Historic Woodlawn Cemetery

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Toledo, OH
Historic Woodlawn Cemetery

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We are the final resting place for 88,000 individuals. Tons of Nature and History Programs too!

10/29/2026

Have you ever admired the beautiful architecture of the Toledo Museum of Art and wondered about the people who helped bring it to life?

Meet Harry Wilcox Wachter, a Toledo-born architect who played a part in shaping our city's architectural heritage.

After studying architecture at Columbia University, Wachter returned to build his career here in northwest Ohio. He designed homes, churches, and commercial buildings that became part of the fabric of our community.

One of his most significant contributions was his work as the local architect and associate to Edward B. Green's Buffalo, New York firm on the Greek revival building.

Wachter's work also extended into Toledo's historic neighborhoods, including the Old West End, where generations of residents and visitors continue to appreciate the character of our historic homes.

Recognized by the American Institute of Architects, Wachter left a legacy that connects us to Toledo's past through the buildings that surround us today.

He is buried in Section 14.

10/23/2026

Walter Folger Brown was an Ohio lawyer, Republican political strategist, and public servant whose career intersected with a transformative period in American history.

After establishing himself in Ohio politics, Brown served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce under President Calvin Coolidge. In 1929, President Herbert Hoover appointed him U.S. Postmaster General, a position he held until 1933.

✈️ Brown played a significant role in shaping early commercial aviation. He championed the Air Mail Act of 1930, which gave the Postmaster General greater authority to consolidate airmail routes. Brown sought to build financially stronger airlines capable of carrying both mail and passengers, helping shape the industry's development. His methods sparked controversy though, leading to a Senate investigation into allegations of favoritism in airmail contract awards in 1934.

Beyond government and aviation, Brown was active in business and served as president of the Toledo Humane Society from 1911 until his death in 1961 at the age of 91.

10/16/2026

“Let us know them, let us name them, let us honor one and all” - Kate Brownlee Sherwood in "We Keep Memorial Day"

Kate Brownlee Sherwood was a remarkable 19th-century journalist, poet, and civic leader. During the Civil War, while her husband, Isaac R. Sherwood, served in the Union Army, she managed newspaper work in Ohio, building a career in journalism at a time when opportunities for women were limited.

Her poetry honored soldiers, commemorated the war, and preserved its memory for future generations. In 1883, she helped found the Woman’s Relief Corps, the women’s auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, dedicated to supporting Union veterans and their families. She later served as the organization’s second national president.

Through her writing and public service, Kate Brownlee Sherwood helped shape both the remembrance of the Civil War and the growing role of women in American civic life.

She is buried in Section 41.

10/10/2026

Joseph K. Secor was one of Toledo’s prominent business and civic leaders during the city’s rapid growth in the 19th century. Born in New York, Secor came to Toledo in 1840 and established himself in the wholesale grocery business, eventually becoming one of the city’s leading merchants.

His influence extended into Toledo’s developing financial community. In 1863, Secor helped organize Toledo’s First National Bank and served as a director and vice president for nearly three decades. He was also active in local government, serving on Toledo City Council, and supported educational and civic institutions.

Secor and his family lived in an impressive Second Empire-style home along the Maumee River, built in 1870. His career and civic involvement reflected the growth of Toledo from a young frontier community into an important commercial and industrial city.

Joseph K. Secor died in 1892 and is buried in Section 10.

10/05/2026

Join us this Thursday, October 8, from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm as we celebrate 150 years of stories, memories, and community at Woodlawn!

Please use the front gates off W. Central.

Enjoy an evening honoring the generations of people who have made Woodlawn part of their story.

🎂 Enjoy anniversary cake and refreshments
📖 Hear stories from our wonderful docents and community
🌿 Take a self-guided stroll through Woodlawn’s history and natural beauty
💭 Share a memory or story of your own

For 150 years, Woodlawn has been more than a place of remembrance. It has been a place where families gather, history is preserved, nature is appreciated, and stories are passed from one generation to the next.

Come celebrate the stories that have shaped Woodlawn — and help us carry them forward.

10/03/2026

For more than 45 years, Grove Patterson helped shape the news and public conversation in Toledo through his work at the Toledo Blade. After beginning his newspaper career in Lorain and Cleveland, Patterson came to Toledo in 1910 as a news editor. He went on to serve as managing editor, executive editor, and finally Editor-in-Chief, remaining with the Blade until his death in 1956.

Patterson became nationally known for his popular “The Way of the World” column and traveled extensively, interviewing people around the world. His influence extended beyond journalism; in 1940, he nominated Senator Robert A. Taft for president at the Republican National Convention.

Widely admired in Toledo for both his journalism and community involvement, Patterson left a lasting legacy in the city.

He is buried in Section 25.

09/28/2026

👟Lace up your walking shoes and join us for the last Woodlawn Walkers of the season! Join us Wednesday, September 30, at 9:00 am for another beautiful early fall walk. See you there!

09/26/2026

Did you know one of Toledo’s most iconic landmarks is named for the city’s first millionaire?

Valentine H. Ketcham (1815–1887) arrived in Toledo in 1836 at just 20 years old. He started as a merchant and went on to build a fortune through banking, real estate, and business.

Known as Toledo’s first millionaire, Ketcham became president of the First National Bank of Toledo in 1863 and remained a prominent figure in the city’s business community until his death.

His son, George H. Ketcham, later honored him by building the Valentine Theatre, which opened on Christmas Day in 1895.

From a young merchant in a growing river town to Toledo’s first millionaire, Valentine Ketcham’s story is part of the foundation of the city we know today.

He died in 1887 and is buried in section 40.

09/18/2026

Nina Spalding Stevens was a key figure in the early development of the Toledo Museum of Art and in Toledo’s growing cultural community. She was appointed assistant director of the museum in 1904, working alongside her husband, George W. Stevens, who served as director. She played an active role in developing the museum’s collections and in planning and promoting exhibitions that brought art to a wider Toledo audience.

Stevens was also a strong advocate for art education and community involvement. She organized women’s study groups, museum tours, lectures, and other activities that encouraged people to learn about and engage with art. In 1903, she founded the Athena Art Society and served as its first president. The organization became one of the oldest women’s art organizations in the United States.

Stevens later recorded the story of the museum’s early years in her book, A Man and His Dream. Through her work at the Toledo Museum of Art and her leadership in the arts community, she helped establish Toledo as an important center for art, education, and culture.

She is buried in Section 14.

09/10/2026

For 150 years, Woodlawn has been a place of remembrance, history, nature, and community—a sacred landscape where generations have honored the people they love.

Join us for a special anniversary celebration featuring on October 8, 2026, from 5:30 – 7:00 PM. Our celebration will include:

🎂 Anniversary cake cutting & refreshments
📖 Stories from our wonderful docents and community
🌿 A self-guided stroll through Woodlawn’s history and natural beauty
💭 An opportunity to share your own memories and stories

Hear a story. Tell a story. Share a memory. Bring your family and friends and make a new one together.

For 150 years, generations have visited, remembered, cared for, and carried Woodlawn’s stories forward.

Woodlawn is more than a cemetery. It’s part of who we are.

Come celebrate 150 years of remembrance, reflection, history, nature, and community.

Address

1502 W Central Avenue
Toledo, OH
43606

Telephone

(419) 472-2186

Website

http://www.historic-woodlawn.com/

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