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

As our 20th anniversary approaches in 2026, we're proud to share that we've helped secure or direct over $1,000,000 towards restoring and maintaining Woodlawn Cemetery since our inception. This accomplishment has been made possible in part through the valuable support and collaboration of the City of Elmira and the Cemetery Commissioners.

We welcome financial or in-kind contributions to support our continued work at the cemetery. Every gift makes a meaningful difference, and we will ensure it is used with gratitude and purpose. Contributions may be made conveniently through our website or by postal mail.

Current & Upcoming Projects

The Friends of Woodlawn are preserving the historic Woodlawn Chapel Office, housing all cemetery records. This ambitious project will be completed in phases. Contact us to support this project. Your gift is appreciated and used wisely to improve this historic landmark. Our goal is to address the following issues.

• install a fire alarm system in the Chapel Office

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

• install two utility poles near the Davis St. gate and the pole barn that houses cemetery equipment in order to bring security cameras to that portion of the cemetery

• install a marker honoring John Lewis

• The missing ball finial at the Davis St. pedestrian gate will soon be replaced

• The broken gate at the Bancroft Rd. entrance is being repaired

• Masonry repairs on the broken curb at the base of the monument at the Langdon Family Plot

  More details follow …

INSTALLATION OF 4 ADDITIONAL COLUMBARIA

In fall of 2025 we added 2 more columbaria that compliment the current central columbarium fixture. An additional 2 more columbaria will be added by spring of 2026, bringing a total of 4 wall units centered around the 72 niche central columbarium, completing the original plan’s balanced look.

Topographical Mapping and Base Preparation for Additional burial plots

In the summer of 2025 we hired Trec Environmental to complete ground penetrating radar scans at two parcels of land (adjacent to Bancroft Rd. and Davis St.) to determine if the land was able to be developed for burial use.

We hired Grever and Ward from Buffalo to do Topographical Mapping, Base Preparation, Section Planning and create a Master Plan on the above sections of the cemetery. As a result, 958 new graves and 33 Cremation plots will be available at the Davis St. site, and 1,041 new graves and 180 Cremation plots will be available at the Bancroft Rd. site.

We hired Grever and Ward to create a Cremation Garden Master Plan in the fall of 2025.

Security Cameras

Security cameras and lights to be installed near the Chapel office and the Superintendents house to help keep the Walnut St. gate secure and reduce vandalism.

ONGOING Projects

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.

The Annual Ghost Walk Tour

Every October, in partnership with The Chemung Valley History Museum and Elmira Little Theater, our Ghost Walk tours recount the remarkable history of those embodied in the cemetery.

Langdon Family Plot

Friends of Woodlawn volunteers maintain the Langdon Family plot throughout the year, keeping it clean and beautifying it every spring and summer with well maintained flower beds.

Median near the Walnut St. Gate

Mulch is purchased annually for the Elmira Garden Club volunteers, who maintain the median near the Walnut St. Gate.

Recently completed projects

Masonry Repair

In the Spring of 2025 masonry, stonework and repointing of mortar began on the outside of the Chapel Office to preserve this historic building, and was completed by August of 2025.

Painting of Superintendents House

In the Spring of 2025 the Superintendent’s house received a long needed face lift, with patching to the existing stucco, exterior painting and a new roof.

New Roof on the Superintendent’s Home

In spring of 2025 a new roof was installed on the Superintendent's home, eliminating future leaks and resulting water damage.

Painting and plaster repair on the interior

In the Winter of 2026 work on the chapel interior walls was completed.

Upgrading the Chapel interior

In the summer of 2025 the Chapel public bathrooms, mop closet and kitchenette were upgraded to commercial standards with American Standard elongated, correct height, commercial toilets, lavatory sinks, and faucets. The old plumbing was capped off.

The broken mop sink was replaced with a floor mount, fiberglass sink, utility faucet, trap and shutoff valves.

Equipment

2 backpack leaf blowers and 2 trimmers were purchased in the fall of 2025 to help with cemetery maintenance.

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.

John (Jack) Humphries memorial bench

Installation of John (Jack) Humphries memorial bench in the Heller Gardens in the Summer of 2021, honoring our founding member and President of The Friends of Woodlawn Cemetery since its inception in 2006.

• 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

• 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.)

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.