 Allegheny
Cemetery History As early as 1834 an attempt was made by Dr. J. Ramsey Speer,
Stephen Colwell and John Chislett, Sr. to establish a rural cemetery. The three
persons named were connected with the Third Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh,
of which Dr. D. H. Riddle was Pastor, and the congregation not having procured
a burial ground, their attention was drawn to the subject and it was proposed
to purchase a lot belonging to the heirs of Judge Roberts, situated on the south
side of Wylie Street.
The entire lot, containing eleven acres, was offered
for Five Thousand Dollars on easy terms and was considered large enough for one
congregation. In the meantime, the decided success of Mount Auburn Cemetery
at Boston led them to change their plans, so as to embrace the prospective needs
of the whole population of the two cities of all denominations that might think
proper to join in the movement. With this thought in mind, Dr. Speer visited Mount
Auburn at Boston, which was chartered in 1831, Laurel Hill in Philadelphia, 1836,
and Greenwood in New York, 1838. In the interval of years between 1834
and 1842, continued efforts were made to keep the subject alive through occasional
articles in the newspapers advocating the measure. Repeated explorations
were made of all the sites that were considered suitable or available for the
purpose, until finally the farm and homestead of Col. Bayard, embracing one hundred
acres, located between the Greensburg Pike and the Sharpsburg Ferry, was chosen.
 Several meetings
of interested citizens were held, which resulted in the Act of Incorporation being
passed by the Legislature without objection and returned with the approval of
Gov. David A. Porter, dated April 24th, 1844.
Legal matters in regard to
drafting the Charter and additional legislation was placed in the hands of the
Hon. Richard Biddle, a very prominent lawyer. The Charter of Allegheny Cemetery
is not limited in time, nor does it contain any clause reserving the right to
revoke the privileges granted. Therefore the Cemetery is legally protected for
years to come. The following is a brief synopsis of some of the provisions
of the Charter: To select a number of persons designated as Corporators,
not to exceed forty, from whom to elect annually a Board of Managers, President,
Secretary & Treasurer, and prescribes the duties usually performed by these
officers. Another section provides that no street or road shall ever be
laid out through the grounds of the Cemetery, except under the authority of the
Corporation. Another provision - to set aside certain sums for the perpetual
maintenance of the grounds - assures the beauty of the Cemetery for all time.
Additional ground has been obtained from time to time until today the Cemetery
consists of three hundred acres. A considerable area is still undeveloped. As
times and conditions have changed, the Managers have developed the Lawn Plan and
other types of burial space for the choice of the public. Additional legislation
has been passed for the protection of burial grounds and lot holders, which has
placed Allegheny Cemetery in an enviable position for the future. The same
policy of the civic minded men who established the Cemetery has been carried on
since 1844, and today many of our most prominent citizens are proud to serve as
Managers and Corporators without the thought of remuneration for their services.
In
1848 a site was chosen as a burial place for naval heroes and an impressive memorial
erected. This spot is known as "Mt. Barney." The remains of Com. Joshua
Barney and Lieut. James L. Parker were moved from other locations to this beautiful
place. On May 30th, 1937, an impressive memorial was erected to the memory
of the more than seven thousand ex-service men buried within the Cemetery. The
bronze dedicating tablet reads as follows: "This memorial was erected
by Allegheny Cemetery and was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1937. It is a tribute
to those who served their Country both at home and abroad."
These and
many other actions of the Managers, for the good of the community, have prevailed
at all times. The fallacy that Cemeteries are morbid and uninviting to
visitors has been dispelled by the policy of beautifying the grounds, which has
resulted in thousands of people, including nature study classes and kindergarten
groups, who enjoy the seasonal beauties of the year. Many others visit
the resting places of Stephen C. Foster, Lillian Russell, and the many persons
who were responsible in a great measure for the growth and progress of our City.
The names of Negley, Mellon, Roup, Winebiddle, Baum, and Gross are among many
for whom streets were named, as well as hundreds of others whose contributions
have meant so much toward the religious and civic conditions which we enjoy today.
The response on the part of the public is an inspiration to the management
to beautify and perpetuate for all time "God's Acre." | | We
have put together a short video
about the history of Allegheny Cemetery. | | |  |
| 
