On Wednesday, September 14, 2022, the completion of the first phase of the restoration of the historic Townsend Cemetery was celebrated in East Hills. The Townsend Cemetery was the burying ground for 31 early English and Quaker settlers to the town including six families; Townsend, Jackson, Horsfield, Titus, Willis and Boerem. Active for 136 years from 1790 to 1926, it is the only cemetery in the Village of East Hills.

The recent restoration was made possible due to a $10,000 grant to the Roslyn Landmark Society from the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation received in December 2021. During the summer, the burying ground and right-of-way were cleared by the Town of North Hempstead’s Department of Highways. Burying Group Preservation Group and the Stewart Preservation Service restored 16 headstones and 11 footstones and uncovered over 200 fragments. Moreover, 21 of the interment locations were identified.

Among the attendees at the celebration were officials from the Town of North Hempstead- Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Councilperson Peter Zuckerman, Town Historian Ross Lumpkin and Grant Manager Tom Devaney, East Hills Mayor Michael Koblenz, descendant of the Townsend family-Bill Townsend, descendant of the Jackson family-Trevor Stone, representatives of the Roslyn Landmark Society- Co-President Howard Kroplick, Executive Director Jennifer Lister, Darren St. George, Roz Kroplick and Greg Oreiro, and Zachary Studenroth, principal of the Burying Ground Preservation Group, Inc., and Howard Silverberg, a former East Hills resident.

Ten years ago, Howard Silverberg and his mother Hazel first notified Mayor Michael Koblenz of the poor condition of the abandoned cemetery adjacent to their home. Mayor Koblenz contacted Howard Kroplick, then town historian, who "championed" the restoration effort. Considered an abandoned cemetery, the Townsend Cemetery has been managed and maintained since 2012 by the Town of North Hempstead.

Town Historian Ross Lumpkin welcomed the attendees.

Howard Kroplick, co-president of the Roslyn Landmark Society, provided a history of the Townsend Cemetery and its restoration over the last ten years.

Trevor Stone, a descendant of the Jackson family, and Bill Townsend, descendant of the Townsend family, expressed their familes' gratitude for the restoration effort.

Major Michael Koblenz, Howard Kroplick and Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena,

Zach Studenroth, principal of the Burying Ground Preservation Group, Inc., described the repair of the headstones and footstones.

Councilperson Peter Zuckerman described his ten-year connection with the Townsend Cemetery.

Front row (left to right):

Tom Devaney (Grant Coordinator, Town of North Hempstead)

Darren St. George (Roslyn Landmark Society)

Bill Townsend (Descendant of the Townsend family)

Back row (left to right):

Howard Silverberg (Former resident, East Hills)

Roz Kroplick (Roslyn Landmark Society)

Howard Kroplick (Co-President , Roslyn Landmark Society)

Michael Koblenz (Mayor of the Village of East Hills)

Peter Zuckerman (Councilperson, Town of North Hempstead)

Trevor Stone (Descendant of the Jackson family)

Jennifer DeSena (Town Supervisor, Town of North Hempstead)

Ross Lumpkin (Town Historian, Town of North Hempstead)

Zachary Studenroth (Principal, Burying Ground Preservation Group, Inc.)

Jennifer Lister (Executive Director, Roslyn Landmark Society)