Self-Guided Visit
Self-Guided Historic Cemetery Visit
Visit the small Revolutionary-era burial ground with weathered 18th- and 19th-century headstones, set behind a low dry-laid stone wall on a secluded hilltop road.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Aerial survey · USDA NAIP · public domain Cemetery / Burial Ground
Dean Hill Cemetery ("The Rev")
A tiny Revolutionary-era burial ground established in 1791 on a secluded dirt road in Fitchburg, long reputed for ghostly soldiers, blood-curdling screams, and a stolen warning headstone.
304 Caswell Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free; a small municipal historic cemetery on a public road.
Access
Limited Access
Secluded, mossy one-acre burial ground at the top of a dirt and gravel road, surrounded by a dry-laid stone wall.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1791 · Revolutionary War-era burial ground established in 1791 · Contains roughly 39 interments dated 1791-1901 · Listed by the City of Fitchburg and documented on Find a Grave
Dean Hill Cemetery began as a burial ground for Revolutionary War veterans and their families in 1791. The small, roughly one-acre site holds about 39 interments, with surviving headstones dated between 1791 and 1901, many now weathered or in disrepair. It is officially maintained as a municipal cemetery by the City of Fitchburg.
The cemetery sits in a secluded spot at the top of Caswell Road (also associated with Dean Hill Road), an unpaved dirt and gravel road in the hilly northwestern part of Fitchburg near Ashburnham. Its moss-covered ground plane is surrounded by a low dry-laid stone wall, and the burial ground is little visited owing to its out-of-the-way location.
Because of its age, isolation, and Revolutionary War connections, the cemetery has become widely known by the nickname 'The Rev.' It is documented by Find a Grave and the City of Fitchburg's facilities listings, and it has been profiled by Atlas Obscura and several New England folklore sites. One frequently cited detail is a headstone reportedly bearing the inscription 'Ye who stands upon thy grave, shall soon follow,' which according to local accounts has been stolen and returned multiple times.
As a fragile historic site on a narrow private-adjacent road, the cemetery is best approached with respect, and surrounding woods carry posted no-trespassing signs.
Sources
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-rev-fitchburg-massachusetts
- https://www.fitchburgma.gov/facilities/facility/details/Dean-Hill-Cemetery-est-1800-61
- https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2265661/dean-hill-cemetery
- https://wheretheghostslive.com/2013/10/02/the-rev-cemetery-in-fitchburg-ma-dean-hill-cemetery/
Apparitions of Revolutionary War soldiers, sometimes with glowing eyesBlood-curdling screams heard at nightSudden unnatural silence in the surrounding woodsRumors of occult activity in the nearby woods
According to Atlas Obscura, Where the Ghosts Live, and other New England folklore sources, Dean Hill Cemetery has accumulated decades of paranormal reports. The most commonly described sightings are of ghostly Revolutionary War soldiers, sometimes said to have glowing eyes, reported most often between midnight and 3 a.m. in the autumn. Visitors have also reported hearing loud, blood-curdling screams that seem to come from all directions.
Local lore adds that satanic or occult rites were rumored to have been performed in the woods surrounding the cemetery, and some accounts claim the area fell unnaturally silent for a time, with an absence of insect and animal sounds. Anecdotal stories also describe tragic real-world deaths along the approach road, including a man said to have been killed and burned and a young woman who reportedly died when her car struck a tree near the entrance; these incidents are repeated in folklore but are not individually documented with named individuals in the available sources.
A widely retold detail concerns a headstone inscribed 'Ye who stands upon thy grave, shall soon follow,' which is said to have been stolen and returned several times before disappearing. As with most cemetery folklore, the paranormal claims are anecdotal and unverified, but the haunted reputation itself is well established across multiple independent sources.
Notable Entities
Ghostly Revolutionary War soldiers
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dean Hill Cemetery ("The Rev") family-friendly?
A quiet historic cemetery suitable for respectful daytime family visits interested in Revolutionary War history. The road is narrow and unpaved; the spooky reputation centers on nighttime folklore, and night visits are discouraged given posted no-trespassing areas and police patrols. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Dean Hill Cemetery ("The Rev")?
Free; a small municipal historic cemetery on a public road. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Dean Hill Cemetery ("The Rev") wheelchair accessible?
Dean Hill Cemetery ("The Rev") has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Secluded, mossy one-acre burial ground at the top of a dirt and gravel road, surrounded by a dry-laid stone wall..