Here's what we know about Ontario's oldest European cemetery

Looking around the hundreds of crumbling and weathered headstones, Assumption Cemetery groundskeeper Vince Murphy said he recognizes the historical value of the area and takes pride in up-keeping it. 

Though being a cemetery grounds manager may seem like a grim job, Murphy said he does it because he "respects the dead ... and I'm hoping that when I pass away someone pays and maintains the property that I'm at as well." 

The hundreds of headstones located in the 1748-established graveyard are sandwiched between the Ambassador Bridge, Assumption Church and the University of Windsor. 

Despite being the oldest European cemetery in the province — at least according to Heavenly Rest Family of Catholic Cemeteries & Crematorium — not that much is widely known about Windsor's Assumption Cemetery. Yet Murphy's job is to care for the area, by keeping the grass cut, clearing the snow and maintaining the headstones. 

He said the occasional person still comes to visit, but notes that a lot of the people died years ago, so there are a number of plots that might not get visited. 

WATCH: Assumption Cemetery groundskeeper talks about maintaining the area

The cemetery has been in its present location since 1859 and was moved twice. It was first founded along the Riverfront, then moved to Assumption Park and is now nestled by the bridge, beside the border crossing.

Despite its age, Assumption is still an "active" cemetery, according to Murphy. This means that although all the plots have been sold, some are unfilled. 

Murphy said there are roughly 100 to 150 graves yet to be claimed. The owners of some of these spots are currently unknown and will only be revealed when the person dies. 

Not only that but there's an unknown number of unmarked graves. This has happened due to worn, weathered and lost headstones, as well as the cemetery having been moved. 

On a stroll through the cemetery it's evident that many of the headstones match Windsor street names — Walker, Drouillard, Parent and Ouellette.

Windsor Public Libraries local history historian Tom Vajdik said it's likely because those families were farm owners who had land in Windsor. 

Many of them were also French settlers, Vajdik said. 

Prominent figures such as politician Francois Baby, who was also a known slave-owner, is buried there.