WHAT LIES BENEATH

Spring Grove Cemetery was established in 1845, and today is the second-largest cemetery in the United States, with Arlington National Cemetery being the largest. It was originally established in response to a cholera epidemic. Cemeteries often became overcrowded and unkempt trying to keep up with casualties from the deadly outbreak. The city needed more land on which to build. They chose a peaceful parcel of land where people could mourn the loss of their loved ones in a beautiful setting.

Spring Grove Cemetery covers 733 sprawling acres, of which only 400 are used and maintained today, ensuring that the cemetery will be used for hundreds of years to come. The plush grass is scattered with huge Gothic monuments that exhibit intense attention to detail. In 1987, the name was changed to Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum to incorporate the collection of prized plants and trees. This land provides extraordinary views that you won’t find anywhere else. It is the perfect place to take a serene walk—and to have a firsthand encounter with death.

Among these four hundred carefully landscaped acres are twelve peaceful ponds, hundreds of beautiful trees and endless pieces of architecture to admire. The array of horticulture paints an amazing landscape portrait. Trees, bushes and flowers have been handpicked and shipped from all over the world to be planted in the rich soils of Spring Grove. To truly appreciate the pure beauty of this place you must plan an afternoon. There are many walking trails filled with serene silence. This does not feel like a place of sorrow, but rather a royal residence where the deceased eternally rest in peace.

There are three chapels among the Spring Grove acres: White Pine, Cedars of Lebanon and Norman. The latter has quite a unique history and has several reports of strange occurrences. Norman Chapel was built in 1880 from limestone and sandstone, which lends a sandlike appearance to the structure. The interior is filled with majestic arches, stained glass and bronze doors. Today it is used for a far different reason than its original intended purpose. The plan for this noble chapel was to construct a crypt below the first floor, but it was never finished. The cemetery used this basement from 1881 through the early twentieth century as a jail. It was used to incarcerate those who were caught speeding through the cemetery in their horse and buggies. If you go to the western side of the building, you can see the windows still have the jail bars intact. At one time, three night guards would stand post here and were ordered to shoot trespassers unless they immediately identified themselves. Cameras have captured many orbs here, and it has been said that you can sometimes hear eerie cries from those who were incarcerated here.

There are many glorious mausoleums scattered throughout the grounds. Each mausoleum is uniquely decorated with high ceilings, stained glass, bronzed doorways and sometimes even prized possessions. Dexter Mausoleum was constructed out of sandstone by James Wilson between 1865 and 1869. Sandstone is known to be a very weak building material, and despite numerous attempts to restore it, the memorial, too, will soon share the same fate as its inhabitants, who are gone forever. The monument stands on a lot that overlooks Geyser Lake and Strauch Island. People have reported that from the porch one can sometimes see the spirits of two pure white wolves passing by the lake. These lupine apparitions will stop and stare at intruders with glowing green eyes, as if wondering what you are doing, and then will vanish. They often roam this land and will guard it from vandals.

In the late 1800s through the 1900s, many of Cincinnati’s finest citizens were buried in the cemetery and have provided some very interesting memorials. It is the final resting place of many soldiers, including 999 plots for Civil War soldiers. There are also 41 Civil War generals interred throughout the grounds, including the rather infamous General Joseph Hooker. “Fighting Joe Hooker” was best known for his stunning defeat by General Robert E. Lee. Hooker was also known for keeping his men’s spirits up by having lots of ladies of questionable virtue come to camp to take care of his men. They became known as “Hooker’s Women” and eventually just “hookers.” Another Civil War plot belongs to the McCook family, who had eight sons who fought for the Union. They have a spectacular memorial and family plot where many of the sons are laid to rest. There are also around 33 soldiers buried here from the Revolutionary War, as well as many other wars.

A picture of Norman Chapel in Spring Grove Cemetery. The basement served as a jail for people driving carriages too fast. Authors’ collection.

There are many notable political figures who are inearthed here. Ten governors from three different states, as well as U.S. representatives and senators, are buried at Spring Grove. Nicholas Longworth represented Ohio’s first district in Congress and was the Speaker of the House in the early 1900s. Judge Jacob Burnet was the author of Ohio’s constitution. Salmon Chase served as Ohio’s senator, governor, secretary of the treasury under Abraham Lincoln and chief justice of the Supreme Court. He also helped establish Spring Grove Cemetery, and someday you may find yourself lucky enough to check him out on the rare $10,000 bill.

Some of the beautiful monuments belong to Cincinnatians whose names are branded in modern society. Bernard Kroger established the ever popular chain of grocery stores that bears his last name, which has become the largest chain of supermarkets in America. Stephen Gerrard gave us the honeydew melon and the Elberta peach. One of the most recognizable duos in the cemetery is William Proctor and James Gamble, who founded the Proctor and Gamble Corporation. Though the two passed away long ago, the corporation still has its headquarters in Cincinnati and is one of the largest brands of household products in the world.

A headstone of the late C.C. Breuer in Spring Grove Cemetery. The lifelike bust is said to contain his real eyes. Authors’ collection.

You will find the atmosphere in Lot 100 of Spring Grove peaceful and serene, but there is one monument in particular that will capture your attention. It is the grave of C.C. Breuer or “Charles.” There is little information left to be found about Charles, but the lore remains the same. Charles was born in 1845 and passed away in 1908. The legend says that he was an optometrist throughout his life and became extremely obsessed with eyes. In his will he decreed that his real eyes be removed from his body, encased in glass, and then placed inside his bronze bust so that he may watch over his grave. His bronze statue towers over those who visit, and his bust has a very lifelike appearance to it. Some horrified guests have reported that the statue’s eyes dilate and follow the path of the viewer. Some have reported that his entire bust can move around the monument and can even speak to you if he is disturbed. Rain seems to enhance the features and creepiness of the statue. He waits and guards his grave and will protect it from any trespassers.

Spring Grove representatives will tell you that people buried here seem rather happy to have this as their final resting place and that the spirits do not act out here. To be buried in the quaint peacefulness of the grounds here is an honor indeed. The spirits here seem happy to be remembered in such a caring way. There are no reports of violent spirits—only those who will protect the cemetery and its inhabitants. If you find yourself feeling like you are being watched or you feel a gentle touch on your shoulder, then you should welcome the curious spirits, as they are only there to watch over you. Cemeteries are not usually where a spirit would want to spend a lifetime, but an eternity at Spring Grove wouldn’t be so bad.

HAUNTING ACTIVITY SCALE

Frequency*

Intensity**

Type: apparition, inanimate object