The LeMoyne Crematory was the first

crematory A crematorium or crematory is a venue for the cremation of the dead. Modern crematoria contain at least one cremator (also known as a crematory, retort or cremation chamber), a purpose-built furnace. In some countries a crematorium can also be ...

in the United States.

Francis Julius LeMoyne Francis Julius LeMoyne (September 4, 1798 – October 14, 1879) was a 19th-century American medical doctor and philanthropist from Washington, Pennsylvania. Responsible for creating the first crematory in the United States, he was also an aboli ...

had it built in 1876 on his own land, perched atop a location known locally as Gallow's Hill in North Franklin Township near

Washington, Pennsylvania Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania. A part of the Greater Pittsburgh area in the southwestern part of the state, the city is home to Washington & Jefferson College and Pony League baseball. The populat ...

. The first cremation took place on December 6, 1876. LeMoyne believed that cremation was a more sanitary way to dispose of bodies, preventing the contamination of drinking water. After 41 more cremations there (with LeMoyne being the third, in 1879), the crematory was closed in 1901. LeMoyne's remains are buried there. It is a brick 20 x 30 one-story building.

Timeline

Dr. Francis LeMoyne believed that

cremation Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a Cadaver, dead body through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India ...

was a more sanitary way to dispose of bodies, preventing the contamination of drinking water. The structure was built in 1876, with the first cremation took place on December 6, 1876. Baron Joseph Henry Louis Charles De Palm, an impoverished Bavarian noble, was the first person to be cremated here. After 41 more cremations there (with Dr. LeMoyne being the third, in 1879), the crematory was closed in 1901. The final cremation had occurred the year prior, on November 28, 1900, after Mrs. Mary S. Booth's remains were disposed of in the retort.

The crematory in recent history

In 1953, the

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania responsible for the collection, conservation and interpretation of Pennsylvania's historic heritage. The commission cares for ...

installed a

historical marker A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, or in other places referred to as a historical marker, historic marker, or historic plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other ...

noting the historic importance of the crematory. It was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on February 16, 1996. It is designated as a historic public landmark by the

Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation is a Non-profit organization, non-profit educational institution in Washington, Pennsylvania. Its purpose is to encourage and assist the preservation of historic structures in Washington County, Pen ...

. Today, the structure can be found in the same location off of South Main Street. The Washington County Historical Society occasionally offers limited tours.

References

External links

National Register nomination form National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

* {{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Commercial buildings completed in 1876 Buildings and structures in Washington County, Pennsylvania National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, Pennsylvania Crematoria in the United States