LeMoyne Crematory
N 40° 09.634 W 080° 14.271
17T E 564904 N 4445857
The first crematory in the United States.
Waymark Code: WM18CC
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 02/21/2007
Views: 33
When residents of Washington, PA, kept getting sick with the same or similar symptoms, with many of them dying from their illness, Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne was convinced that the culprit was linked to our burial practices. He believed contaminated matter from the cemeteries was running off into the streams and water sources and causing the same diseases to strike new victims. Cremation would eliminate prevent the spreading these fatal illnesses.
Dr. LeMoyne planned to build a crematory. He approached the trustees of the public cemetery in the City of Washington, proposing that if they would give him permission, he would donate the money necessary for the construction of a crematory on cemetery property. The trustees never even considered LeMoyne's offer.
Dr. LeMoyne built the crematory in 1876 on his own land, on the outskirts of Washington. The simple, 30- by 20-foot brick building, has a reception room and a furnace room. Using only sketchy information about how one of the world's first crematories was built in Europe, Washington resident John Dye planned and constructed the crematory building, and Dr. LeMoyne designed the oven.
The first cremation at LeMoyne's facility took place on December 6, 1876. A total of 42 cremations were done there, the last in 1901. LeMoyne, ironically, was the third person cremated in his own crematory. He died in 1879. His family made preparations for his burial in accordance with his wishes: his body was cremated in this building. Then the ashes were placed in an urn under a simple stone monument in front of the crematory.
The LeMoyne Crematory is administered by the Washington County Historical Society, and offers tours the second Saturday of May, June, July, August and September from 2 to 4 p.m.
Street address:
Jct. of Redstone Rd. and Elm St.
Washington, PA USA
15301
County / Borough / Parish: Washington
Year listed: 1996
Historic (Areas of) Significance: The first crematory in the United States.
Periods of significance: 1875-1899
Historic function: Funerary / Mortuary
Current function: Vacant/Not In Use
Privately owned?: yes
Season start / Season finish: From: 05/01/2007 To: 09/30/2007
Hours of operation: From: 2:00 AM To: 4:00 AM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.