Maynard, Harrison, Bond, Walker, Guess, Matthews, Mayton . . . anyone living in Cary for any length of time is probably familiar with the names. Aside from seeing those names on the roads and some buildings, I never really had made a connection to the people.
Then, I came across Hillcrest Cemetery. Located at the end of Page road, at the top of a small hill, large trees shade the entrance. It's almost like entering an estate. Hillcrest is a classic cemetery, and the friends of Page-Walker have done a nice job maintaining it. There are large cedar trees in the front part, the homes backing up to the grounds blend into the surroundings. The tombstones are a mix of modern and nearly monolithic.
Families have large plots, often set off by stones or brick, and the families whose names are associated with Cary sometimes have large markers and surprisingly some have restrained, low-key markers. The obelisk on the Maynard grave is easily the most visible on the entire property.
Not all the burials here are from the last century, there are recent burials as well. There was one grave by itself on the other side of the road in back, H. Young's, for whom the Community Center is named. It was one of the few more modern stones.
There is a self-guided tour map/brochure as you come in, useful for locating, at least in a general sense, the graves of Cary's notable citizens. There are also interesting facts about the grounds and people buried here who may not have a street or building named after them, but may have had some role in Cary's history. It's not a big cemetery, so it's easily walkable. It's an interesting way for recent newcomers to the area to connect with Cary's history. read more