Welcome to Ashland Cemetery, a serene resting place steeped in history and local lore, located in Ashland, Ohio. This cemetery, dedicated in 1856, has been a silent witness to the evolving history of the area. The land was purchased from the estate of Alanson Andrews, father of Lorin Andrews, the second child born in what was then Uniontown. For just $819.50, this piece of land was converted into a cemetery, offering lots for $10 each, which was a substantial sum at the time.
As you walk through the cemetery, you’ll notice the ornate monuments from the late 1800s, showcasing the craftsmanship of the period. Noteworthy among them is the Jonas Freer monument, standing 16 feet tall and weighing 17,000 pounds, made from a combination of American granite, Scotch granite, and Italian marble. This monument, along with others like the Philip and Samantha Myers and Countryman family markers, tell stories of the families who contributed to the local community’s development.
One particularly intriguing feature is the Saal family monument. Jacob Saal, a Civil War veteran who died in 1906, has a monument topped with a stone ball that mysteriously moves. This phenomenon was so fascinating that it was featured in Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’.
Over the years, Ashland Cemetery has expanded, now encompassing over 75 acres. It remains a place of reflection and history, with enough burial plots projected to last another 200 years.
Ashland Cemetery has also been a site of unfortunate events, such as the vandalism incident where 133 headstones were toppled, causing significant damage and costing between $80,000 to $120,000. This event is a stark reminder of the ongoing need to protect and preserve historical sites.
The cemetery serves not only as a place for mourning but also as a historical archive, with streets named Cresant, Pleasant View, Fulton, Randolph, and Monument. It connects us to the past, offering insights into the lives and times of those who once called Ashland home.
