Historic Sites

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Joy Cemetery

Historic Site #:12-066   (Exists)   Type: B1 Town:Sodus
Site Name:Joy CemeteryGPS Coordinates:43.191553, -77.090809
Address:6133 Joy Road Sodus New York
Description:
See Presbyterian Church at Joy

 
Photo by Bavis, 2014
 
Historic narrative:

Records indicate 387 burials here.

This cemetery was the burial site of many early pioneering families from Joy, New York.

Joy had two people of historical note:

General Gordon Granger

This man was a famous Civil War General and hero who also created the holiday JUNETEENTH which is the oldest known celebration of slavery’s demise in the country.  This holiday is now celebrated in many places around the United States. Click this link to read his story: http://townofsodushistoricalsociety.org/hamlets/joy/general-gordon-granger/

Nelson Stevens

Nelson Stevens was known as Prince Nelson. In the early 1900s, he became well known as “Prince Nelson” the dare devil tight rope walker. Besides tight rope walking across main street on booster day in Sodus circa 1910, Prince Nelson also did other gigs. He walked across the Niagara gorge. and participated in the 1915 Festival for the Brooklyn-Brighton Bridge Opening . Click this link to read his story: http://townofsodushistoricalsociety.org/hamlets/joy/prince-nelson-page/

Although neither man is buried in this cemetery, both of their respective families are.

To search for an individual buried here, click this link:  https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2185312

For a list of people buried here, click this link: http://wayne.nygenweb.net/cemeteries/joycem.html



References:

Town of Sodus Historical Society General Gordon Granger web page

Town of Historical Society Prince nelson web page

Find a Grave web site

NYSGEN web site for Joy Cemetery