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Historical Cemetery to Explore
.jpg&height=120&width=160&scale=0.052&x=0&y=46.666 "Looking Up Stairs to Monument")
.jpg&height=120&width=160&scale=0.039&x=0&y=0 "Front Entrance Gate")
Most of us only think of graveyards as places where we lay our deceased loved ones to rest. Oaklands Cemetery widens this perception through its notable tomb sites that visitors can explore through a walking or guided tour. Our historical cemetery in West Chester, PA, invites you to learn more about the greatness that defined some of the most honorable people in the County’s history, from war generals to local statesmen.
The Rich History of Oaklands Cemetery
Oaklands Cemetery is a 26-acre cemetery that dates back to 1854 and is located just outside the borough of West Chester, the county seat of Chester County. As a response to the mandated closure and removal of graveyards within the borough in 1851, the land was purchased a mile north of the borough from Joseph L. Taylor. Roads were laid, a small lake was created, and a superintendent’s cottage and a gateway were built for the new cemetery.
Passing through the stone gates is a mesmerizing experience. The trees create a lush canopy overhead, and the winding gravel drive that meanders over hills and down through valleys directs visitors into one of the most picturesque cemeteries in Pennsylvania. Oaklands Cemetery was based on a plan that took advantage of the area’s rolling hills and tree-covered topography. It gives one the feeling of being in the remotest, most undeveloped parts of the County.
Passing through the stone gates is a mesmerizing experience. The trees create a lush canopy overhead, and the winding gravel drive that meanders over hills and down through valleys directs visitors into one of the most picturesque cemeteries in Pennsylvania. Oaklands Cemetery was based on a plan that took advantage of the area’s rolling hills and tree-covered topography. It gives one the feeling of being in the remotest, most undeveloped parts of the County.
Being an old cemetery close to the county seat means that many of the area’s oldest families can be found here. Markers engraved with familiar names are scattered throughout the grounds, and there are many notable and historically significant gravesites located throughout the cemetery. Many veterans are buried at Oaklands dating back to the Civil War, The War of 1812, World War I, World War II, and recent conflicts. It is a tradition that we honor all veteran gravesites with new American flags placed on their gravestones during the month of November. Some of the notable recipients include two soldiers who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor:
- Major General Smedley Darlington Butler (1881–1940) – One of only 19 Americans and one of only two Marines to have received the Congressional Medal of Honor twice.
- Captain DeWitt Clinton Lewis (1822–1899) – Received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Secessionville on June 16, 1862.
Congressional Medal of Honor website: www.cmohs.org
.jpg&height=288 "Oaklands Plane Crash Memorial")
Oaklands Cemetery is also the site of the “Oaklands Plane Crash Memorial,” which memorializes the seven crew members of the B-25 bomber that crashed in stormy weather during a training mission on May 7, 1944.
We invite the general public to come and see this beautiful, historic cemetery when in the area. There is a walking tour that you can print from the website. There are 17 notable gravesites you can visit along the walking tour. If you want to plan a guided visit or have any questions, please call (610) 692-3966 or email charles.g.clark@kcc.com.
Oaklands Cemetery makes it a priority to provide a beautiful, peaceful, eternal resting place, as well as best-in-class perpetual care for your family, friends, and loved ones. Board Members include: Charles G. Clark (President), John Strickland II (Treasurer), William S. Wood III (Secretary), Michael Evans (Grounds Chairman), Rich Love (Superintendent), James Jefferis, Norman J. Pine Esq., Anthony Polito, Charles E. Swope Jr., James S. Willis, and Patty Love (Admin.).
We invite the general public to come and see this beautiful, historic cemetery when in the area. There is a walking tour that you can print from the website. There are 17 notable gravesites you can visit along the walking tour. If you want to plan a guided visit or have any questions, please call (610) 692-3966 or email charles.g.clark@kcc.com.
Oaklands Cemetery makes it a priority to provide a beautiful, peaceful, eternal resting place, as well as best-in-class perpetual care for your family, friends, and loved ones. Board Members include: Charles G. Clark (President), John Strickland II (Treasurer), William S. Wood III (Secretary), Michael Evans (Grounds Chairman), Rich Love (Superintendent), James Jefferis, Norman J. Pine Esq., Anthony Polito, Charles E. Swope Jr., James S. Willis, and Patty Love (Admin.).
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about available burial plots in our cemetery.