Old Orono Cemetery

I decided today that I would take a little road trip and attempt to document a few abandoned cemeteries in Clarington. I made my little list, my little map and headed out in my little car in search of Billings Family plot, which seemed like it would be easy enough to find and a great way to start my day. I even google mapped it, and though I couldn't get a street view, I was pretty sure I found it.

It turned out to be one of those road side electrical stations, and I never did find the plot. I'm thinking it might be on private land, on the farm at the end of the road. Further research is required, but if anyone knows please drop me a line!

So I continued my journey, jumped back on the 115 and headed south. I needed to check my map to figure out where to go next, so I turned onto Skelding Road, a little road that once had two homes on it, but at least one of them has been demolished, and the road leads to an un-maintained road that no one save ATV-ers wants to drive down. As I flipped my car around I noticed something in the field.

Pretty sure I knew what this was, but I decided to get out of the car and take a closer peek.

Yup, Mary chillin' in the field. This is by the demolished house, so I wonder if she is a relic from the old owners of the property. There was a little footpath in the tall grass leading to her, so people have stopped by to say "hi" before (or is it "Hail"?). I have a feeling I've stumbled upon a geocache.

Finally, I arrived in Orono to look for my next destination, Old Orono Cemetery. After navigating the labyrinth that is the town of Orono I finally found the location I thought I was looking for, yahoo! Only to pull up to an empty field with a lone stone sitting near the edge of it.

 "Old Orono Cemetery Monuments Moved to Lawrence Cemetery Lot 21, Con 5. 1982"

Ok? So the monuments were moved, but the people remain there, in the field. There's a little path that people have obviously used as a cut through from Church St to Old Cemetery Road, but other than that it isn't being used for anything. Lots of residential around it though. Apparently the monuments were moved due to vandalism, which seems odd for such a sweet little town, but I guess bored teens live everywhere!

So I now had to find Lawrence Cemetery, which was not part of my plan for the day and I had no idea where it was. Also, my map was hand drawn, and I live on a cell without internet connection, so no GPS for me. Did I find it? You'll just have to stay tuned!