Lost Resting Places: Brua Family Cemetery

Brua Cemetery

      I had recently wrote a blog about the Bura Family of Franktown and the remnants of their mansion and orchard. Upon researching the families property I found out they had a family cemetery but failed to find the location. Finally, I have was able to track down this elusive cemetery. The grave yard sits a short walk from the foundations of the Brua home. You can also get to this cemetery by parking along Locke Mt. Road and walking up a hill to a grove of pine trees. Not many monuments are left, and many of the markers are fieldstones. The cemetery is in disarray but at one time was the main cemetery for Frankstown until the Geeseytown Cemetery was built. As always, if you plan to visit this resting place be respectful.

 

A Forgotten Orchard

Stone Plaque at the Entrance

      A short drive on Locke Mountain Road leaving Frankstown PA, there are two curious stone pillars that read “The Orchards, Lynn A Brua, 1872”. These pillars are one of the last remains of a once thriving orchard owned and built by Lynn Brua.
      Lynn Brua was most notably known for his involvement in Hollidaysburg PA. In 1873, he moved his family to Hollidaysburg from his orchard.  He was then employed by John H. Law. In 1881, he opened his own general store and continued to prosper, building some twenty houses as well as his own on Wayne Street. Brua was also a founding organizer for the Citizen’s National Bank, where he served as president from its organization until 1903. He then sold his business in 1908, and continued to manage his farm. He never sold his farm in Frankstown Township, and it was inherited to his grandson, the last known owner, John Brua.
                The Lynn A. Brua estate was burnt down in the mid-1900’s without any published explanation. The old estate is now blocked by a huge mound of dirt between the pillars of what must have been an elegant entrance at its time. Walking down the old stone driveway you first notice a long row of pine trees and the ground littered with pine needles. Approximately 500 feet further from

One building's foundation

the entrance, the remains of the mansion and outlying buildings become visible. The first thing you come to is an old fallen chimney. The foundation to what was once the old estate's spring house lies a few steps away. Deeper into the old estate the foliage becomes denser. This is where the foundation of the mansion Brua built remains; now only a six foot deep square of stone. A half mile from the road behind this foundation is the actually orchard. Some fruit trees and foreign foliage to the area still remains on the old 150 acre farm.
      Rumors and stories circulate the area of what actually happened to the prospering farm. Tales of hauntings and gypsy curses are to name a couple. However, many believe the fire was only an accident. Locals also speak of a family cemetery plot, a common thing in those times, somewhere buried in the overgrowth. The cemetery has yet to be found.

Crumbling chimney

Front gate visible from the road