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Volunteers Needed to Help Restore Historic Black Cemetery in Springfield Township

Beech Grove Cemetery was founded in 1889 and more than 3,000 people, including 500 veterans, are buried there.

Aug 3, 2023 at 2:35 pm

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Photo: springfieldtwp.org

Beech Grove Cemetery, 436 Fleming Road, Springfield Township

Springfield Township and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center are calling for volunteers to help them restore a historic Black cemetery where many veterans are buried.

Beech Grove Cemetery was founded in 1889 as a rural cemetery for African Americans. Throughout its 130-year history, 3,000 people were buried there, including more than 500 veterans from wars as early as World War I. The cemetery has since fallen into disrepair, but Springfield Township purchased it in 2017 and is now partnering with the Freedom Center to begin restoration.

The township and Freedom Center will begin cleaning up and restoring Beech Grove Cemetery on Saturday, Aug. 12. Anyone interested in helping is invited to meet at the cemetery at 9 a.m. that day.

The Freedom Center is working to research people buried at the cemetery to learn why so many veterans were buried there, as well as to recognize the prominent individuals who rest there. They are also hoping to secure a historical marker for the cemetery, which they say continues to play an important role in the region’s history, especially in regard to Black voices.

Beech Grove Cemetery, 436 Fleming Road, Springfield Township. More info: springfieldtwp.org.

Slideshow

26 Famous People Buried in Cincinnati Cemeteries

Dr. Henry HeimlichSpring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove VillageYou know his name, whether or not you know his story. This medical researcher and thoracic surgeon is credited with inventing the Heimlich Maneuver. He first explained the maneuver in 1974, and since then it’s saved an estimated 100,000 lives in the U.S. alone. If you’ve ever relied on Heimlich’s technique to reverse choking and want to pay your gratitude and respects, head to Spring Grove Cemetery. He’s buried in Section 143-B, Lot 60.

Rudolph WurlitzerSpring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove VillageRudolph Wurlitzer was a German immigrant and a true hustler. He started out in 1853 by reselling string, woodwind and brass instruments that he imported from Germany. By 1880, the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company was manufacturing pianos and soon moved on to make band organs, orchestrions, player pianos and towering pipe organs. You can sing your praises for the Wurlitzer organ by visiting Rudolph himself at Section 80, Lot 24, Space 2 in Spring Grove Cemetery.

Alphonso TaftSpring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove VillageFather of William Howard Taft and founder of the Taft political dynasty, Alphonso Taft was an influential political figure. He served as the attorney general and secretary of war under President Ulysses S. Grant. Locally he was known as the judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati from 1866 to 1872, and as the first president of the Cincinnati Bar Association. He is buried in Section 52, Lot 114 at Spring Grove.

Levi CoffinSpring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove VillageAlso known as the "President of the Underground Railroad," Levi Coffin was an American Quaker and abolitionist who helped an estimated 3,000 fugitive slaves. Coffin and his wife Catherine started housing fugitive slaves in their Indiana home in 1826. They moved their efforts to Cincinnati in 1847, while running a warehouse that sold free (non-slave) labor goods. Mr. and Mrs. Coffin were seen as fearless activists who inspired others to contribute to abolitionist efforts. Coffin died in 1877 and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery at an unmarked grave. In 1902, a group of African Americans erected a 6-foot tall memorial at his gravesite. You can find it at Garden LN, Section 101, Lot 343, Space 25.

Joseph HookerSpring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove VillageThis American Civil War general is known primarily for his defeat by Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville. This defeat cleared the way for Lee and his Confederate Soldiers to travel north to Gettysburg. Despite this, Hooker’s military career continued, eventually taking him to Cincinnati, where he was buried after dying on Halloween 1879. His grave is in Spring Grove at Section 30, Lot A.

Bernard Kroger Sr.Spring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove VillageThis native Cincinnatian founded the Kroger chain of grocery stores. But he is responsible for more than just Woohoo! deals. Kroger Sr. brought some innovative ideas to the supermarket game, like in-store bakeries and in-store butcheries. He’s also said to have been the first to offer self-service shopping, where shoppers could pick what they wanted themselves, versus asking an employee to collect, weigh, and price everything they needed. Imagine waiting in line to get a quote on your Oreos. Uh, no thanks! Bernard Kroger Sr. is buried in Spring Grove at Garden LN Section 111, Lot 15 space 5.

James GambleSpring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove VillageJames Gamble is an Irish-American soapmaker who went on to co-found Procter & Gamble in 1837. He and his family came to America in 1819, and were on their way to Illinois via the Ohio River when Gamble fell sick. The family ended up setting up shop in Cincinnati, where Gamble met his future business partner, William Procter, through his sister-in-law. He is buried at Garden LN, section 13, lot 6, space 3 in Spring Grove Cemetery.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...