"Our partners are so important. We are grateful for the generosity of businesses, groups, and individudals in supporting our mission for the restoration of Woodlawn Cemetery."

- Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery

Current Project

Restoration of Woodlawn Chapel Office

The Friends of Woodlawn are working with Johnson-Schmidt P.C. to complete the work of historic preservation of the Woodlawn Chapel Office, where all the cemetery records are housed. It is an ambitious project that will be completed in phases. If you are interested in supporting this project, please contact us. Your gift is always appreciated and will be used wisely and prudently to continue improving this historic landmark. Our goal is to correct the following issues.

• install a fire suppression system

• repair the interior plaster that is damaged from water infiltration

• repoint and replace exterior masonry and missing stones

• remake flashing to tie into the masonry

• rebuild the gutters to accommodate for heavier rainfalls

• clean and polish octagonal tile floor

• install a handicapped accessable entrance

• remove the drop ceiling to expose the original trusses and stained glass windows

• install a security system to reduce vandalism and protect cemetery property

ONGOING Project

Partial listing of Veterans of Woodlawn Cemetery

This interactive map identifies some of the locations of veterans buried on the non-national side of Woodlawn Cemetery, as identified by Boy Scout Troop 84 and Eagle Scout Connor O’Brien. We understand it is incomplete and invite anyone with additional information or corrections to please contact the cemetery office so that as many veterans as possible can be fully recognized.

Completed projects

• Walnut Street Gates

With thanks to our grantors, The Community Foundation of Elmira, Corning and the Finger Lakes and the Hilliard Foundation, the Walnut St. Gate at Woodlawn Cemetery has undergone restoration and cleaning. The gate was built in 1890, designed by architects Pierce and Bickford.  The Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery have undertaken the cleaning and pointing of the gate.  With the support of the Community Foundation and the Hilliard Foundation the Friends hired Charles T. Driscoll Masonry Restoration Company, Inc. to do the work. They had previously cleaned and pointed the Stephens Memorial Chapel near the gate.

• Heller Cremation Garden

With thanks to our grantors, The Community Foundation of Elmira, Corning and the Finger Lakes; The Anderson Evans Foundation, The Anderson Foundation and Hilliard Foundation, as well as community donations from Dalrymple; Custom Mix Concrete and Hunt Engineering, we have developed a peaceful, parklike Cremation Garden in 2019 to surround our newly placed columbarium.

• Cleaning and restoration of the Walnut St. gate

• Restoration of stone posts and ironwork on Walnut and Davis Street gate

• Erection of bronze sign on Walnut Street gate

• Restoration of ironwork on family plots

• Erection of direction signs in keeping with Victorian character of cemetery

• Major restoration of Stephens Memorial building, interior and exterior

• Placement of bluebird boxes throughout grounds

• Replanting of median

• Granite map and brochures for walking tour telling story of John W. Jones and abolitionists

• Erection of Woodlawn Cemetery sign at corner of West Hill and Walnut Streets

• Audio Tour- please check out local Eagle Scout Timothy Updegraph's audio-guided walking and driving tours for Woodlawn Cemetery!

• Software for digitization of cemetery's 150 years of historic records, an ongoing process

• Restored, repaired and painted cemetery perimeter fencing

• Installation of Lublin Memorial Bench in memory of James and C. JoAnne Lublin (JoAnne was a founding member of Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery and Board Secretary from 2006 until her untimely death in 2016.)

• Installation of the first Columbarium and the surrounding Heller Gardens

Proposed Projects:

• Restoration of historic vaults and monuments

• Additional educational programs

• Additional granite road signs and historic markers

• Additional self-guided walking tours: Women of Woodlawn, Mark Twain and Friends, Civil War, Underground Railroad

Become a Partner

If you would like to partner with us, fill out the form below and one of our staff members will get back to you.