Warrensville West Cemetery

In spring 2022, the City began to establish a meadow with mown paths at Warrensville West Cemetery, as recommended in the Historic Preservation Master Plan.
Fall 2022
Winter 2022
Warrensville West Cemetery is located within the Shaker Town Center commercial district, is just over one acre, and is owned and maintained by the City of Shaker Heights.
The Cemetery is the second oldest burial ground in Cuyahoga County with graves dating back to the early 1800s.
It is the final resting place of Pioneer Families, Manx Settlers, Veterans of five Wars, founders of Warrensville Township, and North Union Shakers.
The City, Shaker Heights Historical Society and the Shaker Heights Public Library are working with experts to create a Historic Preservation Master Plan for Warrensville West Cemetery.
Gravestone Restoration Workshop: Gravestone consultant Ta Mara Conde resets the gravestone of Mary Bogden.
Gravestone Restoration Workshop: Sonia and Colin reset the grave of the John E. Adams family’s mother.
Gravestone Restoration Workshop: Gravestone specialist Ta Mara Conde demonstrates appropriate gravestone cleaning.
Gravestone Restoration Workshop: Jessie and Jon clean and reset the gravestone of the William D. Meyne family’s “mother.
The Shaker Historical Society, Shaker Heights Public Library, and the City commemorated Veterans Day with a tour that honored the cemetery’s veterans, including those from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, and World War II. Local History Librarian, Meghan Hays (Right), shares the history of Moor/Moore Bell, a veteran of the War of 1812.
In spring 2022, the City began plan implementation by minimizing mowing to return the cemetery to its 19th century meadow-like appearance.
In spring 2022, the City began plan implementation by minimizing mowing to return the cemetery to its 19th century meadow-like appearance.

History

Warrensville West Cemetery is located within the Shaker Town Center commercial district, is just over one acre, and is owned and maintained by the City of Shaker Heights. The first burial took place in 1811, making it the second-oldest burial ground in Cuyahoga County.

The cemetery was designated as a local Landmark in 1976 and is a contributing site to the Shaker Village National Register Historic District. It is the final resting place of Pioneer Families, Manx Settlers, Veterans of five Wars, founders of Warrensville Township, and North Union Shakers. The cemetery’s last burial took place in 1955 and has fallen into disrepair throughout the years. Click here for more history and cemetery tour guides.

What's New?

Tours planned for October 2023. Stay tuned for details.
New video! Watch the transformation of the cemetery's meadow.

Warrensville West Cemetery Historic Preservation Master Plan

In 2021-2022, the City of Shaker Heights, in partnership with the Shaker Historical Society and Shaker Heights Public Library, completed a Historic Preservation Master Plan for Warrensville West Cemetery. The Plan identifies existing resources and creates a framework to preserve, protect, and maintain the burial ground's historical, archaeological, architectural, and cultural value, will increase the site’s attractiveness, and will assure that maintenance and security are properly guided. The Historic Preservation Master Plan for the cemetery provides a roadmap to preserve one of Cuyahoga County's oldest burial sites and protect the remains of the people interred there.

This Plan includes:

Ground-penetrating radar (PDF)
Survey, documentation, and mapping of current conditions
Recommendations and prioritization of necessary repairs
Conceptual landscape plan
Maintenance plan
Safety/security plan

Plan Implementation

On October 23, 2021, the City sponsored a Gravestone Preservation Workshop (PDF), which included a Gravestone Conservation Booklet (PDF).

On April 29, 2022, the City began to establish a meadow with mown paths, as recommended in the Plan. Watch the video to experience the transformation (and also see this Google Map capture of the early progress in establishing the meadow).

The City is pursuing grant applications to reset and repair damaged gravestones, a priority project recommended in the Warrensville West Cemetery Historic Preservation Master Plan.

Plan Schedule

Dates	Milestones
September 2021	Project kick-off
September-October 2021	Stakeholder meetings
October 23, 2021	Gravestone Preservation Workshop View the Powerpoint (PDF) \| View the Gravestone Conservation Booklet (PDF)
November 11, 2021	Veterans Day Cemetery Tour (PDF)
December 8, 2021	Presentation of Draft Plan View the Powerpoint (PDF) \| View the Meeting Video
March 2022	Plan completion
April 25, 2022	Council adopts plan (view the plan)

Documents

Historic Preservation Master Plan for Warrensville West Cemetery (PDF)
Warrensville West Cemetery Self-Guided Tour (PDF)
Draft Master Plan Presentation—December 8, 2021 (PDF)
Conservation Workshop Booklet (PDF)
Ground Penetrating Radar Survey Report for Warrensville West Cemetery (PDF)
Stakeholder Meeting #1 Powerpoint
Stakeholder Meeting #2 Powerpoint
Gravestone Restoration Workshop Powerpoint
Examples of natural cemeteries:
- Bigelow Cemetery Nature Preserve
- Smith Cemetery State Nature Preserve
- Monroe Cemetery (Monroe, OH)

News

Shaker gets historical grant for 200-year-old cemetery, gravesites: City Council recap (Cleveland.com)

History & Cemetery Tour Guides

Warrensville West Cemetery (ClevelandHistorical.org)
Pioneers, Manxmen and Shakers at the Warrensville West Cemetery (ClevelandHistorical.org)
Warrensville West Cemetery Scavenger Hunt (PDF)
Warrensville West Veterans Day Tour Handout (PDF)
Warrensville West Self-Guided Early Settlers Tour (PDF)

Staff Contacts

Planning Department: Email Kara Hamley O’Donnell or call 216-491-1436

Warrensville West Cemetery

Join Us!

Warrensvile West Cemetery Gravestone Interpretation Workshop