Some interesting interments from Findagrave.com

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Member of the American Cemetery Association, New Jersey Cemetery Association
and the Cremation Association of North America.   

        Fairmount Cemetery was opened and incorporated on February 9, 1855 as a non-sectarian, non-profit organization to serve the community. The land was reportedly purchased from the First Presbyterian Church by some of the most influential and respected citizens of Newark.  1927 saw the opening of the Fairmount Memorial Mausoleum.  The Fairmount Crematory opened in 1984. It is located in Northwest Newark, just 5 blocks from the Garden State Parkway. It covers 22 city blocks, bounded on the Southwest by South Orange Ave., the Southeast by South Twelfth Street, the Northeast by Central Ave. (Entrance) and the Northwest by South Eighteenth Street. The Administration building is immediately on the left when entering. The personal there will do mail in lookups, help you for 15 minutes with in-person requests (they don’t have the personal for walk in genealogical help) and allow you to scan through there early ledgers with no time limit. I have been there a few times and can tell you that they are very helpful and cooperative. When you find the person you are looking for they will show you exactly where the plot is (map handouts and a large on the wall map). They will also send a security guard with you to find the grave. Again all personal are extremely helpful. On a recent visit a caretaker was mowing the lawn,. He saw us taking photos of the grave site which he hadn't gotten to yet and came over to mow and weed whack the area.
        Although the cemetery is over 150 years old, it is still in use (accepting burials). This is a good sign for all genealogists. The times that I was there I found no evidence of any vandalism. I like to think of the cemetery of having two basic sections even though there are actually over 100 individual sections. The outside section has only flat grave markers while the inside has upright grave stones.  Some of the upright grave stones in the inside section are very ornamental. My gg-grandfather’s family plot has a 10 foot high obelisk with a 3 foot women on top. She is holding her right arm upwards (unfortunately the right hand has weathered away) and has a two layer full length “dress”.  It looks like an early army nurses uniform like Florence Nightingale.
        While recently discussing the Newark cemetery situation with the Volunteers from the Woodland Cemetery I was told that most of the graves in the outside section of Fairmount have had their markers sunk awhile ago to facilitate maintenance. I don’t know how true this is but from my personal observation most of the markers in the outside section are either missing or below ground.  *I have been told recently (8/18/99) that around 1973 a large sign was posted in the area southeast of the main entrance advising that, as of a certain date, the headstones in that section, which were all fifty or more years old, would be laid flat and sunk below grade to facilitate mowing.  Relatives were advised to notify the cemetery office with objections, if any.* In any case the caretakers there will make every effort (no matter how long it takes) to locate a gravemarker.
        To sum it up I would say that all my experiences with Fairmount Cemetery have been as positive as they could be and I would recommend that anyone in the area or passing through that has an ancestor buried there should visit the cemetery. If anyone has any other questions about the cemetery just e-mail me and I will try to answer them.

From "Hand book and guide for the city of Newark, New Jersey: carefully edited and compiled from authentic sources" Newark Daily Advertiser Print, 1872:

        "Fairmount Cemetery is situated on South Orange Avenue, about one mile from the Court House, and a short distance beyond the 'high service reservoir.'  It was incorporated, February 9th, 1855, and contains over sixty acres.  Until bought by the Cemetery Association the grounds were owned by the First Presbyterian Church  since the settlement of Newark.  The situation of the Cemetery is very fine, within the city, yet overlooking the beautiful country toward the Orange mountains.  From the gateway, with its neat cottage lodge, winding avenues lead past and around reserved circular plots, tastefully planted with shade trees.  Advancing by one of these avenues to the left, several very handsome monuments first meet the eye.  An elegant shaft of Peterhead granite being especially observable.  From this point the foilage deepens, and the white columns and lowlier headstones thicken to the view.  The grounds are laid out mainly in circles, and the avenues and walks lead round and through them in graceful curves.  The lots are carefully enclosed and neatly kept, and each year adds to their beauty.

