In Western New York there is a number of Masonic sections in our area cemeteries, but I have found a unique structure in a particular cemetery, which is only one of two, I have come across in our Buffalo area.

In Elmlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Kenmore, NY – is a beautifully well-kept cemetery, with much history and personalities to talk about. Located at 3939 Delaware Ave & Brighton Road; you will enjoy the tranquilness setting of the markers within.

Elmlawn Memorial Park Cemetery was established at the turn of the century in 1901. One of the first sections that were known to have been bought, was the main Masonic plot, which over the years, has been mostly forgotten, until recently.

 Located near the center right section of the cemetery you will find the Main Masonic section (one of two, Masonic section at this cemetery).

Within this Masonic plat you will find approximately 2000 Masonic graves, all of which mostly have the formatted large flat bronze markers. The main section of graves, were in 35 rows, with a side section of about 26 addition rows.

Off to the right of the section was a most interesting feature that just stuck out. It was a very unique site, that stood out; it was a set of Masonic Chairs, set up like an outdoors lodge.

The Outdoor Lodge

This set of chairs were all made of stone, complete with a center Alter. Above each of the chairs were a tablet, with bonze inserts of past Masonic members who have pasted over the years.

It isn’t certain which lodges were responsible for its construction, or which lodges have member resting there, but the outside lodge needed some attention for years of neglect. It is guessed that this was built sometime in the 1920’s or 30’s.

I visited the cemetery in June of 2020, as my wife did her walking to get her steps in for the day, I spend over an hour walking about the Masonic section taking pictures, recording names, and spending the better part of my time scraping off dirt, overgrown sod & leaves from the sunken rectangular bronze markers.

I was quite disappointed that it looked like the Masonic plot, although the grass has been cut, with much of the markers sunken into the ground, unleveled, but mostly covered, or the markers have not edged in a number of years.

I knew what I had to do, I needed to put out a call to see if we can correct this. I sent a Email to our District Deputy Richard Kessler; and the very next morning I got a phone call, from one of our are past W. M Brian Singer.

Brother Brian, had told me he already was planning a scheduled cleanup in a few weeks to start cleaning the Masonic section up…. So, naturally I kicked in.

The Cleanup

This cemetery project took us every Saturday from 9 am-until noon for the next two months to clean up the better part of the main Masonic Section, at the Cemetery.

With a handful of help, only 4 or 8 adults (Masonic brothers from various lodges) at any given time, with assistance from several ladies and kids from the Eastern Star & the Cassiopeia Triangle # 202; we managed to edge nearly every grave marker in the Masonic Section, noting all the known markers needing resetting.

I even used my medal detector in the large open areas between markers to try to locate any existing markers. I dug up nearly 2 dozen grave markers (that were metal/ bronze), which were previously lost to time and recovered, some of these markers were sunk 6 to 8 inches beneath the sod. Two of these markers I found metal detecting were two brother veterans graves.

Past WM Brian Singer, managed to obtain funds and had the Masonry brick / stone work repaired to the Outdoors Lodge.

The tables above shown the departed brothers names, whom are buried in this section

All I would ask, if you live near some local cemeteries, see if they have any Masonic sections, statues, memorials or even grave markers and send them to me, please, along with any known information on them, where they are located, so that we can promote them and show our brothers throughout the state, what we have to offer. And if we have cemeteries or Masonic sections in these cemeteries, we can get a few of our local lodges to assist in clean them up, so these brothers are not forgotten

Thanks everyone who helped with Elmlawn.               

Please contact me brother Steve Teeft, project manager for History Uncovered at –  TravelingMason1@gmail.com