WEST LAWN CEMETERY
1919 Seventh St. N.W.
Canton, Ohio 44708
330.455.4021
Established: 1859
Acres: 80
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 2 Tombstones
For a relatively small cemetery in a city that isn't exactly "happening," West Lawn is a surprisingly delightful place to visit. One of its best features, a merrily burbling creek, bisects a good portion of the property...a fact which prompted all but the Timken family to have their mausoleums constructed to take advantage of the water view.
The cemetery has some other points in its favour, but before we take a quick inventory of these, let's turn back the hands of time for a moment, shall we?
The original cemetery was established on 19 March, 1859 when 48 Cantonians pledged $50 each by way of purchasing the initial parcel which was given the uninspired name of Canton Cemetery. In the late 1800's, bodies were moved to the newly-renamed West Lawn from the former site of Plum Street Cemetery (now McKinley Park). This came as a result of encroachment by buildings intended for use by the living. More land was acquired in 1880 and, subsequently, other purchases brought the burying ground up to its present size.
West Lawn was also the first resting place of President William McKinley's mortal remains. McKinley was assassinated in 1901 and his body lay in the cemetery's Receiving Vault six years while construction was completed on his awe-inspiring, 96' high tomb. While resting in the West Lawn Vault, McKinley's body was watched over by an Honor Guard who stood sentinel around the clock. We are told Mrs. Ida McKinley visited her husband's casket there daily until Death embraced her in 1907.
When the tomb was, at last, completed, McKinley's body was transferred there, along with the bodies of the couple's two daughters who had died as children decades earlier. After Mrs. McKinley's demise, her casket was entombed alongside that of her husband in truly elegant dark-green granite sarcophagi. (see separate gallery and review)
Today, visitors to West Lawn will notice a distinct, topographical difference between the south (older) section and the north. The former is host to myriad trees which rise from ground that is relatively flat. The latter has more hills, the aforementioned creek and all of the cemetery's mausoleums. (Note: West Lawn does not have a community mausoleum).
With few exceptions, there really aren't any truly breathtaking monument's in West Lawn (McKinley's Tomb cannot be taken into consideration as it isn't part of the cemetery); nevertheless, the lush "valley area" with its stream, the hilly terrain, dense tree canopy (south) and omnipresent birdsong (for three seasons, anyway) make a visit to West Lawn a truly magical experience.
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1919 Seventh St. N.W.
Canton, Ohio 44708
330.455.4021
Established: 1859
Acres: 80
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 2 Tombstones
For a relatively small cemetery in a city that isn't exactly "happening," West Lawn is a surprisingly delightful place to visit. One of its best features, a merrily burbling creek, bisects a good portion of the property...a fact which prompted all but the Timken family to have their mausoleums constructed to take advantage of the water view.
The cemetery has some other points in its favour, but before we take a quick inventory of these, let's turn back the hands of time for a moment, shall we?
The original cemetery was established on 19 March, 1859 when 48 Cantonians pledged $50 each by way of purchasing the initial parcel which was given the uninspired name of Canton Cemetery. In the late 1800's, bodies were moved to the newly-renamed West Lawn from the former site of Plum Street Cemetery (now McKinley Park). This came as a result of encroachment by buildings intended for use by the living. More land was acquired in 1880 and, subsequently, other purchases brought the burying ground up to its present size.
West Lawn was also the first resting place of President William McKinley's mortal remains. McKinley was assassinated in 1901 and his body lay in the cemetery's Receiving Vault six years while construction was completed on his awe-inspiring, 96' high tomb. While resting in the West Lawn Vault, McKinley's body was watched over by an Honor Guard who stood sentinel around the clock. We are told Mrs. Ida McKinley visited her husband's casket there daily until Death embraced her in 1907.
When the tomb was, at last, completed, McKinley's body was transferred there, along with the bodies of the couple's two daughters who had died as children decades earlier. After Mrs. McKinley's demise, her casket was entombed alongside that of her husband in truly elegant dark-green granite sarcophagi. (see separate gallery and review)
Today, visitors to West Lawn will notice a distinct, topographical difference between the south (older) section and the north. The former is host to myriad trees which rise from ground that is relatively flat. The latter has more hills, the aforementioned creek and all of the cemetery's mausoleums. (Note: West Lawn does not have a community mausoleum).
With few exceptions, there really aren't any truly breathtaking monument's in West Lawn (McKinley's Tomb cannot be taken into consideration as it isn't part of the cemetery); nevertheless, the lush "valley area" with its stream, the hilly terrain, dense tree canopy (south) and omnipresent birdsong (for three seasons, anyway) make a visit to West Lawn a truly magical experience.
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