MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY
1120 W. Main Cross Street
Findlay, Ohio 45840
419.424.7111
Established: Unknown
Acres: Unknown
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 1 Tombstone
So off we went one fine spring day to visit Maple Grove Cemetery in Findlay, Ohio…or is it Maple Lawn Memorial Park? Confusion abounds as both are correct!
Maple Grove Cemetery, founded on 25 December, 1854, was overseen by its own Association until 3 August, 1860, when the organization deeded the property to the city of Findlay. At some point, Maple Lawn Memorial Park, formerly a privately-owned cemetery, was established as its own entity within Maple Grove Cemetery. The Maple Lawn sections are now designated as ML1, ML2 and ML3.
If you aren’t confused yet, it should also be noted that one entrance to the grounds is marked by a sign reading “Maple Grove Cemetery” while another is marked “Maple Lawn Memorial Park.”
And one more note to add to the bewilderment… Maple Grove also shares an unmarked boundary with Saint Michael the Archangel Cemetery and, though “Veteran’s Section 1” appears to sit entirely within the confines of Maple Grove, the cemetery map indicates that it is part of Saint Michael’s. Talk about perplexing!
At any rate, after much ado about the name, sections and boundaries of the cemetery, the place itself offers little to comment on. Although not unpleasant, there is not much to recommend it to fans of Garden cemeteries. The lack of trees in sufficient number, coupled with persistently flat topography, make visiting a bit tedious. That being said, there are a number of larger monuments and memorials, some rather lovely and interesting, but few are remarkable, and there is only one we term extraordinary. More on that in a moment.
First, we will give credit to the memorial of Ralph D. Cole. It features a bronze plate with the image of Mr. Cole set on a white marble stele. His name is etched under his likeness and, beneath that, the words “He served…” This script seems to have flowed from a quill in the hand of a beautiful woman who reaches upward, her right arm extended, her left hand resting against the stone. A balustrade to either side of the monument is inscribed with the word “Soldier” to the left and “Statesman” to the right. Four well-maintained ledgers in the nicely landscaped plot complete the picture.
We now turn our attention to the aforementioned star attraction, namely, the grandiose Gardner mausoleum. With its decidedly religious theming and the fact it sits along Saint Michael’s “invisible” border, it is easy to assume it belongs to its adjacent Catholic neighbor, but cemetery records clearly show it is a part of Maple Grove.
The enormous edifice is composed of variegated marble. Four pillars support the portico which is crowned by a relief of a pelican feeding its young. Although rooted in pre-Christian legend, for Catholics, this symbol has come to represent Christ, who feeds the Church with his own flesh.
Inside, the lavish marble interior and its crypts are guarded on the right and left by life-sized, white marble angels, each clutching a sword. A stained glass window in the shape of a cross admits light into the chamber and its image is reflected on the floors, walls and ceiling. Four ledgers in the floor cover the tombs of James G. Gardner, Frances Kinslow Gardner, Philip D. Gardner and Virginia B. Shaffer Gardner. A black marble altar houses eight cremation niches and the walls of the mausoleum have 16 crypts on each side. At capacity, the building can accommodate the mortal remains of 44 within its elegant confines.
While we do not recommend a trip with the express intent of a visit to Maple Grove, should you find yourself in the area with some time to spare, a brief tour of the grounds with a stop to admire the Gardner mausoleum would certainly be in order.
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1120 W. Main Cross Street
Findlay, Ohio 45840
419.424.7111
Established: Unknown
Acres: Unknown
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 1 Tombstone
So off we went one fine spring day to visit Maple Grove Cemetery in Findlay, Ohio…or is it Maple Lawn Memorial Park? Confusion abounds as both are correct!
Maple Grove Cemetery, founded on 25 December, 1854, was overseen by its own Association until 3 August, 1860, when the organization deeded the property to the city of Findlay. At some point, Maple Lawn Memorial Park, formerly a privately-owned cemetery, was established as its own entity within Maple Grove Cemetery. The Maple Lawn sections are now designated as ML1, ML2 and ML3.
If you aren’t confused yet, it should also be noted that one entrance to the grounds is marked by a sign reading “Maple Grove Cemetery” while another is marked “Maple Lawn Memorial Park.”
And one more note to add to the bewilderment… Maple Grove also shares an unmarked boundary with Saint Michael the Archangel Cemetery and, though “Veteran’s Section 1” appears to sit entirely within the confines of Maple Grove, the cemetery map indicates that it is part of Saint Michael’s. Talk about perplexing!
At any rate, after much ado about the name, sections and boundaries of the cemetery, the place itself offers little to comment on. Although not unpleasant, there is not much to recommend it to fans of Garden cemeteries. The lack of trees in sufficient number, coupled with persistently flat topography, make visiting a bit tedious. That being said, there are a number of larger monuments and memorials, some rather lovely and interesting, but few are remarkable, and there is only one we term extraordinary. More on that in a moment.
First, we will give credit to the memorial of Ralph D. Cole. It features a bronze plate with the image of Mr. Cole set on a white marble stele. His name is etched under his likeness and, beneath that, the words “He served…” This script seems to have flowed from a quill in the hand of a beautiful woman who reaches upward, her right arm extended, her left hand resting against the stone. A balustrade to either side of the monument is inscribed with the word “Soldier” to the left and “Statesman” to the right. Four well-maintained ledgers in the nicely landscaped plot complete the picture.
We now turn our attention to the aforementioned star attraction, namely, the grandiose Gardner mausoleum. With its decidedly religious theming and the fact it sits along Saint Michael’s “invisible” border, it is easy to assume it belongs to its adjacent Catholic neighbor, but cemetery records clearly show it is a part of Maple Grove.
The enormous edifice is composed of variegated marble. Four pillars support the portico which is crowned by a relief of a pelican feeding its young. Although rooted in pre-Christian legend, for Catholics, this symbol has come to represent Christ, who feeds the Church with his own flesh.
Inside, the lavish marble interior and its crypts are guarded on the right and left by life-sized, white marble angels, each clutching a sword. A stained glass window in the shape of a cross admits light into the chamber and its image is reflected on the floors, walls and ceiling. Four ledgers in the floor cover the tombs of James G. Gardner, Frances Kinslow Gardner, Philip D. Gardner and Virginia B. Shaffer Gardner. A black marble altar houses eight cremation niches and the walls of the mausoleum have 16 crypts on each side. At capacity, the building can accommodate the mortal remains of 44 within its elegant confines.
While we do not recommend a trip with the express intent of a visit to Maple Grove, should you find yourself in the area with some time to spare, a brief tour of the grounds with a stop to admire the Gardner mausoleum would certainly be in order.
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