Valley view Swartwood Cemetery

Located about 3.25 miles north of Bushkill in Lehman Township on a hill just overlooking Route 209. The following names or initials were taken from headstones byGannett Fleming Corddry and Carpenter, inc., Engineers of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a survey and report on the existing cemeteries in Pennsylvania within the Tocks Island Lake Project. The purpose of the survey is to determine the actual number of graves, the names of the deceased and the names and address of the next-of-kin or nearest living relative.
The Valley View Farm and the Swartwood Cemetery would be relocated when the valley was to be flooded for Tocks Island Dam project.
It is recorded that a miles beyond Mellener’s Cove William Custard (1729-1826) bought a farm from Ezikiel Schoonover. Above this farm, Thomas Swartwood lived in a log house, and Bernadus Swartwood occupied a stone dwelling. Over the years, the Swartwood place had been enlarged to accommodate boarders and was named Valley View. Directly above River Road on this farm a glacial moraine where the Swartwoods established a cemetery for those who lived in the area. Here, the most numerous tombstones are those of Swartwood and the Custards, whose descendents found final resting place in the setting of Valley View Farm.
There are over a hundred graves most unmarked in this cemetery. A fenced in area contains the Custard family. Best to visit this cemetery in spring, late fall or winter it is in a shady area with many leaves great place for ticks. The views over the valley are wonderful you can understand why families choose this cemetery to rest. Always beware of your surroundings watch for wild life especially bears!!!!