Burial at Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot: A family guide

History of Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

Prospect Hill Cemetery is located in Brattleboro, Vermont, overlooking the Connecticut River Valley. The first interment took place in 1796, when it was known as the "Old Village Burying Ground." Additional parcels of land were amassed piecemeal up to 1869. This cemetery is the final resting place of Brattleboro's wealthiest citizens, including the 19th-century robber baron Col. James Fisk.

The soldiers' lot is located in the southern portion of the Prospect Hill Cemetery. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the Vermont 1st and 2nd brigades were organized at the military campground at Brattleboro. After the brigades mustered out, the campground was transformed into a hospital for soldiers from Vermont and the surrounding states who came north from the front to convalesce. Soldiers who died in the hospital were originally buried in the barracks cemetery. In 1869, the federal government purchased a 50-foot by-30 foot lot in Prospect Hill Cemetery for $100, and subsequently reburied the interments from the barracks cemetery there.

Notable veterans buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

The National Cemetery Administration documents the following veterans of note buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot, listed by section and site as recorded in the cemetery's official register.

• Under Development.

Eligibility for burial at Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

Planning ahead for a Veteran's or loved-one's final resting place can eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce stress on a family at a difficult time.

The Department of Veterans Affairs covers the grave plot, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, and a U.S. burial flag at no cost to eligible families.

Visiting hours

Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed federal holidays except Memorial Day. Visitation Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset.

How to schedule a burial at Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot

1. The funeral home or family contacts the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117 (24/7 for active funeral arrangements).
2. Provide the veteran's full name, date of birth, social security number, dates of service, branch, and date of death.
3. Fax or email the DD-214 to the cemetery's interment office for verification.
4. Once eligibility is confirmed (typically 30–60 minutes for complete documentation), the cemetery assigns a date, time, and committal shelter.
5. The funeral home transports the deceased to Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot at the assigned time. The cemetery handles opening, closing, and perpetual care from that point.

Where Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot sits in the Vermont cemetery system

Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot is one of the veteran cemeteries operating in Vermont. The cemetery is currently closed to new in-ground burials but may accept cremated remains in some cases. Families should verify status before planning.

For families considering alternatives, the nearest veteran cemeteries appear in our cemetery sidebar. If Prospect Hill Cemetery Soldiers' Lot is fully reserved, those alternatives are typically the next options.