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Riverside Cemetery

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The Lower Lake - about 1888The lake was used for boating -- note one on the water and another being pulled up onshore. This area was later drained completely and the lake/pond no longer exists.
The Lower Lake - about 1888
The lake was used for boating -- note one on the water and another being pulled up onshore. This area was later drained completely and the lake/pond no longer exists.
Bridge over a ravine in Riverside Cemetery - 1896Note the pond below.  This was later filled in, the road put in, and an area created for Babyland.
Bridge over a ravine in Riverside Cemetery - 1896
Note the pond below. This was later filled in, the road put in, and an area created for Babyland.
Bridge over a ravine in Riverside Cemetery - 1936This photo shows a good view of the wooden bridge deck and the road below.
Bridge over a ravine in Riverside Cemetery - 1936
This photo shows a good view of the wooden bridge deck and the road below.
Bridge over a ravine in Riverside Cemetery (or what's left of it) - 2007Photo by Sandra Wanicki Rozhon
Bridge over a ravine in Riverside Cemetery (or what's left of it) - 2007
Photo by Sandra Wanicki Rozhon
Foundation wall as it existed in 1964 on Riverside's undeveloped property north of Redman Avenue.Photo by James Rozhon.
Foundation wall as it existed in 1964 on Riverside's undeveloped property north of Redman Avenue.
Photo by James Rozhon.

Location: 3607 Pearl Rd, Cleveland, OH 44109-2301
Frontage: 360 ft (on Pearl Road)
Total area: 102 acres (708,051 sq.ft.)

Purchased from: Titus N. Brainard in 1874 for $75,000.
Part of original township lots #66, #73, and #84.


The Cemetery, created on land carved by deep ravines, provided one of the most scenic burial grounds in Cuyahoga County. Several deep ravines were on the north and south side of the property. These were later filled in to provide more grave space and now a visitor would hardly be aware of the dramatic landscape that existed just a few short generations ago. The only remaining ravine splits the Cemetery down the middle and gives one a glimmer of just how deep the now hidden ravines must have been.

A large pond located in the lower section of the Cemetery was used for boating sometime around the turn of the century. It was common in those days for families to come to pay their respects to loved ones and stay to have a picnic.

The chapel, built in 1876, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It's alternate purpose, aside from being a chapel, was a storage area for caskets scheduled for burial during the winter when the ground was too frozen to allow digging a grave.

The administration building dates from 1896.

The Cemetery is the final resting place of not only ordinary citizens, but also many of Cleveland's politicians and leading industrialists as is evident by the large number of imposing granite and sandstone monuments.

The Riverside Cemetery Association had plans of expanding the cemetery onto the land that was immediately north of Redman Avenue. There was a large stone block wall/foundation present on this vacant land that may have been preparation for a subsequent bridge over the valley from the cemetery proper to the expansion area. The expansion never took place as the State of Ohio purchased that land in order to put in the Jennings Freeway. See the image of the foundation on the right.

Additional Resources

Riverside Cemetery website
Historical Review of Riverside Cemetery Association
:(The above book has many details about the dedication ceremony that took place in November 1887.)

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