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                     A HISTORY OF SPRINGDALE CEMETERY

   The Springdale Cemetery is a serene, tree-studded site located along 
School Street (originally called Cemetery Lane) and Willow Street in the 
borough of Springdale, Pennsylvania 15144. The cemetery originated in the 
early 1800's when one acre of property along Cemetery Avenue, East Deer 
Township was donated to the people to be used as a burial ground by John 
Keen (Keane) a prosperous local businessman. This land was quickly filled. 
The oldest burial known at present is Rebecca Lemmon who died November 7,
1827 at the age of 55. At present this area is commonly called "The Old
Cemetery".

   In the 1920's some of this property was taken by the Borough of Springdale
in order to form Willow Street. Many bodies were reinterred to the upper
portion of the cemetery and a retaining wall was built. In exchange for such
land Springdale Borough pledged to provide perpetual care to the
"Old Cemetery".

   Joseph Mellon and his wife, Mary purchased a plot of land from 
Benjamin F. Coe, et ux, on October 30, 1855 for $1,345,56 lawful
money of the United States of America. "All that certain lot or piece
of land situate in East Deer Township (which later became Springdale 
Township and then Springdale Borough) above said described as follows,
to wit:  "beginning at a post on the Logan Road, thence south 1 1/2
degrees, east 55 perches (a perch-16 1/2 feet) and 56/100 of a post,
thence by land of Joseph Mellon, Thomas Donnelly and others, south
88 1/2 degrees west 41 36/100 perches to a post,thence north 1 1/2
degree east 101 perches to a post, thence by land of William Henderson;
north 88 1/2 degrees east 46 perches to a post on said road, thence
along said south 66 1/2 degrees east 15 perches and 64/100 of a perch
to the place of beginning; containing 19 acres and 31 perches exclusive
of grave yard in or near the south-east corner."

   On November 26, 1885 Joseph Mellon, et ux, sold 4 1/2 acres of
this property to his son J.M.H. Mellon for the sum of $600.00 lawful money
of the United States. The deed describes the land in the following manner:
"Logan Road south along the property of George Meyers on the east; 53 rods
(1 rod = 5 1/2 yards) to corner of graveyard; westward 13 rods; thence north
53 rods to a stone on corner of line of Samuel Moyer; (+see below) east along
Moyer land on the north; 13 rods to place of beginning."
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(+ Can it be that this property is the same as that mentioned previously?
   To date deeds and other information have not been uncovered by the
   Association.)

   A deed from Josph Mellon, et ux, to J.M.H. Mellon (Handwritten in beau-
tiful script) was written November 26,1885 and recorded in the Allegheny
County Courthouse, Pittsburgh on April 29, 1886.

   Some of this property (now Springdale Township, Allegheny County) to
the north of the Old Cemetery was laid out for J.M.H. Mellon on November 1891
and contained 160 numbered plots, and was named "Springdale Cemetery." Each
lot measured 15 X 18 feet and contained 8 grave sites, with a 4-foot walkway
along all four sides. A chart of this ground was recorded on December 12, 1891
at the Allegheny Courthouse.

   These lots were sold with deeds being recorded at the same courthouse,
although many families never received deeds. Area Funeral Directors: Charles 
Martin and Don Clowes purchased plots and sold individual grave sites as
needed. Records of such sales were scanty or were lost through the passage of
time. The only record we were able to copy was a notebook kept by Mr. Clowes
listing Lots 1 to 160 with some family names of the original purchaser listed.

   At the extreme northern side of Springdale Cemetery Mr. Mellon maintained
a 10-foot walkway and divided about one acre into the Mellon Private Cemetery.
This cemetery contains quite a few monuments of family members with the
western portion being used for other prominent families: Moyer, Fink,
Walters, and Griffith. Family members are also buried on plots in the lower
cemetery.

   The upper cemetery was measured into lots corresponding to those in the
adjoining public cemetery by Henrietta Leskovic Eaton, Judith McCutcheon
Allen and Janice Becquet Dugan in 1985.

   A second chart recorded May 27, 1924 in the Allegheny County Courthouse,
Pittsburgh, PA contained 83 numbered plots with two 10-foot driveways to
the west of Springdale Cemetery and was called "An Addition to the Springdale
Cemetry" by owner William Reed Mellon.  A deed for this property was
enacted January 12, 1921 from his father, J.M.H. Mellon, in consideration
of the sum of $1.00 and natural affection.

   By the 1960's families either moved away or died leaving the cemetery in a
neglected condition.  Upkeep was sporatic with local Boy Scout Troops and
several retired members of the community making an effort to maintain those
areas in which they had an interest.  Some families removed the bodies of
their loved ones from the cemetery, with burials few and far between.
Apparently no provision of any type was made by the Mellon Family. Springdale
Borough has always maintained the Old Cemetery.

