AKA: 

Number of Burials (approximate):  200

Dates of Activity:  1830 - present

Documentation/Publication: 

CCGS, The Cemeteries of Colebrook, East Keating, Grugan, Leidy, Noyes, and West Keating Townships (2008)

Directions/GPS: 

From the intersection of Jay and Water Streets in Lock Haven (the Lock Haven Courthouse), travel west on Water Street for 1 mile.  Turn right onto PA Route 120 (Susquehanna Avenue) and travel 38.9 miles, to Keating.  Turn left onto Keating Road and go over the bridge.  Continue on this road.  At 0.7 mile, the road splits three ways.  Continue on Keating Mountain Road (gravel) which is toward your left but not the leftmost road.  From this point, travel 6.6 miles.  At a "T" in the road, bear right, keeping on Keating Mountain Road, and travel another 4.1 miles, a total of 10.7 miles on Keating Mountain Road.  (At the 7.5 mile point you will pass a turn-off to Dutchman Road and at 8.5 miles a turn-off to Birch Island Road.  Do not take these.)  Bear right at a "Y" in the road, and travel 0.3 mile.  Turn left onto Susie's Lane and travel 1.2 miles.  Turn left at the Gaines Cemetery sign and travel 0.2 mile back this lane, which ends at the cemetery.

GPS = N41 10.658 W78 02.131

Landowner / Caretaker:

Gaines Cemetery

Pottersdale, PA 16871

Condition/Needs: 

Excellent

History:

Early settlers in Keating Township were Jeremiah Gaines and George Smoke, who came out of slavery in the southern United States and made their homes among the wilds of Keating Mountain.  Both married local women. George and Rachel Smoke were said to be the parents of 28 children.  The name eventually became Schmoke.  The families maintained their settlements in the Keating Mountain, where they farmed and lived quiet, peaceable lives.  Due to the lack of neighbors, most remained connected by birth or by marriage.  A community cemetery was started, probably on or near the Gaines property, and became known as Gaines Cemetery.  It is still used today, and is well maintained.