GRANDVIEW CEMETERY
801 Milcreek Road
Johnstown, PA. 15905
814.535.2652
Established: 1885
Acres: 235
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 2 Tombstones
In our graveyard explorations, we have come across a number of monuments to groups of individuals lost in various disasters – theatre fires, boat wrecks, train crashes. Typically, these monuments are little known, the tragedies the fallen dead represent having since been largely (and sadly) forgotten. Odd, then, to visit Grandview, which, for all its 235 acres is best known for one small section dedicated to the victims of one of America’s greatest natural disasters. Marked at the street by a little black sign with white letters reading “Unknown Plot,” the tranquility of the spot belies its turbulent genesis.
This 20,000 square foot parcel of land amidst Grandview’s sprawling acreage contains the bodies of those victims of the 1889 Johnstown Flood whose identities were washed away with the floodwaters. Two thousand two hundred and nine people perished following the catastrophic failure of South Fork Dam 14 miles upstream from Johnstown on the Little Conemaugh River. Within 40 minutes, Lake Conemaugh was drained and 20 million tons of water was unleashed, sweeping down stream and decimating everything in its path. When the horror was over, the people of Johnstown and surrounding communities worked for days to extricate and bury thousands of corpses. Most were placed in temporary graves to avoid the spread of disease. As Johnstown recovered and rebuilt, the dead were moved to their permanent resting places, the unidentifiable being reinterred at Grandview, which, at the time, still contained relatively few burials. Seven hundred and seventy-seven identical marble markers were placed at the gravesites of the Unknown, though only 755 bodies were interred there. In the interest of symmetry, 22 more stones were added to preserve the aesthetics of the plot.
On the 31st of May, 1892, the third anniversary of the flood, the “Monument to the Unknown Dead” was dedicated. Weighing 35 tons and standing 21 feet high, the monument bears the inscription: "In memory of the unidentified dead from the flood May 31, 1889. It is surmounted by life-sized depictions of the Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity.
In total, the remains of 1,222 flood victims now rest in various locations throughout Grandview Cemetery, high above the Conemuagh River where the water will never reach them again.
Meaning no disrespect to those entombed there, sadly, beyond the intrinsic fascination of the Unknown Plot, the rest of Grandview Cemetery is, for taphophiles, best left…well…unknown. Despite its considerable acreage, winding drives and lovely, hilly topography, Grandview has not been managed with an eye towards aesthetics. The appalling lack of trees and other greenery affords the eye sweeping views of thousands of mostly unremarkable headstones and the outdoor community mausoleum complexes are devoid of any distinguishing character.
If you visit Johnstown, a trip to Grandview is most assuredly in order, but, in our estimation, you need not set aside hours for exploration. Some quiet, reflective time at the “Unknown Plot” should suffice and will be all the more sobering if preceded by a visit to the Johnstown Flood National Memorial where the enormous, empty basin that once held Lake Conemaugh and the fractured earthen walls of the failed dam will leave you in awe of the magnitude of the disaster unleashed there one dreadful, rainy morning in May, 1889.
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801 Milcreek Road
Johnstown, PA. 15905
814.535.2652
Established: 1885
Acres: 235
Official Website
Bella Morte Rating: 2 Tombstones
In our graveyard explorations, we have come across a number of monuments to groups of individuals lost in various disasters – theatre fires, boat wrecks, train crashes. Typically, these monuments are little known, the tragedies the fallen dead represent having since been largely (and sadly) forgotten. Odd, then, to visit Grandview, which, for all its 235 acres is best known for one small section dedicated to the victims of one of America’s greatest natural disasters. Marked at the street by a little black sign with white letters reading “Unknown Plot,” the tranquility of the spot belies its turbulent genesis.
This 20,000 square foot parcel of land amidst Grandview’s sprawling acreage contains the bodies of those victims of the 1889 Johnstown Flood whose identities were washed away with the floodwaters. Two thousand two hundred and nine people perished following the catastrophic failure of South Fork Dam 14 miles upstream from Johnstown on the Little Conemaugh River. Within 40 minutes, Lake Conemaugh was drained and 20 million tons of water was unleashed, sweeping down stream and decimating everything in its path. When the horror was over, the people of Johnstown and surrounding communities worked for days to extricate and bury thousands of corpses. Most were placed in temporary graves to avoid the spread of disease. As Johnstown recovered and rebuilt, the dead were moved to their permanent resting places, the unidentifiable being reinterred at Grandview, which, at the time, still contained relatively few burials. Seven hundred and seventy-seven identical marble markers were placed at the gravesites of the Unknown, though only 755 bodies were interred there. In the interest of symmetry, 22 more stones were added to preserve the aesthetics of the plot.
On the 31st of May, 1892, the third anniversary of the flood, the “Monument to the Unknown Dead” was dedicated. Weighing 35 tons and standing 21 feet high, the monument bears the inscription: "In memory of the unidentified dead from the flood May 31, 1889. It is surmounted by life-sized depictions of the Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity.
In total, the remains of 1,222 flood victims now rest in various locations throughout Grandview Cemetery, high above the Conemuagh River where the water will never reach them again.
Meaning no disrespect to those entombed there, sadly, beyond the intrinsic fascination of the Unknown Plot, the rest of Grandview Cemetery is, for taphophiles, best left…well…unknown. Despite its considerable acreage, winding drives and lovely, hilly topography, Grandview has not been managed with an eye towards aesthetics. The appalling lack of trees and other greenery affords the eye sweeping views of thousands of mostly unremarkable headstones and the outdoor community mausoleum complexes are devoid of any distinguishing character.
If you visit Johnstown, a trip to Grandview is most assuredly in order, but, in our estimation, you need not set aside hours for exploration. Some quiet, reflective time at the “Unknown Plot” should suffice and will be all the more sobering if preceded by a visit to the Johnstown Flood National Memorial where the enormous, empty basin that once held Lake Conemaugh and the fractured earthen walls of the failed dam will leave you in awe of the magnitude of the disaster unleashed there one dreadful, rainy morning in May, 1889.
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