Directions to Tadpole Cemetery:

From State College take West College Avenue to Whitehall Road, turn right and follow Whitehall Road for 3.8 miles to Tadpole Road. Turn right on Tadpole Road for approximately 1.6 miles to W. Gatesburg Road where Tadpole Road makes a sharp left turn, Continue on Tadpole Road for approximately 1.6 miles to a farm lane on the right. The cemetery is behind the barn approximately 300 yards along the lane. In 1998 the farm was owned by Ralph Wheland. It may be wise to call first –814-692-5053.

History of Tadpole Cemetery:

Tadpole Cemetery originated as a community burial ground. About 1860 people along what is now Tadpole Road established a school there which was probably also used for church gatherings. A small portion of the farm behind the school was a burial ground. The farmhouse was built in 1830. About 1913-1919 it was owned by Edward W. Mayes, who buried his children and a nephew in the cemetery. One son John E., was burned to death when he played near a fireplace. The farm was owned by William Dennison in 1930 and the cemetery fell into disrepair. Mrs. Nancy Heberling Mayes, wife of Edward W. Mayes requested that she be buried with her children and she was buried there 11 May 1956. Edward W. Mayes was the final interment in 1965. Their son Dean R. Mayes, cared for the cemetery, moving some of the stones to the front of the cemetery about 1992 to facilitate mowing. Dean Mayes died 30 April 1995. The current caretaker, Mrs. Marion Wheland (1998), furnished much of this information and knows the original location of most of the stones.

Sources:

1.     Mrs. Marion Wheland – interview in 1998.

2.     The Cemeteries of Ferguson Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Published by the Centre County Genealogical Society, State College PA. Pages 136-137. Copyright 1998, 2011