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Cemetery Manager

Linda R. Davis
(704) 638-5250
ldavi@salisburync.gov

About Chestnut Hill Cemetery

Established 1888. Chestnut Hill Cemetery is located at 1134 S. Main Street, consists of 19.3 acres and is still open for burials and purchase of cemetery plots. The first burials recorded were Luke Blackmer and Moses Holmes, both in 1889. The Cemetery houses many names central to Salisbury: Overman, Beard, Boyden, Craige, Steele and Ramsey. It housed the fountain that was once located on the “Square” at Main and Innes Streets. In 1946, it was removed and a magnolia tree was planted in its place. During 1933 and 1934 the Civil Works Administration built the two room chapel which served as the administrative office until April 30, 2021. The Cemetery administrative office is now located at 303 W. Franklin Street.

Famous Internments:

Blackmer, Sidney

b. July 13, 1895 d. October 6, 1973

Actor. Born in Salisbury, North Carolina, he studied law before making his New York acting debut on Broadway, followed by his screen debut in the silent film Pearl White serial, "Perils of Pauline" (1914). After serving the U.S. Military in World War I, he returned to the theatre and motion pictures and went on to be a major character actor in more than 120 films. His credits included "Little Caesar" (1931), "Heidi" (1937), "Nazi Agent" (1942), "Duel in the Sun" (1946), "High Society" (1956), "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) and "Revenge Is My Destiny" (1971). For his contribution to the motion picture industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He died in New York City.

Cause of death: Cancer

Henderson, John Steele

b. January 6, 1846 d. October 9, 1916

U.S. Congressman. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army. He was a member of the State legislature before being elected as a United States Representative from North Carolina for five terms (1885-1895).

Kaaren, Suzanne

b. March 21, 1912 d. August 27, 2004

Star of stage and screen in the 1930s and 1940s, she appeared alongside such luminaries as Clark Gable and Joan Crawford. She made over 30 movies, 8 with The Three Stooges. Her legs were known as the "Toast of Broadway" and were insured for $1 million during her heyday. She held the world's record for the standing high jump in the early 1930s. She was known in later life for her battles with Donald Trump over her Central Park South apartment, which she and her husband bought in the 1940s. Wife of Sidney Blackmer from 1943 to 1973 (his death).

Kluttz, Theodore Franklin

b. October 4, 1848 d. November 18, 1918

U.S. Congressman. A former state judge, he served three terms as a United States Representative from North Carolina from 1899 to 1905. He was the son of Caleb Kluttz and Elizabeth Moose.

Overman, Lee Slater

b. January 3, 1854 d. December 12, 1930

US Senator. He graduated from Trinity College in 1874 and was the son-in-law of US Senator Augustus Summerfield Merrimon. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1878 and began a law practice in Salisbury, North Carolina, in 1880. He served as a member of the North Carolina State House of Representatives (1883, 1885, 1887, 1893, 1899) and was president of the North Carolina Railroad Company in 1894. In 1903, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served until his death at age 76 in Washington, D.C..

Shober, Francis Edwin

b. March 12, 1831 d. May 29, 1896

US Congressman. During the Civil War, he served in the North Carolina State legislature. In 1869, he was elected as a Democrat to represent North Carolina's 6th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving two terms from March 4, 1869 to March 3, 1873.

Steele, John

b. November 16, 1764 d. August 14, 1815

U.S. Congressman. He was a member of the North Carolina state legislature for many terms. He served as a United States Representative from North Carolina for two terms (1789-1793). Presidents John Adams and Jefferson both appointed him as the Comptroller of the Treasury. He died on August 14, the same day he was re-elected to the State house.

Cemetery Policies

FOR CITY OWNED CEMETERIES

CHESTNUT HILL, OAKWOOD, MEMORIAL PARK, OLD LUTHERAN, UNION HILL/OAKDALE, OLD ENGLISH AND DIXONVILLE CEMETERIES

The City of Salisbury Cemetery Division reserves the right to regulate the method of decorating graves so that a safe and historical uniform beauty may be maintained.

  • Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. They will remain there for approximately one week, at which time the Cemetery staff will remove and discard them. If the family wants to keep any of the grave arrangements, they should be removed before that one week is up. If circumstances prevent the family from removing any flowers, etc. from the grave site, please call the Cemetery office at 704-638-5250 before the one week time frame has passed to make other arrangements.
  • The City of Salisbury is not responsible for any floral or tributes placed on a grave plot. If missing or stolen, you may file a police report by calling the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333.
  • Glass, statues, rocks, metal or wood products, toys, life-size decorations, solar lights, Christmas lights, bricks, benches and other potential projectiles are not permitted on cemetery plots at any time. The Management reserves the right to remove any items that do not conform to these limitations. This is for the safety of our crews since lawn mowers and weed eaters may come into contact with items placed on graves. If so placed and damage does occur, the Cemetery shall not be held responsible.
  • All floral arrangements must be in a permanent vase, on a saddle or in a hard plastic cone vase that sticks into the ground. If placed otherwise, and your flowers are damaged due to contact with our equipment, the Cemetery shall not be held responsible.
  • An "Annual Cemetery Cleanup" is performed once a year. You can call the Cemetery office at (704) 638-5250 to find out the definite date. Signage will be placed on large blue signs at each entrance of each cemetery approximately two months prior to the cleanup to alert lot owners of the beginning and end date of the cleanup. During cleanup week, any items located on grave plots including flowers, decorations, etc. will be removed and discarded. If you wish to retain any items, please remove them before the cleanup week. After the end date of the cleanup, you can place your flowers back on your plot.
  • The City maintains 7 cemeteries and takes pride in keeping them looking neat. The mowing schedule allows each cemetery to be mowed every other week which is usually sufficient for each cemetery to look good until we get back to it. Please bear with us at times as rain and the crew having to stop to open and close graves plays a major role in keeping the schedule on time.

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