“The frequent changes of land ownership within the limits of the city of New York and the rapid spread of the occupied area over territory hitherto unsettled, has caused not only the obliteration of many established cemeteries, but has caused a peculiar neglect of the remains of the unknown dead.”

AMERICAN SCENIC AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY, 1903:40

As New York City expanded, city planners were challenged with developing an urban space that could sustain its growing population. In 1807, three men were appointed by New York City’s common council to create what became The Commissioners Plan of 1811. Over those four years, Governor Morris, Simeon DeWitt, and John Rutherford with help from surveyor John Randel Jr. created a gridded map that expanded up to 155th Street (Koeppel 2015: 109).

Vast development didn’t reach Inwood until the early 1900’s with the expansion of the subway system. The development of the grid meant the dislocation of thousands to carve out the island for the city streets and plots for housing and businesses. Many buildings were destroyed and graves were exhumed or built over. Burials were treated with great disrespect as they were bulldozed or succumbed to looters seeking treasures to sell for money or add to their personal collection (Wall & Cantwell, 204:86).