Port Washington Life: A Historic Corner of Port

I've lived in Port Washington for several years, so because I'm not a veteran resident, I have the pleasure of discovering the delights of Port with fresh eyes. A friend who knows my fascination with little known or largely unvisited places told me about Monfort Cemetery, which is just behind the Port Washington Post Office and adjacent to Schreiber High School. The cemetery is not marked with any signage that I could find (except for "No Trespassing"), but it is a lovely spot for those of you who find cemeteries great places for reflection and meditation.

Just to clarify, I did not trespass, but strolled around the fence and took pictures through the opening. Just behind the cemetery is a path that leads to Monfort Hills, a tiny community of mostly colonial homes. By car, on Port Washington Boulevard, take a right past the post office onto Beacon Hill Road and you'll see a sign on your right for Monfort Hills. The homes are spread out with manicured lawns and mature trees. It seems to be conducive to walking dogs, running or just strolling, and I often see many people out doing just that.

The cemetery was established in 1737 and was active until 1898. It achieved landmark status in a ceremony in 1988. The Monforts owned and maintained the cemetery until 1984, when Curtis Monfort transferred it to the Town of North Hempstead. Prominent people buried there include Revolutionary War patriot and the first supervisor of North Hempstead Adrian Onderdonk.

I think it would be wonderful if there were a marker of some sort with the name of the cemetery and some history (if there is one, I missed it), and some way for people to have access to the site. Port Washington's history is so varied and interesting, it is a shame that only a few are aware of what lies just a few feet away when running an errand to the local post office.

e-mail: dschubac@gmail.com