Remembering that OH HB 168 created the Cemetery Grant Fund for Active / Registered Not-For-Profit Cemeteries in Ohio - Yet Ohio's Inactive and Family Cemeteries still await help from the State of Ohio

First, starting off on a positive note, I'd like to share this wonderful spotlight story written by Bob Coupland of the "Tribune Chronicle" of Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio.

This extensive article gives a detailed description of the funds provided by the Cemetery Grant Fund that has been helping Active/Registered Not-For-Profit Cemeteries in Ohio since 2019.

Before this law was passed and enacted no such program was in place by the State of Ohio that helped any cemetery that has needed funding in a manner like what this law has accomplished.

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For additional reference.:

WFMJ in Youngstown (Mahoning County.:

https://www.wfmj.com/story/42772507/5-valley-cemeteries-receiving-funding-for-repairs-improvements

Excerpt: "The Cemetery Grant Fund, which was signed into law as House Bill 168, became effective Oct. 29, 2018. The funds are to be used for exceptional maintenance of cemetery grounds or training for cemetery personnel.

Any registered, non-profit cemetery may apply for the grant, which is funded by $1 of every burial permit fee received by the Division. Cemeteries that applied and did not receive funding this year are encouraged to apply again next year."

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Further Link.: Ohio Cemetery Grant Fund Program details

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However, sadly, we still must be mindful and reflect on the fact that Ohio's Inactive Cemeteries are in the category of being Unregistered (AKA Not Registered) cemeteries - meaning no burials in the past 25 years,

Additionally:

Cemeteries or burial grounds deemed to be "Family Cemeteries" - as per the Ohio Revised Code stated in the following sections negatively affects them as well and leaves them out of the Registration process.:

(D) Sections 4767.02 to 4767.04 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect a family cemetery or a cemetery in which there have been no interments during the previous twenty-five calendar years. As used in this division, "family cemetery" means a cemetery containing the human remains of persons, at least three-fourths of whom have a common ancestor or who are the spouse or adopted child of that common ancestor.

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Now, what the State of Ohio needs to do is to expand the Cemetery Grant Program to include cemeteries that are no longer Active and thus are relegated to being Unregistered that are deteriorating, and in so many cases disappearing, before it is too late for them and they are declared abandoned and thus become "fair game" for any sort of development because they are deemed to be a hazard to society. (See: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/.../1953-2978.aspx)

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The Geauga County WPA Cemetery Plat Maps are now posted on the right sidebar of the blog

 A FLICKR collection of the WPA Cemetery Plat Maps for Geauga County, Ohio for public viewing and downloading is now posted on this blog, along with those for some other Ohio counties, on the right sidebar of this blog. 

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Geauga County is comprised of 16 townships.: Auburn, Bainbridge, Burton, Chardon, Chester, Claridon, Hambden, Huntsburg, Middlefield, Montville, Munson, Newbury, Parkman, Russell, Thompson, and Troy.

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Geauga County is one of the counties situated in the Western Reserve district of Ohio.

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From the website of the Cuyahoga County Recorder.:

https://fiscalofficer.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/WesternReserveHistory.aspx

"The so-called Western Reserve comprises the Northeastern corner of the state of Ohio. Its southern boundary extends 120 miles westward from the Pennsylvania line along the 41st parallel of north latitude. 

It includes all of the counties of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Trumbull; and part of Ashland, Mahoning, Ottawa and Summit counties. In all it contains about 5,280 square miles and is larger than the states of Delaware, Connecticut or Rhode Island."

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As I proceeded with naming and saving each of these cemetery plat maps drawn up in the 1930s, I noted how many of those burial grounds were deemed abandoned. I was reminded of just how many veterans we have buried in Ohio going back to the American Revolution.  Geauga County is certainly no exception, in fact it seemed that the smaller the cemetery the more likely I might find a name with the number "1" for their war service which is the number designated for the The Revolutionary War.

  Below are some of the maps of the smaller size cemeteries in Geauga County as they existed when these maps were created during the years of the Great Depression.: 

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The Thwing Cemetery - John Thwing  buried at the Center Chardon Cemetery

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Clark Cemetery - Chardon Township

From the Ohio Gen Web site.:

"Angel; no longer exists.  

     What stones could be found were moved to Larned in the 1940s."

"Thwing; no longer exists.  

      What stones could be found were moved to Larned in the 1940s."

"Clark; no evidence"

I have not been able to learn who the veteran was who had the surname of "Clark" at the cemetery identified as the Clark Cemetery in Chardon Township when the WPA surveys were being conducted. 

