Contact the Graceland Cemetery at (724) 652-7102
Located at 2204 Graceland Rd, New Castle, PA
 Graceland Cemetery was incorporated by a group of fifteen local businessman led by Wells B. Clendenin (1851-1919). Others investors included local undertakers William G. Dunn, John C. Offutt, and Joseph R. White. About $30,000 was spent on the 100-acre site during 1899-1901 to make it into one of the most scenic burial grounds in the county. It was opened for burials in early May 1901 and the first two interments were that of George Pearson, who was reinterred after originally being buried at neighboring Oak Park Cemetery, and the young son of David Locke. (c1905) Full Size |
 The elegant chapel cost $10,000 and was designed by local architect W. G. Eckles. The lake was a prominent feature of the cemetery in its early days but has since been drained. Ice skaters were banned from the lake beginning in January 1905 due to damage they inflicted on nearby shrubbery. (c1905) Full Size |
 The entrance sign to the cemetery along Graceland Road. (Jul 2009) |  An old carved stone which marks the entrance to the non-denominational cemetery. (Jul 2009) |
 An advertisement that provides contact information for the cemetery in 1937. Full Size |
 The beautiful lake at Graceland Cemetery. (1907) Full Size |
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 The superintendent’s home (shown above) and chapel were designed by local architect W. G. Eckles and both opened in about 1901. (c1914) Full Size |
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 The large “Last Supper” stone carving is quite impressive. (Jul 2009) |  My aunt and uncle – Clarence & Pansy (Bales) Reiber. (Jul 2009) |
 The Babyland section of the cemetery. (Mar 2012) |  (Mar 2012) |
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 (Mar 2012) |  The neglected and undistinquished marker of W.G. Eckles, one of New Castle’s most renowned architects. (Mar 2012) |
 (Mar 2012) |  I love this unusual stone. It makes me sad. (Mar 2012) |
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Comments
Jeff Bales Jr #
(EDITOR’S NOTE) Josh Drespling of New Castle wrote me a touching email in June 2012 after seeing the photo of his son Austin’s gravesite on this page. After gaining his approval I thought I would share what he had to say. Josh wrote this about his son Austin: “My wife and I anticipated his arrival in the summer of 1998. My wife went to full term and expected that he might even be born on my father’s birthday of August 22nd. My wife went to the doctors on August 18th. She heard the heart beat and everything was fine. The following day she went into labor and we sped off to St. Francis Hospital in New Castle. The nurses quickly called the doctors in and something seemed amiss. They were unable to find a heartbeat. After several hours of trying different things the staff broke the news that it appeared that as he dropped into the birthing canal that the umbilical cord had wrapped around his neck and he had suffocated. To add insult to injury my wife was too far along in the labor process to do anything. She had to give birth to a lifeless baby boy. The nurses cleaned him up as usual and presented him to myself and my wife. We had a funeral at DeCarbo’s and they donated their services and some family members purchased a infant sized casket. My relationship between myself and my wife never recovered from such a tragic loss and we divorced less than 2 years later. His full name was Austin Clark Drespling. Clark was after my wife’s father. Austin had one half sister, Danyelle Nicole Jones, via a previous relationship of my wife’s and I later remarried and have a happy and healthy girl named Autumn Drespling. Same initials as her half brother (Austin) to match the tattoo that I have on my forearm of his initials… Thank you, Josh Drespling.”
Bill Cwynar #
Very sad and touching…
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