Woodland Cemetery

Established in 1871, Woodland Cemetery in Ironton is known to locals as the “City of the Dead" and included over 8,000 graves. The cemetery dates back to 1870 when the land was purchased by Dr. Orrin E. Newton. In the century-and-a-half that followed, most members of the community have been buried here, allowing visitors to walk through the rows and see multiple generations of leading families who continue to shape the history of Ironton.

Dr. Orrin E. Newton purchased the land in 1870 and worked with an engineer with the surname of Grove to get the land ready for its first internments in 1871. Dr. Newton later became one of the first residents buried in the cemetery as the Ironton City Council passed a motion to acquire 59 acres of land for his burial and the creation of this cemetery. On the dedication day, 15,000 people attended the dedication along with the Union Cornet Brass Band. Many of the attendees had traveled by boat to a nearby dock on the Ohio River and entered through what was then the cemetery’s rear entrance.

The cemetery’s first expansion happened in 1911 after 5,000 residents had already been interned here. The cemetery now covers about 100 acres and remains an active cemetery with around 20 burials a month. The Lawrence County Museum does an annual walk through the cemetery each fall season and many community members play the roles of those buried in their graves. The cemetery is governed by a board of trustees comprised of three members, one of which is a member of the Ironton City Council, one a member of the Upper Trustee, and one is elected from the community at large. The cemetery includes a staff of seven with one foreman, four groundkeepers, and two clerical workers in the main office building.

The most notable individual buried here is Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African-American author who is known for his short stories. Another influential individual interned here is William C. Lambert, a World War I fighter pilot believed to be a second ranking official in his section. One other notable burial of note is Antionette Sherpetosky Peters, a former ballet dancer with the Imperial Russian Ballet. Years ago, Peters' mausoleum was raided and had various things taken from her tomb.

Harrison, Heath. “PROFILE 2020-‘Beautiful City of the Dead’: Woodland Cemetery serves as resting places and wealth of history,” Ironton Tribune. March 1st 2020. Accessed June 23rd 2021. https://m.irontontribune.com/2020/03/01/profile-2020-beautiful-city-of-the-dead-woodland-cemetery-serves-as-resting-places-and-wealth-of-history/.

“Woodland Cemetery Ironton,” Ohio Burial Index. Accessed June 23rd 2021. https://lawrencecountyohio.com/cemeteries/woodland-cemetery-ironton-ohio-burial-index/