Glendale Cemetery
National Register of Historic Places

Glendale Cemetery

Akron, Summit County, Ohio
Listed
September 27, 2001
Type
District
Period
Modern
Ref No.
01001063

About this property

Glendale Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located in Akron, Ohio. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Glendale Cemetery was founded in 1839 by Dr. J.D. Commons. Here statues of prominent citizens, an avenue of stately mausoleums and a collection of headstones tell the story of Akron's past. Originally known as Akron Rural Cemetery, Commons modeled the design of the cemetery after Boston's Mount Auburn Cemetery, which he visited in 1838. Glendale is a picturesque romantic landscape with its curving roads, use of promontories to create vistas and a variety of architectural styles that draw upon ancient building forms. Mausoleums are modeled after Egyptian, Greek and Roman temples or Gothic churches. Nineteenth-century accounts described Glendale as "beautifully laid out in romantic drives and walks" and note its role as an area park and tourist destination. Originally, the cemetery had a stream and two bodies of water—Willow and Swan Lakes. Due to the increased development surrounding the cemetery during the late 19th century, the natural spring that fed the lakes dried up. The superintendent of the cemetery at that time proposed running a pipe to the Ohio and Erie Canal to re-water the lakes, but this was never realized. Today the open space or Great Meadow recalls the scale of Swan Lake and several mausoleums have small foot bridges that once crossed over the stream fronting them. Distinct sections of the cemetery are devoted to the Masons, Akron's Jewish community and infants and children. The Civil War is prominently commemorated in Glendale Cemetery. The Buckley Post of the Union Army has a large memorial marker surrounded by 50 headstones located on the northern plateau. The 1876 Gothic Revival style Memorial Chapel was constructed by the Buckley Post and has been recently restored. The Memorial Chapel, built in 1876 as an American Civil War monument and was erected by Buckley Post #12 Grand Army of the Republic. Ohio Columbus Barber (1841–1920), industrialist and philanthropist; founder of the Barber Match Company and Barberton, Ohio John Buchtel (1820–1892), businessman and founder of Buchtel College, the predecessor of the University of Akron Gilbert S. Carpenter (1836–1904), US Army brigadier general George Washington Crouse (1832–1912), US Congressman Charles S. Howe (1858–1939), 2nd President of Case School of Applied Science (present-day Case Western Reserve University) Lewis Miller.(1829–1899), philanthropist and inventor Julia Perry (1927–1979), composer, conductor, and educator George Edmond Pierce (1794–1871), 2nd President of Western Reserve College (present-day Case Western Reserve University)

Location

150 Glendale Ave.
Akron, Summit County, Ohio
41.08440, -81.52835

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORYHEALTH/MEDICINEENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Nearby Historic Sites

Akron Rural Cemetery Buildings
Industrial
0.2 mi
Miller, Lewis, House
Civil War
0.3 mi
Glendale Steps
Industrial
0.3 mi
Werner, Edward P., House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Akron Jewish Center
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Glendale Cemetery listed on the National Register?

Glendale Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 27, 2001.

What type of historic resource is Glendale Cemetery?

Glendale Cemetery is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Glendale Cemetery?

The period of significance for Glendale Cemetery is recorded as the modern era.

Can I research the history near Glendale Cemetery?

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