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Looking Back: LeMoyne Crematory

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Courtesy of Washington County Historical Society

LeMoyne Crematory

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LeMoyne Crematory

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Photo courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society

A postcard picturing the LeMoyne Crematory

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Photo courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society

LeMoyne Crematory

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Photo courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society

The first cremation at the LeMoyne Crematory was that of Joseph Henry Louis, Baron de Palm.

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Photo courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society

A sample of Baron de Palm's ashes is on display in the Apothecary Shop at the LeMoyne House in Washington.

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Courtesy of Washington County Historical Society

Dr. Francis J. LeMoyne was the creator of the crematory and was the third person to be cremated at the LeMoyne Crematory.

Dr. Francis Julius LeMoyne was a man who got things done. He was a practicing physician, a devoted husband, a loving father of eight, the founder of Washington’s Citizens Library, a co-founder of the Washington Female Seminary, an ardent supporter of abolition and very interested in the study of the spread of disease.

By the late 1840s, LeMoyne began to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a progressive condition which limited his participation in the abolitionist movement as travel became increasingly difficult for him. It was during this period that LeMoyne’s attention was drawn toward medical research. He had become aware that residents of his community kept getting sick with the same or similar symptoms, many of them dying from these illnesses. LeMoyne became convinced that the culprit was directly linked to the burial practices prevalent at the time. He believed contaminated matter from the buried and decomposing bodies was running off into the streams and water supplies. When people drank the water, they would fall victim to the same illness. He knew there must be a better way to dispose of human remains, and he soon latched on to the idea of cremation. Cremation would eliminate contaminants from leeching into the soil and water supplies. Not having any crematories in the United States to study, he turned his attention across the ocean. He corresponded with doctors and scientist in Europe, who were also studying the concept of cremation.

He approached the trustees of the public cemetery in the city of Washington, proposing that if they would give him permission, he would donate the money necessary for the construction of a crematory on cemetery property. The trustees never even considered LeMoyne’s offer. In fact, many of the local churches banned together to sign a petition to prevent LeMoyne from building his crematory anywhere in the town.

Undeterred, LeMoyne moved forward with his plans to build a crematory. He would hire a local man, John Dye, to help design and construct the building and furnace. Construction began in late May of 1876 on LeMoyne’s own land, on top of what was called Gallows Hill, now a parcel on South Main Street on the outskirts of Washington. In all it cost $1,500 to build. The simple, 30-by-20-foot brick building had two rooms – a preparation room than contained only a wooden bier and a cupboard to store supplies, and small furnace room that housed the furnace and coal bin.

The first cremation at LeMoyne’s facility took place Dec. 6, 1876. It was the first modern cremation conducted in the United States. LeMoyne, who died Oct. 14, 1879, was to become the third person cremated in the facility. His family had made preparations for his burial in accordance with his wishes: Hs body was cremated in the little building on Gallows Hill. Then the ashes were placed in a glass urn under a simple stone monument in front of the crematory. In all, a total of 42 cremations were performed there – the last in 1901.

The haunting

of the crematory

The first cremation at the LeMoyne Crematory was that of Joseph Henry Louis, Baron de Palm, a Bavarian prince, a colorful character who had immigrated to the United States and was living in New York City when he died in 1876. The baron wished to be cremated upon his death, but the LeMoyne Crematory was just beginning construction and would not be finished for another six months. The baron’s remains were embalmed so as to be preserved until he could be transported to Washington for the cremation. The baron’s remains were transported to Washington, and on Dec. 6, 1876, his body was placed in the furnace of the crematory building on Gallows Hill. Once the body was cremated, LeMoyne allowed samples of the ashes to be taken by a select group of doctors and surgeons. He hoped that even though he could not bring everyone to Washington to see how beneficial cremation was, these doctors would take the idea away with them and show everyone that it was a respectable process. The Washington County Historical Society has in its collection a large sample of the baron’s ashes. They are on display in the Apothecary Shop at the LeMoyne House in Washington.

Paranormal activity at the LeMoyne Crematory was first reported in 1886 – the 10-year anniversary of Baron de Palm’s cremation. A passerby to the crematory saw light behind the shutters on the building and swore that he could smell smoke. He thought maybe another cremation was taking place, but thought it odd that the doors and shutters were all closed and no one seemed to be nearby. He saw Frank LeMoyne, one of Francis’ sons, the next day and mentioned what he had seen the night before. Frank confirmed that no cremation had occurred for some time. It was not until the many years after the crematory was permanently closed that the first report of activity appeared in the local paper. In a booklet titled, “Myths and Legends of the Old Pike and Surrounding Areas,” an account of strange happenings at the crematory is given:

“This next story concerns that eerie brick building on Gallows Hill in Washington. Many times I have heard of people witnessing lights creeping from the closed wooden shutters and some have said smoke billows from the chimney. This building has seen little or no use since 1901, so what could be causing these sights?”

The Bassettown Paranormal Society conducted several interviews with people who lived near the building and they told of similar experiences. Visitors to the crematory often say that they have chills when walking through the building, adding that it is “just so creepy.” It may simply be that they are projecting their fear of cremation or death onto the building, or could it be that the spirits of those who were cremated in the furnace are still attached to this historic structure?

Clay Kilgore is executive director of the Washington County Historical Society.

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