LeMoyne Crematory
LeMoyne Crematory
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Location | Jct. of Redstone Rd. and Elm St., NW corner, North Franklin Township, Washington, Pennsylvania |
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Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1876 |
Architect | Dye, John |
NRHP Reference # | 96000078[1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | February 16, 1996 |
Designated PHMC | August 01, 1953[2] |
The LeMoyne Crematory was the first crematory in the United States.[3] Francis Julius LeMoyne had it built in 1876 on his own land, perched atop a location known locally as Gallow's Hill in the Pittsburgh area township of North Franklin, a bedroom community of nearby Washington, Pennsylvania. 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.[4] After 41 more cremations there (with LeMoyne being the third, 1879), the crematory was closed in 1901. LeMoyne's remains are buried there.[2]
It is a brick 20 x 30 one-story building.[4]
Today, the structure can be found in the same location off of South Main Street. The Washington County Historical Society occasionally offers limited tours.[4]
In 1953, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission installed a historical marker noting the historic importance of the tavern.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1996.[1] It is designated as a historic public landmark by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation.[4]
References
External links
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- Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
- Commercial buildings completed in 1876
- Buildings and structures in Washington County, Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania state historical marker significations
- National Register of Historic Places in Washington County, Pennsylvania
- Washington County, Pennsylvania Registered Historic Place stubs