Connecticut has a history of relocating tombstones without actually moving the bodies and this locale is no exception. The Guilford Green is often praised for its beauty and is one of the most well-kept greens in the state. But residents rarely talk about its past as a burial site. Historians have used the word transcendent to describe their visit there, because they know that the founders of one of America's oldest settlements are just beneath their feet. But what do you think?
Before the Guilford Green became a hotspot for young families, it was little more than a dirt field.
It was an open space for military members to drill and for cattle to graze. But in 1800, when the then president of Yale criticized them for "trampling upon and injuring" the grave sites.
The beautification process did not include moving the bodies.
The headstones were relocated to make way for grass and light posts but the remains are still there. So while you'll see monuments like this, remembering lost veterans, you won't see any remembering the families that were laid to rest here.
So as you walk through this park, remember the Nutmeggers who came before you.
It likely includes town founders, young soldiers and even younger small pox victims. No poltergeists though, so you're still free to come just for scenery.
The Guilford Green isn't the only ancient burial site. There's actually a secret crypt hiding under Center Church.
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