Fairview Cemetery located at 272 Steadwell Avenue in Amsterdam, New York, holds the remains of many members of Amsterdam's old wealthy carpet manufacturing families as well as middle Americans.Dr. David Shepard, a surgeon in the Revolutionary War, purchased a farm near Amsterdam, New York and Fort Johnson, New York in 1802. In the late 19th century a group of people decided to make a resort of this farm. When many of the financial backers of this plan turned against it, they decided to make the farmland into a cemetery. The lands at that time were owned by Warren K. Nibble of Troy, NY.In July 1899, a total of 3268 shares were issued to the investors and Fairview became a commercial cemetery. Cemetery records show that the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held at 362 Broadway in the City of Troy, New York on July 15, 1899. At that meeting, the purchase of the land from Mr. Nibble was approved and the cemetery was established. The records further indicate that an office was established at 46 East Main Street in the City of Amsterdam, New York for the operation of the cemetery.Over the years, additional shares were issued and others redeemed by the cemetery. Eventually ownership of Fairview Cemetery was converted to a not for profit corporation owned by and operated for the benefit of the lotholders. It continues that way to the present. The day-to-day operations of the cemetery are under the control of a Board of Trustees who are elected at an Annual Meeting of the lotholders. In addition, the board has hired a full-time superintendent to run the daily operations of the cemetery and maintain the grounds. The supeintendant lives on the cemetery grounds.
