The city of Buffalo continued to expand and today Forest Lawn sits among bustling intersections, businesses and private residences. The style of the cemetery was modeled after Père-Lachais in Paris, France with a natural landscape adorned by ponds and hills.
Besides the beauty of Forest Lawn, many famous men and women are buried here. Forest Lawn is the resting place of over 155,000 people and continues to expand still today. Millard Fillmore, America’s 13th President is buried here, along with Willis Carrier, the inventor of air conditioning. John Albright is the donor of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and is interned at Forest Lawn. Stop by and visit Rick James, a well-known rock star from the Buffalo area that died in 2004 and is now part of the Forest Lawn population. Louise Bethune was the first American woman architect and designed the Lafayette Hotel. The list of names goes on and on and is clearly designated on the maps available at the gate.
Red Jacket‘s memorial statue stands close to the Delaware entrance of Forest Lawn. A Seneca Indian, Red Jacket lived from 1750 to 1830. The name Red Jacket most likely came from the fondness he had for the red British officer’s coat during the Revolutionary War. After his death he was buried at the Old Indian Cemetery on Buffum Road in Buffalo. His remains were allegedly moved from there to Forest Lawn, but some say his bones never made it there. As the story goes, Red Jacket’s remains were taken to the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, more in accordance with his final wishes. Some say he haunts this spot in Forest Lawn, as reports of an Indian apparition have been frequently reported.
Ghosts, spooks and specters have been reported here as long as anyone can remember. Before it was Forest Lawn Cemetery, it is believed that this was a burial ground for soldiers of the war of 1812. Mass graves were often used because deaths of many occurred every day.
Two separate stories also exist regarding two little girls. The first is a barefoot little child whose sightings have been reported for over 50 years. She apparently disappears just as quickly as she manifested and no one is really sure who she is.
The other sighting is a little girl who is said to be seen at the Delaware entrance of the cemetery. She is known as one of Western New York’s vanishing hitchhikers. It has been said that once she has been picked up by a passerby she vanishes, leaving her ride and driver confused and maybe a little spooked.
Haunted or not, Forest Lawn is a very beautiful place to walk and commune with nature. With a variety of monuments made from marble or stone scattered throughout is just breath-taking. Forest Lawn is located at 1411 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. The phone number there is (716) 885-1600. Tours are available and entry into the cemetery is free. Call the Forest Lawn office for more information.
