LeMoyne Crematory

LeMoyne Crematory
Location Jct. of Redstone Rd. and Elm St., NW corner, North Franklin Township, Washington, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 40°9′38″N 80°14′16″W / 40.16056°N 80.23778°W / 40.16056; -80.23778Coordinates: 40°9′38″N 80°14′16″W / 40.16056°N 80.23778°W / 40.16056; -80.23778
Area less than one acre
Built 1876
Architect Dye, John
NRHP Reference # 96000078[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP February 16, 1996
Designated PHMC August 01, 1953[2]

The LeMoyne Crematory was the first crematory in the United States.[3] Francis Julius LeMoyne had it built in 1876 on his own land, perched atop a location known locally as Gallow's Hill in the Pittsburgh area township of North Franklin, a bedroom community of nearby Washington, Pennsylvania. The first cremation took place on December 6, 1876. LeMoyne believed that cremation was a more sanitary way to dispose of bodies, preventing the contamination of drinking water.[4] After 41 more cremations there (with LeMoyne being the third, 1879), the crematory was closed in 1901. LeMoyne's remains are buried there.[2]

It is a brick 20 x 30 one-story building.[4]

Today, the structure can be found in the same location off of South Main Street. The Washington County Historical Society occasionally offers limited tours.[4]

In 1953, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission installed a historical marker noting the historic importance of the tavern.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1996.[1] It is designated as a historic public landmark by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Staff (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 "LeMoyne Crematory - PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  3. ↑ "LeMoyne Crematory". aCremation.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "LeMoyne Crematory". Landmark Registry - Public Landmark. Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation. 2008. Retrieved 2013-12-08.

External links


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