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Angel Cemetery

Benjamin Pitcher buried at the Center Chardon Cemetery (AKA the Larned Cemetery)

Lieutenant Elijah Sperry 

Also buried at the Center Chardon Cemetery

Marauchie "Polly" VanOrden Sperry 

Also buried at the Center Chardon Cemetery

Zimri Wells Also buried at the Center Chardon Cemetery

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Gates Cemetery - Middlefield Township

Elisha Bundy who was buried at the Bundysburg Cemetery

John Cox who was buried at the Old Cemetery

Jacob Gates who was also buried at the Bundysburg Cemetery.

Note: Neither the Bundysburg Cemetery or the Old Cemetery appear in the WPA Cemetery Plat Maps. 

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The Henry Cemetery - Now shown as the Old Southwest Cemetery or the Southwest Cemetery 

Bainbridge Township

William Henry - War of 1812 veteran

JosephWitterIII-

RevolutionaryWar veteran 

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The Webster Cemetery in Thompson Township

From the Ohio GenWeb site.:
"Webster; 7721 Clay St., private property) Inactive"

     "Location: on the east side of Clay Street,
3/4 to 1 mile north of Rt. 166.  Nine stones were found in 1984 scattered on a hillside.  Some had been moved to Maple Grove."

Pvt. Mark Barnes was buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Thompson Township. 

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Warner Cemetery in Thompson Township.

John Jackson, War of 1812 veteran

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The Sanford Cemetery

From the Ohio GenWeb site.:

"Evergreen/Sanford; (16217 Moseley Rd.) Inactive

     "Location: on the south side of Moseley Road, about 0.4 mile west of the 

intersection of Dewey and Moseley Roads.  It is not maintained; most of the 

stones were moved to Maple Grove."

Marcus Tillotson was buried at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Thompson Township.

From the Ohio GenWeb site.:

"TILLOTSON        Marcus                           TH Evergreen Cem.                25    0                      2 Aug 1864        65y 8m 20d       NO                                                                                                        was TILLATSON; replaced STONE & Others Evergreen Interments; consumption; see Maple Grove Sec 109, Lot 3 "

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The Phelps Cemetery in Thompson Township. 

From the Ohio GenWeb site.:

"Phelps; (6700 Sidley Rd., private property) Inactive Location; on the southeast corner of the intersection of Sidley and Thompson Roads. Only a few stones remain."

"Abandoned Cemetery"

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Bartlett Cemetery - Thompson Township

            From the Ohio GenWeb site.:

"Bartlett; (6979 Thompson Rd.) Inactive

     Location: about 1000' southwest of the intersection of Leroy and Thompson 

Roads.  The land was purchased in 1950 from a relative of the Bartlett family. " 

Joseph Bartlett - Revolutionary War

Eliu Emmons, Seth Hulbert, Joseph Patterson, Abel Ray, and Abner Stockwell were all War of 1812 veterans.

Ansel Bartlett, John Ransom, both were Civil War veterans.

Ohio History Connection - "Enact Better Legislation to Protect Ohio's Human Burial Places"

Among the main focus issues of the Ohio History Connection on Ohio Statehood Day for its 2019 "Legislative Priorities" will be enacting better legislation to protect Ohio's human burial places.

  

This proposal helps us build upon and advance the belief that "All Cemeteries Matter" - which further translates into all gravesites and graves markers for them matter.  

Gravesites sit on land, whether it be at sprawling modern day cemeteries or "memorial park"settings, or on single gravesites left from long ago farm lands that have been built upon by developers.  These sacred spaces are more vulnerable than ever because too many have already been lost.  

Too much history and respect have already been lost.  One of the reasons for this crisis is that over time the laws provided little to no safeguards to protect them.  

Taking stronger steps now can prevent further harm to Ohio's cemeteries that they have for far too long faced.

"Ohioans facing issues with cemeteries can seek help from Department of Commerce"

Sharing a link to a news story that has been published in various Ohio newspapers in the past few days with the title.: 

"Ohioans Facing Issues with Cemeteries can seek help from Department of Commerce".  
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BUT, please keep in mind the fact that a cemetery has to be REGISTERED for the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission (of the Department of Commerce; Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing) to accept the complaint! 

"Ohioans facing issues with cemeteries can seek help from Department of Commerce"

Registered Cemetery Complaint Form
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***Thus, ONLY REGISTERED CEMETERIES in Ohio qualify for any complaints against their owners to be accepted by the Department of Commerce's Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission. This is important to remember! 

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Cemeteries that DO NOT have burials within the past twenty-five years DO NOT qualify and are NOT registered.*** 

***See more specifics below***:

"Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4767 provides the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution Commission with responsibility over registered cemeteries."

"(C) Sections 4767.02 to 4767.04 of the Revised Code do not apply to or affect a family cemetery or a cemetery in which there have been no interments during the previous twenty-five calendar years. As used in this division, "family cemetery" means a cemetery containing the human remains of persons, at least three-fourths of whom have a common ancestor or who are the spouse or adopted child of that common ancestor."