Sharing updates regarding the removal of human remains still buried at the old North Graveyard in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio

Sharing two links to February, 2023 updates to stories regarding the excavation at what was once the North Graveyard in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.

The first story is from CoumbusUnderground.com  Entitled - "Archaeologists Unearthed 40 Graves at North Market in 2022" - by Jesse Bethea dated February 7, 2023.  

Excerpt:

Sharing this important quote by Krista Horrocks of the Ohio History Connection - Project Reviews Manager, State Historic Preservation Office:

“We might find what appears to be one burial shaft, but then when you remove all the human remains and you do osteological analysis you realize that you actually have kind of a jumble or multiple sets of human remains in that one burial,” said Horrocks. 

“That can happen from any kind of historic or modern disturbance of the area. So we know historically that what is the North Market parking lot now had other buildings sitting atop it at other times.”

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On February 9, 2023, WOSU News Public Media in Columbus presented an extensive account of the history regarding this project, Entitled.:

"North Graveyard in downtown Columbus to be excavated before Merchant Building constructed." 

The report includes a 4:37 minute interview with Krista Horrocks.:

"Horrocks said the remains of the people left behind at the site deserve a proper burial. “It'd be really great to finally properly be able to honor and memorialize the people that were left behind unfortunately," she said.

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For further reference.:

A link to the North Graveyard (AKA Old North Graveyard) on Find A Grave. 

The Williams County, Ohio Veteran Graves Locations, "A project to map the final resting places of veterans in Williams County, Ohio" was created by Brian D. Fritsch, P.E. and is posted on the county's G.I.S. website.

Williams County Veteran Graves Locations

Brian D.Fritsch P.E. - G.I.S.

Submit additional information to:

 bfritsch@wmscoengineer.com

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A link to the Williams County Veteran Graves

Locations' website has been added to the 

Pages on the right sidebar of this blog.  

This link is right below the links for the W.P.A.
Cemetery Plat Maps for Williams County,
including the link to the Williams County Recorder.

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Introductory Paragraph:

"The only known effort to map the locations of veteran graves in Williams County was conducted nearly 100 years ago.

A project was conducted by the Works Project Administration (WPA) to locate veteran grave locations."

Below this statement Brian appropriately includes images that serve as examples of a representative W.P.A. Cemetery Plat Map with the map of the Brown Cemetery in Center Township, therefore, connecting these maps and their purpose to his 21st Century project. The current scope and content reach far beyond what anyone creating those 1930s era maps could have contemplated ever being possible.

Thus, a researcher has a vast array of information

and images for exploring and learning while browsing
through this  exceedingly well organized and useful website

for Williams County, Ohio.

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On May 13, 2022 a spotlight story was published in

 the "Bryan Times" announcing that this website 

would be created by Brian D. Fritsch.  

In order to read the full story, however, a reader

 must be a subscriber to the newspaper.  

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How the best laid plans for a community mausoleum at the Oakland Cemetery and Memorial Park in Sandusky, Ohio ended up with one built entirely different from the original drawings.

One place to look for the "real story" regarding the history of just about anything is to search historical newspapers.  Today, more than ever, it is easier to do just that because of the internet and websites like "NewspaperArchive.com" that can be accessed as a non-subscriber through some local libraries from just about anywhere. 

Thus, I researched the Sandusky Star-Journal and the Sandusky Register newspapers to learn what changes had evolved over time regarding the plans of the City of Sandusky, Ohio to construct a community mausoleum at the Oakland Cemetery around 1917 that never came to fruition until many years later.  

The accounts published down through the years reveal details of the proposals, and "false starts" that occurred before a mausoleum was built. 

In the end, though, the mausoleum design was one that in no way resembles the original drawings that the city has found worthwhile to still retain. I feel it's important that the drawings were saved so we could view them today.

Below is a sampling of some of the newspaper stories that were published from 1917 through 1979 about the proposed community mausoleum at the Oakland Cemetery (aka Oakland Cemetery and Memorial Park).:

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Below are images of the drawings for the original mausoleum, not appearing in any particular order.:

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Thanking Mr. Vern Margard who so kindly shared the two photographs shown below.: 

Below is an aerial view of the new mausoleum.

Below is a view of one area of the garden mausoleum at the Oakland Cemetery and Memorial Park.

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For further reference.:

The Oakland Cemetery on Find A Grave

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From the website of the City of Sandusky.:
"This garden-type mausoleum was constructed and dedicated in 1979. 

Its unique open-air construction and use of native sandstone and marble create a beautiful blend of contemporary function and historical quality."

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Noting that per the May 29, 1979 Sandusky Register story.:  

"There are four galleries in the mausoleum which have been named the Gallery of the Cedars, the Gallery of the Maples, The Gallery of the Elms, and the Gallery of the Oaks.  The names depict the trees located near each gallery."

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Below is a self-guided historical walking tour brochure.  

It has a helpful cemetery map pinpointing 34 landmarks to stop at during your visit. The brochure was created in partnership by the Sandusky Recreation Division and the Sandusky Library. 

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