THIS MONUMENT
Is in Memory of the Heroic Dead
Buried Here,
Who Gave their Lives for their Country
During the Great Rebellion.
Erected by the City of Newark.
A. D. 1869

        On a handsome granite shaft this inscription forcibly arrests the attention.  The Monument stands on the western side of the grounds about midway between the entrance and the northern limits.  The shaft is square, surmounted by a soldier leaning on his musket.  It is divided into sections, bearing many of the historic battle fields of the war, Antietam, Gettysburg, Atlanta, Petersburg and Mobile Bay.  Four pieces of ordnance sunk into the ground grace the four corners; two others are placed at the entrance of the pot, and the honored dead lie close around.  The names and ages on the headstones are suggestive.  All were in the prime of life, varying from twenty-three to fifty; strong men, cut down violently, or wasted by disease and hardship in their very prime.  Northward of this, the Cemetery enters upon a grove of oaks, a reserve for 'the harvest of death.'  This portion is being gradually cleared and opened.  Eastward, the grounds are all laid out in lots, tastefully enclosed and adorned with many elegant monuments.  The first internment in the grounds of Fairmount was that of Lewis Pierson, aged 24 years, who was buried, August 24th, 1855, six months after the charter was obtained, but before the dedication services, which were held in September.  Up to the present time (1872), over seven thousand internments have taken place."

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SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL SECURITY
WHILE VISITING FAIRMOUNT CEMETERY
from CEMETERY MANAGEMENT

        Fairmount Cemetery has attempted to provide a safe environment within which to visit your loved ones. Unfortunately, along with many other cemeteries in the Northeast, there has been an increase in muggings and purse snatchings.

        Even though we have engaged a private security company to patrol the grounds and installed hundreds of yards of barbed wire fencing, nothing is more effective in reducing the incidence of crimes than your own personal vigilance.

        We have listed below suggestions based on our experience and that of law enforcement agencies.  Please read them and take them seriously. They are meant for YOUR SAFETY.  DO NOT LEAVE PURSES IN CAR WHERE THEY ARE VISIBLE. Most purse snatchings occur when a purse is left on the front seat of either an open or locked car. Do Not leave purses or other valuables in view for "just a minute". These perpetrators are determined and fast. Lock your purse in the car, out of sight.

BE WARY, If you see suspicious people hanging around for no apparent reason, do not stop under any circumstances. Report their presence to the front office, (Monday through Friday) 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. During Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, report their presence to either the roving guards or the front office guard.

VISIT DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. Whenever possible, visit during the week, Monday through Friday, when our staff are on the grounds. Avoid visiting just before closing time. If wanted, a cemetery personnel will be available to provide escort service to the gravesite(s).

DO NOT VISIT ALONE.  If possible, visit with friends, preferable younger ones. It is an unfortunate fact, however, these perpetrators not only prey on senior citizens, but also on those who appear vulnerable.

NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR RUNNING.  Even if your vehicle is only a few feet from the visiting gravesite. Keep your car windows rolled up and doors locked.

IF YOU ARE IN YOUR CAR and are approached by someone you feel could harm you, sound your horn immediately and steadily.

DIRECTIONS TO FAIRMOUNT CEMETERY

From West Via I-80 (from Southwest via I-287):

North on I-287 to I-80: East to I-280, exiting Garden State Parkway/Oration Parkway.  Keep right up ramp to traffic light.  Two rights (around church) into Hawthorne Ave. which leads into Sussex Ave.  At traffic light turn right, keeping to left lane on Grove Street.  A left turn at Central Ave. (traffic light).  Fairmount is about ¼ mile towards Newark (East).

From North Via Garden State Parkway:

Use Exit 145, continue straight up the ramp to Central Ave.  Turn left, pass first cemetery on your right (Holy Sepulchre), continue East three blocks to Fairmount Cemetery, identified by large public mausoleum.

From South Via Garden State Parkway:

Use Exit 145, keep right after paying toll to intersection, Grove Street.   Turn right on Grove, keeping to left lane in order to make a left turn onto Central Avenue., continue East towards Newark, about 3/10 mile to cemetery entrance.