Lebanon Cemetery
Photo added by Tedd Cocker

Lebanon Cemetery

Also known as Mount Vernon Cemetery

Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA

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  • Get directions Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA
    Coordinates: 39.93489, -77.68136
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The Mount Vernon and Lebanon Cemeteries are located west of Chambersburg, along Lincoln Highway in Hamilton Township on a hill locally referred to as Radio Hill. They are two separate cemeteries adjoining each other.
The land for the Mount Vernon Cemetery was donated by Col. T.B. Kennedy in 1870 to fill the growing need for the African American population of Chambersburg to have a place to bury their deceased loved ones. With the help of Mr. Kennedy's wife and Mrs. McLellan, a plan for the cemetery was designed and Trustees appointed. The details of the cemetery's formation were described in Chambersburg's "Valley Spirit" newspaper on July 27, 1870.
The Mount Vernon Cemetery is listed as an Underground Railroad Network to Freedom location for its being the final resting place of Henry Watson, the local businessman who was instrumental in arranging the meeting between Frederick Douglass and John Brown in Franklin County in 1859.
At least 26 African American Civil War veterans are buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, according to the National Parks Service.
By 1898, the cemetery had almost reached capacity. In the summer of 1898, additional acreage was sought to expand the cemetery. A meeting was held in early August of 1898 to discuss the potential expansion, according to the "Franklin Repository" news article dated August 1, 1898. In 1903, the Colored Co-operative Association was formed to raise money for the purchase of additional burial ground. On March 22, 1904, a charter was granted to the Lebanon Cemetery Association, formed for the purpose of acquiring the land and managing the new cemetery. In 1922, the land was expanded further.



The Mount Vernon and Lebanon Cemeteries are located west of Chambersburg, along Lincoln Highway in Hamilton Township on a hill locally referred to as Radio Hill. They are two separate cemeteries adjoining each other.
The land for the Mount Vernon Cemetery was donated by Col. T.B. Kennedy in 1870 to fill the growing need for the African American population of Chambersburg to have a place to bury their deceased loved ones. With the help of Mr. Kennedy's wife and Mrs. McLellan, a plan for the cemetery was designed and Trustees appointed. The details of the cemetery's formation were described in Chambersburg's "Valley Spirit" newspaper on July 27, 1870.
The Mount Vernon Cemetery is listed as an Underground Railroad Network to Freedom location for its being the final resting place of Henry Watson, the local businessman who was instrumental in arranging the meeting between Frederick Douglass and John Brown in Franklin County in 1859.
At least 26 African American Civil War veterans are buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, according to the National Parks Service.
By 1898, the cemetery had almost reached capacity. In the summer of 1898, additional acreage was sought to expand the cemetery. A meeting was held in early August of 1898 to discuss the potential expansion, according to the "Franklin Repository" news article dated August 1, 1898. In 1903, the Colored Co-operative Association was formed to raise money for the purchase of additional burial ground. On March 22, 1904, a charter was granted to the Lebanon Cemetery Association, formed for the purpose of acquiring the land and managing the new cemetery. In 1922, the land was expanded further.



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  • Added: 11 Feb 2004
  • Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 1978060