   In 1962 the Massy Harbison Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution
read all tombstones within their district and recorded the information thereon
as a service project.  These lists were put in the New Kensington Public
Library. They listed only 387 tombstones as many were either buried under
weeds or were topped over the vandals. Many names were missed, as there are
over 1800 possible graves in the area.

   It was not until 1984 when Henrietta Leskovic Eaton was appointed by
Springdale Borough Council as a spokesperson to organize a campaign of
interested parties to clean neglected portions of the cemetery.  This was
done after numerous requests by her to have the vandalism which was
occurring stopped.

   After many telephone calls and some publicity an organizational meeting
for people concerned with the Springdale Cemetery was called on Friday,
March 9, 1984 in the Springdale Borough Council Chambers. The purpose of
the meeting was given as: Meeting for the common responsibility of the
preservation and upkeep of the cemetery. Much interest was shown expressing
interest, gratitude and pledging donations. This meeting was attended by
Council President Judd Hawk; Councilman Joseph Liotta, Jr.; and Charles
Jarvie, owner and successor of the Clowes Funeral Home; Cyril Vidra, Esq.
Borough Solicitor.

   A clean-up campaign was conducted with a dozen people helping, mostly
those listed below.

   On March 30, 1984 the Springdale Cemetery Association was formed with
the following officers being duly elected for 1 year terms:
         Henrietta L. Eaton, President
         Alex Korponay, Vice-President
         Janice Dugan, Secretary
         Eleanor Verner, Treasurer (she ever claimed office.)
         (H. Eaton appointed Treasurer at the April meeting)
Board of Directors: Joan Salyers, Judith M. Allen, Paul Simback,
and Margaret Barnes.

   At a later date Robert Borland and Susan Szalai were also appointed
to the Board, with Mr. Borland accepting the position of Auditor. Each
year an election is held, with those attending asking the original members
to retain office for an additional year.

   A written request was presented to Springdale Council asking the Borough
to petition the Court of Quarter Sessions for care of the partly neglected
cemetery.  Council facilitated the Association being duly Incorporated by
law as a non-profit organization.  The Court of Common Pleas granted
Springdale Borough ownership of the entire area which made up the cemetery
grounds in May 1986.  Council passed an Ordinance at a special meeting in
December 1987 transferring title to the Springdale Cemetery Association.
On January 18, 1988, at a special meeting Association members signed the
papers to accept ownership of the property with all responsibility such
ownership entailed, and with the promise by the Borough for continued support.

   A Resolution was passed by the Association thanking Councilman Arthur
Bilbie who was instrumental in the successful court petition, obtaining
Borough help for clean-up of property surrounding the cemetery grounds and in
the successful passage of title transfer.

   A Resolution was also passed thanking Springdale borough and Borough
Personnel for constant support.

   In order to get an accurate listing of the people buried here, many hours
were spent charting each individual grave in all four sections of the
cemetery. Charts were made for each lot and may be used for research
purposes.  An effort was made to contact family members and others with
knowledge of such burials.  At present we have 300 names on our list, with
many making yearly donations ($25.00 per year perlot is requested) toward
the upkeep of a resting place of ancestors they may have never known.

   While it will be impossible to get a complete listing our committee has
been able to reconstruct a list of names that approximates 55% of all
possible burials or 1,053 names of deceased persons.  You must note that
all plots are not completely filled with many people intending to use these
spaces, and with many more that have no survivors to assign future possession.

   Many families have donated money that has been invested in a "Trust Fund"
and many memorials have been given in the ame of loved ones which will be
used for perpetual care of the cemetery grounds.  The Association has
devised a 20-year plan by which at least $50,000 is expected to be
accumulated with the interest generated to be used for yearly maintenance.
In our fourth year we have surpassed our goal and have been able to mow the
grass every ten days as necessary; trim around tombstones; and improve
other areas.

   After World War I the Springdale-Cheswick Womens Club planted Sycamore
Trees along School Street as a memorial to area servicemen.  These trees
while thought to be a fitting monument have proved to be more of a nuisance;
shedding bark, losing large branches, filling gutters with tons of leaves and
smaller sticks, while making street lights in their midst most ineffectual.
It has been recommended that such trees be removed and an ornamental shrub
be used as a replacement in order to keep the suburban feel and look of the
area.  Memorial donations to the "Tree Fund" are being accepted.

   We feel that Springdale Cemetery presents a beautiful, serene country
setting in an urban situation and an attractive addition to our community.
We invite each and every one of you to visit it often.

   Thank You.

                               Springdale Cemetery Association
                                Henrietta L. Eaton, President

January 6, 2000

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