In the summer of 2003, Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Nancy A. Fuerst brokered a settlement between the Cities of Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland, which led to the formation of the East Cleveland Township Cemetery Foundation, headed by Bill Garrison, who is also President of Lake View Cemetery, which straddles the same three municipalities associated with East Cleveland Township Cemetery. The settlement divides responsibility for maintaining the cemetery among the three cities. The Foundation was charged with making reasonable efforts to secure $1 million in grants, public donations and other support within five years from the date of the Agreement.  

Mission Statement

The mission of the East Cleveland Township Cemetery Foundation is to own and maintain the East Cleveland Township Cemetery as a historic landmark, to restore, preserve and share the cemetery’s pioneer Victorian heritage and to build a solid financial foundation for the cemetery’s future.

Vision Statement

As one of the first charitable foundations in the United States, and perhaps the only, to own an abandoned historic pioneer cemetery and to relieve the previous public owners of their need to use public resources critically needed for the general welfare of its people, the East Cleveland Township Cemetery Foundation will strive to set an exemplary example of community leadership and responsibility to turn a community blight into a community light.

                                                                   Trustees/Officers

                                                          William L. Garrison, President                                              William J. Culbertson, Trustee               

                                                          Roy G. Harley, Vice President & Treasurer                         Murray M. Davidson, Trustee

                                                          Allen H. Ford, Vice President & Secretary                          Kathleen H. Lambacher, Trustee                                               

                                                          Michelle A. Day, Vice President & Asst. Treasurer            Bracy E. Lewis, Trustee

                                                          Nancy L. West, Vice President & Asst. Secretary              J. Wayne Rhine, Trustee

On-Going Cemetery Renovations and Sculpture Garden Project

The Foundation has assessed the future needs to revitalize the cemetery, the total cost of the renovation is $450,000.  Several of the initially identified areas of need were to repair the fence surrounding the cemetery, repair and restore the toppled over monuments, level the monuments that are ready to topple, repair and restore the three mausoleums, repair and restore the former Office and Chapel and to create an endowment fund that will allow the cemetery to be properly maintained well into the future. We have made significant progress in the past several years but the need for additional support continue.  For a detailed copy of our development/renovation plan, please request same via e-mail to westnancy@att.net.

In March, 2005 the former caretaker's home was demolished due to deterioration.  The Garden Project began as a request to the Men’s Garden Club of Greater Cleveland for assistance with the landscape design.  Former president of this organization, Ron Hartmiller, volunteered for the project after a unanimous vote by its Board.  Thereafter the Sculpture Center was contacted to determine if it would be willing to provide a piece of sculpture as the center piece of the garden.  The Sculpture Center was excited about the possibilities and offered to assist the Foundation with obtaining three pieces of sculpture that would be rotated within the garden.

The garden design offers a secure area where the residents of East 118^th Street and the new Case Western Reserve University dormitory residents can relax and reflect in a small park-like area. The infrastructure for the garden has been funded by donations from several different businesses and trade unions along with two grants from the Neighborhood Connections, a small grant program through the Cleveland Foundation.  The ECTC Foundation is now making available a way for your and/or your organization to support the project with park benches that can memorialize your ancestor(s) and/or organization's support.  Please see the flyer at the following link:  Sculpture Garden Park Bench.

If you would like to assist the Foundation in the revitalization, renovation and future care of this historic pioneer cemetery, please follow this link for the Donation Form to forward your fully tax deductible donation via regular mail or you can make an on-line secure donation through PayPal above or below. With either donation method you will receive a receipt for your fully tax deductible contribution.  Thank you!

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The East Cleveland Township Cemetery Foundation can be reached via regular mail at:  East Cleveland Township Cemetery Foundation, P.O. Box 1874, Cleveland, OH  44106-0074 or you can call 216.536.7432.

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Last Updated: August 26, 2007

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