Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Did you know that the Ohio History Connection (OHC) has a blog? Here are links to a two-part blog series written by OHC's Krista Horrocks - Projects Review Manager at the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office

This subject just might come under the "Who knew?" category -  or a nagging question - that begs a good answer.  So here it is.:  

Yes the Ohio History Connection (OHC) (formerly the Ohio Historical Society) has a blog.  The blog is specific to historic preservation in the State of Ohio.

When we consider historic preservation perhaps the first thoughts top of mind are the preservation of structures or perhaps battle sites, but not in this case.  

This blog is in two-parts discussing the discovery Krista Horrocks made of two grave markers that mysteriously were moved from their original gravesite locations to being on display at the Ohio History Connection! Each has their own story and Krista spotlights them individually in their own post.  

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The first blog post was published on February 21, 2023 entitled.:  

"Two Gravestones Out of Place: Part 1of 2 The Emma Kearnes Stone" 

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The second blog post was published on April 4, 2023 entitled.:

"Two Gravestones out of Place: Part 2 of 2 The Micheal Brucker Stone"

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Each marker has its own history separate from the other.  However, thanks to their common fate, their final destination brought them together at the OHC's Ohio Village. 

Krista Horrocks tells us the rest of their stories! Her outstanding sleuthing skills have served these markers well.  

Sharing her results as she has enables us to learn so much more about them and their history that inspires us to take the same steps if we were faced with the same situation!  

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Thursday, April 20, 2023

Sharing this special spotlight story from Youngstown State University's Student Literary Arts Association. Featured Artist Gavin Esposito - "Behold As You Pass By: The Beauty of Old Cemeteries".

Youngstown State University's Student Literary Arts Association's Spring 2023 issue of "Jennymag" spotlights Gavin Esposito as its Featured Artist.  

The issue offers a sampling of Gavin's stunning photographs he has taken of Ohio's earliest grave markers.  

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The image above is from the website of "JennyMag" - Issue 21 - Spring 2023.

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Gavin Esposito's website 

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You can follow Gavin Esposito on Instagram as well!

Monday, April 10, 2023

Sharing news of a Three Part Webinar - April 12, 2023 - May 10, 2023 - June 21, 2023 - Presented by The National Trust for Historic Preservation (Savingplaces.org)and the National Park Service (NPS)/ National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT)

 Sharing this information below regarding an upcoming Three-Part Series that is being jointly presented by The National Trust for Historic Preservation AND The National Park Service / National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.:

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Part 1: Understanding Site Ownership and Access to Gravesites
(Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | 3PM ET)
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Part 2: Introduction to Investigating, Documenting, and Preserving Gravesites
(Wednesday, May 10, 2023 | 3PM ET)
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Part 3: Beginning to Care for a Gravesite (Wednesday June 21, 2023 | 3pm ET)
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"Discovering Our Ancestors and Preserving Historic Gravesites" 

***This is a 3 Part Series***

With the National Park Service National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.

The National Trust and National Park Service National Center for Preservation Technology and Training have partnered to develop a three-part series of webinars and workshops for people interested in exploring issues related to gravesite preservation."

"In this webinar, staff from the National Trust of Historic Preservation  and the National Parks Service will be joined by partner organizations to provide insight into the current state of the field of cemetery preservation."

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Join us for Part 1 and Part 3 of this series

Register at forum.savingplaces.org/forum-webinar

Part 1: Understanding Site Ownership and Access to Gravesites 

(Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | 3PM ET).:

"Discovering Our Ancestors and Preserving Historic Gravesites Series: Understanding Site Ownership and Access to Gravesites (Part 1 of 3)"

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Discovering Our Ancestors and Preserving Historic Gravesites: Introduction to Investigating, Documenting, and Preserving Gravesites 

(Part 2 of 3)

Date & Time

May 10, 2023 03:00 PM in 

Description:

This webinar will introduce the first steps that are often required for beginning the process of preserving historic cemeteries. Participants will learn about the genealogical tools and resources that are available for conducting research and providing the necessary documentation for historic gravesites. 

Discovering Our Ancestors and Preserving Historic Gravesites: Introduction to Investigating, Documenting, and Preserving Gravesites 

(Part 2 of 3)

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Discovering Our Ancestors and Preserving Historic Gravesites: Beginning to Care for a Gravesite 

(Part 3 of 3)

Date & Time.

Jun 21, 2023 03:00 PM in 

Description:

Sourcing funding and building public investment are often critical towards preserving historic cemeteries. 

This webinar will review strategies for fundraising, carrying out basic preservation work, recruiting volunteers, and public interpretation and engagement.

info@savingplaces.org

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Sunday, April 9, 2023

Happy Easter & Spring Cemetery Preservation Workshops are beginning! - May 20th & May 21st, 2023 - Canfield - Mahoning County - Old North Cemetery and Ellsworth Cemetery

Easter is here this Sunday, April 9th, 2023, and soon afterward a Season of Spring Cemetery Preservation Workshops will start in earnest in Ohio stretching through the months of Summer and early Autumn. 

From all indications of recent Spring to Fall seasons, cemetery preservation workshops have become increasingly popular among those who seek to learn more about taking clearer photographs of grave marker inscriptions to probing for buried markers and more.  Advancing to properly cleaning, repairing, and resetting a variety grave markers and monuments from ground supported tablets to those in slotted bases all the way up to re-erecting multi-piece monuments, including obelisks.  

The learning may mean taking a one-day class at a cemetery to attending a multi-day presentation to gain a better sense of what it takes to actually accomplish the Do No Harm Methods as put forth by the NCPTT / National Center for Preservation Technology and Training of the NPS / National Park Service.  

Some have pursued learning this work and turned it into a part-time or even full-time business working in Ohio and beyond the Buckeye State's borders. 

Cemetery preservation is a pursuit that has come unto its own akin to the rise in popularity of learning more about your DNA results as a natural follow-up to years of conducting genealogical research.  

So it is that Ohio is seeing more cemetery preservation workshops during the fair weather seasons.

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In May, 2023 -- May 20th and May 21st in Canfield, Mahoning County a workshop is being planned that will feature Tim Foor of  Hallowed Ground Cemetery Preservation LLC as the instructor. 

More details will be posted here soon in an upcoming separate post.   

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Cemetery Preservation Workshop in September, 2023.: Warren County Ohio Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society - Friday, September 15 2023 - 9:30a.m. - 3:00p.m. - Crosson Cemetery, Harlan Township, Warren County, Ohio

Sharing information about a cemetery preservation workshop that requires registration and payment for attendees.  It will be hosted by the Warren County Genealogical Society, a Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society.  

The workshop will be at the Crosson Cemetery, conducted by Ta Mara Conde.  

"This active cemetery is 2 acres in size and located on the south side of Roachester Cozaddale Road (Township Road 52) about northeast of its intersection with Morrow Rossburg Road (Township Road 27). The cemetery was deeded to the public by William Crosson, who died in 1879 and is buried in the cemetery.

The cemetery is located in Harlan Township, Warren County, Ohio, and is # 12253 in “Ohio Cemeteries 1803-2003”, compiled by the Ohio Genealogical Society.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) feature ID for the cemetery is 1039493 (Crosson Cemetery)."

 Warren County Ohio

Crosson Cemetery Preservation Workshop Flyer