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."

Showing posts with label Ohio Department of Commerce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio Department of Commerce. Show all posts

Saturday, August 22, 2026

The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing has a new portal seeking "Revolutionary War Era" cemeteries to enroll in its America 250-Ohio Program that matches volunteers to cemeteries with specific problems.

Sharing the links posted by the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing encouraging those responsible for Ohio's Revolutionary War era cemeteries to take part in this program managed through this dedicated portal. 

Cemeteries listed thus far.:

Aurora Cemetery

66 S. Aurora Road Aurora, OH 44202

Portage County

Request Type: Beautification

Ayersville Cemetery

Fruit Ridge Rd. Defiance, OH 43512

Defiance County

Request Type: Headstone Cleaning/Ground Maintenance

Farewell Retreat Cemetery

615 S Madison St Republic, OH 44867

Seneca County

Request Type: Donation Request

Hill Cemetery

Bowman Rd. Defaince, OH 43512

Defiance County

Request Type: Ground Maintenance

Maple Hill Cemetery

800 South Hyatt Street Tipp City, OH 45371

Miami County

Request Type: Tree removal

Myers Cemetery

State Route 15 Defiance, OH 43512

Defiance County

Request Type: Ground Maintenance

Riverside Cemetery

101 Riverside Drive Troy, OH 45373

Miami County

Request Type: Headstone Cleaning

Senecaville Cemetery

301 N. High St. Senecaville, OH 43780

Guernsey County

Request Type: Headstone Cleaning

1.  "Ohio's Revolutionary War Cemeteries Encouraged to Sign-Up for new Interactive Clean-up Portal."  

2.  A link to the "Cemetery Clean Up Portal." 

"In recognition of the yearlong America 250-Ohio celebration, the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing has launched a new Cemetery Clean-Up Portal to highlight the many ways that Ohioans of all ages can step up to help preserve Revolutionary War-era cemeteries located across the state, many of which have fallen into disrepair and are in need of attention."

Please read all of the particulars to understand the full scope of this program.

Thursday, July 2, 2026

The Cemetery Grant Program for 2027 launched July 1, 2026 through July 31, 2026 - with significant improvements!

 Starting July 1, 2026 most Active Registered Cemeteries can apply for the Ohio Department of Commerce's Cemetery Grant for 2027. 

AND

Sharing from the "Record Herald" in Washington Court House.: 
  "Ohio Doubles Maximum Grant Funding available for Non-Profit Cemetery Upkeep"
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"Applications must be submitted online at cemeterygrants.com.ohio.gov."
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Video
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Important to read information
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CEMETERY GRANT
The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of
Real Estate and Professional Licensing (REPL)
is pleased to announce the availability
of the FY2027 Cemetery Grant
for qualifying not-for-profit and
local government cemeteries.
Eligible applicants shall
be cemetery operators 
properly registered with REPL,
be a documented not-for-profit
entity under the IRS tax code
and be in compliance with
 any applicable endowment
 and/or preneed cemetery
merchandise and services
trust accounts.

 
The REPL Superintendent is
 accepting only online applications.

The Cemetery Grant application
 instructions are being provided
as a worksheet guidance
document only.
This will allow you time to gather all
of the necessary information prior
to submitting the grant application online. 

A link to look up your registration
number is located on the
application page. 

Please gather all information prior
to application entry. 

Once you start the application,
the information entered
cannot be saved and
if you exit out of the application
you will lose all information
previously entered. 

The grant instructions should
help answer any of your questions. 

You can find the grant instructions here.
The application must be answered
 completely to be considered for
 grant funds and submitted
no later than July 31, 2026.

 **NOTICE**
 There is a typo in the
application that is
in the process
 of being corrected. 

"Amount requested
 (up to $2500)"
should instead read: 

"Amount requested
(up to $5000)."
You will be able to enter the
full amount requested. 

If you have questions,
please contact the email below."
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Contact:
CemeteryGrants@com.state.oh.us
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Allowable grant requests include
 those to defray costs of
exceptional cemetery
 maintenance or training cemetery
 personnel in the maintenance
and operation of cemeteries.
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