up the plot to see who is buried there - most of the time you will find your person with a typo.
Walnut Grove Cemetery was established in May of 1843, on 14 acres of land in what was then called "North Danvers". The land was purchased from Judge Samuel Putnam. It was the first cemetery in Danvers to be designed as a memorial park.
By October of that year, the first Board of Trustees were formed and the cemetery was incorporated.
Walnut Grove Cemetery was originally named, "Sylvan Rest", but on June 15, 1844, it was renamed to Walnut Grove. On June 22, 1844, more than 2,000 townspeople of Danvers gathered to observe the consecration of Walnut Grove as a cemetery.
A month later, in July 1844, the first burial took place. However, records show that there have been many burials that have taken place earlier, as far back as 1789, perhaps before the land was incorporated as Walnut Grove.
Billion Graves