St. George

This small but historically significant cemetery is located on the grounds of St. George Church in Astoria. Many members of the Blackwell family are buried here. The Blackwells were an influential New York family during the 19th century. Today's Roosevelt Island used to be called Blackwell's Island. Blackwell's Island was a penitentiary, equivalent to today's Rikers Island with thousands of mostly petty criminals incarcerated.

There was a 1939 B Movie called Blackwell's Island.

St. George Church decided to demolish one of its old structures and replace it with a modest apartment building. Money made from this apartment building will help support the church grounds, including this cemetery and the deteriorating church building. Until construction is complete you will find that access to the church grounds and this cemetery is limited to non-existant.

The building that was demolished had an interesting claim to fame in Astoria history. Astoria was named after the wealthy businessman John Jacob Astor with the hope that Astor would donate money to help develop the area. He gave only $500 to a convent. The building that was demolished was that convent.

As old as this cemetery is there are burials here from as recently as 2001. This cemetery is characterized by metal railings that fence in certain family plots. Some of the stones are unreadable but most are in good condition.

I noticed an impromptu engraving on the back of one of the markers. Using a blunt writing utensil someone used the back of one of these stones to memorialize Orlando Rodrigez, 1971 - April 19, 1996. What is the story of Orlando Rodrigez?

Also interred here is one James Suydam. There is no information provided on his very modest grave marker, but a famous painter by this name (James Augustus Suydam) lived in New York and died in New Hampshire in 1865.