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
Area	less than one acre
Built	1876
Architect	Dye, John
NRHP Reference #	96000078
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 16, 1996
Designated PHMC	August 01, 1953

The LeMoyne Crematory was the first crematory in the United States. 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. After 41 more cremations there (with LeMoyne being the third, 1879), the crematory was closed in 1901. LeMoyne's remains are buried there.

It is a brick 20 x 30 one-story building.

Today, the structure can be found in the same location off of South Main Street. The Washington County Historical Society occasionally offers limited tours.

In 1953, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission installed a historical marker noting the historic importance of the tavern. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1996. It is designated as a historic public landmark by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation.

External links

• National Register nomination form