Historic Notables
(and Walking Tour)
Westfield, NJ, is a charming and historic town that traces its roots to the early 18th century. Since that time, many families and individuals have worked diligently to improve the community, through involvement in politics and government, churches, and downtown development. Fairview Cemetery, created in 1868, memorializes those who came before us.
Ralph H. Jones, the town historian during the 1980s, wrote “The Pioneers of colonial Westfield and rural Westfield Township are buried in the Presbyterian cemetery on Mountain Ave. The builders and residents of the suburban town of Westfield are buried at Fairview.” These historical walking tours reveal the character and composition of the individuals who lived in Westfield. Everyone at Fairview Cemetery has a life story; these self-guided tours highlight just a few of them.
While many historically significant individuals rest in locations throughout the Fairview grounds, these designated walking routes feature some of the sites located in close proximity to one another. The routes are similar in scope and can be completed on average in about 30 to 40 minutes each. They do occur in convenient succession, however, starting with the Blue Route, which leads into the Red Route, which leads into the Yellow Route. So for a longer outing, two or three can be walked in one visit. You should expect a complete tour of all three routes to take a minimum of 90 minutes.
(We occasionally host guided Historic Notables Walking Tours. Check our Event Calendar for upcoming events and links to registration.)
Please note that some sites are not located immediately next to the roadways, so be prepared for a bit of walking in unpaved areas. Each site is marked with a small, color-coded marker featuring the name of the individual, as well as a QR code that links to the information page with some biographical details.
See the map at the bottom of this page for a broad overview of the tour routes. Click on the Route headings below to view details and maps for the individual tours.
Blue Route:
1. Ludlow, Gideon E.
2. Drake, Albert A.
3. Apgar, Charles E.
4. Apgar, Virginia
5. Jude
6. Budell, Ada
7. Budell, Hortense
8. Bartow, William N.
9. Smith, Clarence
Red Route:
1. Embree, Effingham
2. Ferris, James R.
3. Frutchey, George W.
4. Kinch, Frederick III
5. Conant, Charles F.
6. Grant, Anson F.
7. Brinkerhoff, John
8. Holland, George L.
9. Darsh, Charles H.
Yellow Route:
1. Brunner, John A.
2. Pearsall, Everson
3. Bridges, Emma L.
4. Codding, Charles N.
5. Bailey, Charles P.
6. Evans, Henry W.
