History

Welcome To GREENLAWN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

A 501-c-13 Non-Profit Organization • The Official Website of GCA. Tiffin, Ohio

History:

On May 27, 1831, Josiah Hedges recorded a survey in which he designated Tiffin lot #7 as a community cemetery. Lot #7 was in the area that is now Hedges Park located behind Calvert High School. Within twenty years, the cemetery grounds have become a disgrace and were badly overgrown. Grave markers had been toppled, may of them taken to use for sidewalks. The bank of Rock Creek had eroded, exposing caskets and human remains. The lane to the cemetery, which is now Tiffin Street had become inaccessible. By 1859, the area was an eyesore and a source of embarrassment to the community.

It was out of embarrassment that Greenlawn Cemetery was founded. On September 7, 1859, an ad-hoc committee of prominent professionals and businessmen, led by Rezin W. Shawhan, was convened to discuss the situation. Other committee members included: Warren P. Nobel, Henry Ebert, Truman H. Bagby, John M. Naylor, John C. Lee, Robert G. Pennington, Alfred G. Sneath, Henry A. Buskirk, John D. Loomis, John T. Huss and Luther A. Hall. From the September 7th meeting came a Resolution of Need and Intent concerning the development of Greenlawn Cemetery. On November 30, 1859, twenty acres of land were purchased on the north side of Coe Street from the heirs of Thomas Coe. The cost of acquisition was shared by each of the twelve committee members. Rezin Shawhan held the deed to the land conveying lot deeds to individuals who purchased burial lots.

On January 23, 1874, The Greenlawn Cemetery Association was formed to supervise the care and maintenance of the cemetery as well as to handle the sale and conveyance of burial lots. Since its beginning, Greenlawn Cemetery has been financed strictly by private contributions, endowments and bequests. We are a 501-c-13 non-profit organization and all the donations are tax deductive. We are pleased to share this beautiful and historic cemetery with you.