LeMoyne Crematory

LeMoyne Crematory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Pennsylvania state historical marker
Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation Landmark
Location	Jct. of Redstone Rd. and Elm St., NW corner, North Franklin Township, Washington, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°9′38″N 80°14′16″W / 40.16056°N 80.23778°W / 40.16056; -80.23778Coordinates: 40°9′38″N 80°14′16″W / 40.16056°N 80.23778°W / 40.16056; -80.23778
Area	less than one acre
Built	1876
Architect	Dye, John
Governing body	Private
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

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