Description of Historic Place

Assomption Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located on Chapel Street in Grand Falls, beside the Assomption Church.

Heritage Value

Assomption Cemetery is designated a Local Historic Place for the presence of the graves of several important local families and citizens.

The oldest tombstone found in Assomption Cemetery is that of Michael Harley, one of the first Irish immigrants and surveyor of the town pastures, who died in 1851. Other tombstones bear the names Ryan, Kelly, Quinn, Quigley, Toner, Bradley, McCormick, and McCluskey, reflecting the size of the Irish community in the early history of the town. The cemetery also contains the tombstones of the region’s first Francophone families, such as Michaud, Carrier, Godreau, Soucy, Corbin, St-Amand, Poitras, Page, and Desjardins, as well as the graves of several parish priests, such as Father Thomas Albert, Father Henry Joyner, Msgr. George Bernier, and Msgr. Solyme Azzie.

Source: Town of Grand Falls, Historic Places file no. 08

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe Assomption Cemetery include:
- all of the land and landscaping, with the trees, roads, and paths;
- tombstones dating back to 1851, the oldest being that of Michael Harley;
- tombstones of different parish priests;
- decorated monuments and markers;
- monument representing Jesus on the cross.