Two acres just south of Foshay’s Corners on the Old Dutchess Turnpike, now Route 301, on lands of the Foshay and Halstead farms, were purchased, surveyed, and dedicated for the burials of early area families, and the cemetery was incorporated on May 28, 1868, as the Union Cemetery Association. Ezekiel K. Merritt, Joseph Haight, George Foshay, Henry C. Light, John A. Bennett, John Halstead, and Isaac Bennett were chosen as the first board of trustees. In 1873, some burials removed from three graveyards later covered by the waters of Boyds Reservoir were interred here. In 1921, more land was bought and surveyed, and from that time it was commonly known as Union and Halstead Cemetery. A portion was used for other early families, and by 1991 an unused part was opened to the public. A meditation garden was added in 1999.