Every year for the past 5 years, we have been going to the Skeleton Park Music Festival. A celebration of great music, in a wonderful community, highlighting local artists and artisans. The best part, the park is basically right in our backyard.
When we first moved into our house on Raglan Road in August 2006, we had no idea that we had moved into such an amazing, supportive, creative, community. We are surrounded by local musicians, artists, and writers. Families that have a strong connection to Kingston, and its downtown elementary school, and history filled McBurney (Skeleton) Park.
It didn't take long before we felt truly apart of this thriving neighbourhood. It's the kind of place where neighbours bring homemade food to your house simply because they wanted to share. The kind of place where neighbours really look out for one another. The kind of place where we are proud to raise our girls.
So every year, when the Skeleton Park festival is on, we feel a closer connection to our little downtown community. A connection to the people who want to see our kids thrive. Who take pride in exposing our kids to all sorts of different creative outlets. Who knows, maybe one year Ryan and Andy might take to that stage! One thing's for sure, we will continue to go to this wonderful festival and kick off the beginning of Summer with music.
History of McBurney Park (aka Skeleton Park)
The Cemetery Years
McBurney Park is unique among Kingston’s parks. It began life in 1816 as the Garrison Burying Ground, then in 1819 the Common Burying Ground, so named because it was common to the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. In 1825, an Order in Council by the Lieutenant Governor officially established it as the Upper Burial Grounds which included three parts – one each for the Anglicans, the Roman Catholics and the Presbyterians. As the principal cemetery for Kingston, it became overcrowded in a few decades and the four-acre cemetery was closed to further burials in 1864.
Thirty years later, the former cemetery was in terrible shape. Gravestones had been vandalized and the grounds were overgrown with tall grass and scrubby vegetation. Cows and pigs browsed there. Residents demanded that something be done with the eyesore, so the three churches that owned the land turned it over to the city, which, acting on suggestions from the citizenry, proposed to turn it into a park. Among the three churches, only the Roman Catholics stipulated that all remains in their section be exhumed and re-buried in another cemetery. The Anglicans and Presbyterians only stipulated that exhumation and re-burial be undertaken if the families requested it. In 1893 the city hired a local contractor named George Adsit to exhume the bodies, bury the tombstones, plough and level the land and plant trees. By Alec Ross
However, city planners vastly underestimated the number of bodies buried there. They quickly realized they were literally in over their head. Many grave sites were buried 10 or 20 bodies deep due to typhus and cholera epidemics in the 19th century. Experts now believe there are as many as 10,000 people still buried beneath Skeleton Park. Body parts and headstones still find there way to the surface occasionally, making Skeleton Park both a historical and atmospheric experience. Another great day to visit is on Halloween. There is a costume parade just before dark and a old graveyard is the perfect place to commune with the spirit of Halloween.
Skeleton Park also has a fantastic homeowners association where you can find out much more of its fascinating history.
