Oak Hill Cemetery

08/05/2025

This Thursday, August 7th, is Purple Heart Day. This is a time to remember and honor the brave men and women who were injured in combat or paid the ultimate sacrifice. It commemorates the creation of the Purple Heart Medal in 1782 by George Washington. According to the U.S. Army, this is the oldest award still given to U. S. Military members.

07/26/2025

07/24/2025

***** Meet Ofc Catherine Holt *****

Ofc Catherine Holt joined the HPD Family in December of 2023, returning to her hometown...! Catherine graduated from Herkimer Central School District in 2011, received her Associate's degree from Herkimer Herkimer College in 2015 and her Bachelor's degree in Public Justice from SUNY Oswego in 2019. Catherine completed the Phase 1 Academy at Mohawk Valley Community College in 2016, and Phase 2 at the City of Little Falls Police Department, NY in 2019.

Catherine is a certified Child Victim Forensic Interviewer, Field Training Officer, Evidence Room Custodian, Crime Scene & Evidence Specialist, Sexual Assault Trauma-informed Officer, Wellness Coordinator and Robot Operator.

If you are considering a career in law enforcement, please see the attached link to the upcoming Herkimer County Civil Service Police Officer exam (due by August 1):
https://www.herkimercountyny.gov/employment/personnel-civil-service/current-examinations/

If you are already a certified Police Officer and are considering a lateral transfer, please contact Chief Mike Jory: mjj@village.herkimer.ny.us

07/20/2025

Mrs. John Pempelsk and her 2 children drowned in the Erie Canal on June 19, 1885.
John Pempelsk came to this country from Posen Germany about 4 years prior, and 2 years later he sent for his wife and little boy, Leopold. They were related to Valentine Kneut and they lived on S. Washington St., in Herkimer. John was employed as a trackman on the Central railroad.
Several rumors were going around that Mr. Pempelsk was mistreating his wife. Yet there was another rumor going around that Mrs. Pempelsk had been unwell and had shown signs of insanity since the birth of their daughter, Carrie.
Around 4pm on Wednesday, June 19th, Mrs. Pempelsk was seen with the 2 children near the canal bridge on the road to Fort Herkimer and a few hours later the woman’s shawl was found on the canal bank.
The first report of the drowning was reported to the lock men at Fort Herkimer by a boatman who had seen the woman jump, holding onto each child, one in each arm. She did not rise, after she jumped, therefore the boatman did not make any attempt to save her.
The next day people started dragging the canal to find the bodies and by 3 pm. W. H. Folts found the body of Mary Pempelsk. On Friday, the body of Leopold was found and on Saturday the remains of Baby Carrie were found just below the Fort Herkimer lock.
Mary Pempelsk was 27 years old, Leopold was 3 and Carrie was 9 days old.

07/15/2025

Please be aware that Calvary Cemetery is not a “section” of Oak Hill Cemetery. Calvary is a separate cemetery and any questions or concerns should be directed to Saints Anthony and Joseph parish office.

07/09/2025

Melchert Thumb died on April 23rd, 1804. He is buried in the old burial grounds now known as Myers Park. Born in Wurtenburg, Germany in 1745 to Adam and Christina Meyer Thumb, he immigrated to America with his father and brother Nicholas in 1754. Melchert, along with his father and brother Nicholas, were naturalized together on March 8, 1773. By 1770, Melchert married Elisabeth, the daughter of George Hilts and Elisabeth Folts. They had seven children: Nicholas, who married Margaret Helmer; Margaret, who married John Schell in 1792; Barbara, who married Rudolph Dievendorf in 1793; Elisabeth, who married George Helmer in 1796; Maria, who passed away at a young age; Catherine, who married Frederick Petry in 1803; and Maria, who was born after her sister passed away and married Peter Scherer. I can confirm Melchert was a member of the militia starting in 1769, but I am unable to find more information after that year. In March 1789, Melchert was elected Town Assessor along with Melchert Folts and George Smith. It is believed Melchert Thumb was the first person buried in the old burial ground in the southeastern corner.

07/07/2025

Sergeant James Mix, a highly respected resident of the Village of Herkimer, passed away on January 8, 1911, at his residence in the Mark Block. He was 74. James Mix was born in Albany on November 1, 1836 (according to census records) and moved with his family to this area when he was around 10. He became a laborer in a furniture shop and married Ida Doling; they had two children, Janet and Charley. In August 1862, James enlisted with Company A, 152nd Regiment. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant on July 19, 1865, at Munson's Hill, Virginia. Shortly after returning home, Sergeant Mix started a peanut and popcorn establishment, first in the Village of Mohawk, but after his cart caught fire, he ordered a bigger one and conducted business on the corner of Main and Albany Streets in Herkimer. In 1899, due to the new electric light plant in Herkimer, he was able to light up his wagon with the numbers 1862, which represented the year after the war in which he was a hero. About a week before his death, Sergeant Mix suffered a stroke of paralysis and never recovered. He left behind his wife and daughter, Janet (Nettie). His son, Charley, passed away in 1874 from typhoid fever. Please note that the two pictures of the popcorn and peanut cart are not the actual carts of Sergeant Mix. These were from the dates he was in business, and they were both horse-drawn carts.

07/06/2025

***** UPDATE: 7/6/25 @ 8:30 PM *****
CHRISTOPHER has been located safely and returned home.

As of July 6th, 2025, The Herkimer Police Department is looking for the public’s assistance with locating a runaway juvenile. Christopher Winters (Age 17) ran away from his home and has not had contact with his family. If you have knowledge of the juvenile's whereabouts, please contact the Herkimer Police at 315-866-4330.

07/04/2025

06/17/2025

Thanks to Justin Cristman and the guys from the Herkimer DPW for dropping off a fridge this morning.

05/26/2025

On this beautiful Memorial Day, we honor the memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting for the freedom that we hold so dear.