Glendale Cemetery Akron Ohio
DBA Approved: Y
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150 Glendale Ave.
Akron, OH 44302
Open to the public: Yes
https://www.glendaleakron.com/
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PANICd#: 2240
Publication date: 03/25/2026Glendale Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located in Akron, Ohio. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
Database Summary:
Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 1
Claims: 10
Evidence: 0
Resources: 2
Retrievals: 23
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0
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History
History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.
Glendale Cemetery in Akron, Ohio, was established in 1839 at a time when the city was beginning to grow into an important industrial center. It was created by Dr. Jedediah Commins, who wanted a proper and peaceful resting place for the community after experiencing personal loss. Inspired by the rural cemetery movement, the grounds were designed to be more than just a burial site but a place of reflection and natural beauty.
Originally known as Akron Rural Cemetery, the land was laid out with winding roads, rolling hills, and carefully planned landscaping. In the nineteenth century it quickly became a destination for both mourning and leisure. Families would visit not only to pay respects but also to take carriage rides and enjoy the peaceful scenery, making it one of the earliest park-like spaces in the city.
As Akron expanded through the canal and industrial eras, Glendale Cemetery became the final resting place for many of the people who shaped the city. Industrialists, politicians, and community leaders were buried there, and their elaborate monuments and mausoleums reflected both their influence and the prosperity of the region. Over time, the cemetery became a record of Akron history, carved in stone.
The cemetery continued to grow throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, eventually covering dozens of acres filled with ornate statues, chapels, and family mausoleums. Its design followed the ideals of the rural cemetery movement with artistic architecture inspired by ancient cultures and religious traditions. These features gave the grounds a timeless and almost otherworldly atmosphere.
In modern times, Glendale Cemetery has been recognized for its historical significance and added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today it remains an active cemetery while also serving as a cultural landmark where visitors can walk among the graves and experience a direct connection to the past of Akron, Ohio.
Added by: sdonley on 03/25/2026
DB#:823
Source(s):
Various Sources
Stories & Folklore
Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.
Over the years Glendale Cemetery has developed a reputation among locals as one of the most quietly haunted locations in Akron. Visitors often describe a heavy stillness that settles over the grounds, especially in the early morning or late evening hours. Some believe that the long history and the sheer number of burials have created an environment where the past never fully fades away.
One of the most commonly shared experiences involves shadowy figures seen moving between headstones or near the larger mausoleums. Witnesses often report catching movement out of the corner of their eye only to find nothing there when they turn to look directly. These sightings are often accompanied by an uneasy feeling as if someone unseen is standing nearby.
Another enduring legend speaks of spirits lingering near the graves of prominent families. Some visitors claim that certain mausoleums seem to carry a stronger presence, as though the individuals buried within are still watching over their final resting place. Stories suggest that these spirits are not always hostile but can be deeply protective of the grounds.
Strange sounds are also frequently reported throughout the cemetery. Footsteps on gravel paths, voices carried on the wind, and the distant echo of something that resembles whispering have all been described by those who have visited after dark. Even on calm nights these sounds can appear suddenly and then vanish without explanation.
There are also tales of an overwhelming sense of being watched, particularly in the older sections of the cemetery. Some visitors have claimed sudden drops in temperature or feelings of dread that come and go without warning. Whether these experiences are imagination or something more, they continue to fuel the legend that Glendale Cemetery is far from empty.
Added by: sdonley on 03/25/2026 DB#: 1782
Source(s):
Various Sources
Paranormal Claims
Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.
| Claim # | Added | Added By | Claim |
| 4402 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Shadow figures have been seen moving between graves and disappearing instantly |
| 4403 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Apparitions are reported near large mausoleums and historic burial sites |
| 4404 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Visitors hear unexplained footsteps on paths when no one is nearby |
| 4405 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Whispering voices are heard, especially during quiet evening hours |
| 4406 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Cold spots are felt suddenly in certain areas of the cemetery |
| 4407 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Feelings of being watched are commonly reported by visitors |
| 4408 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Unexplained shadows appear in photographs taken on the grounds |
| 4409 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Some believe spirits of prominent citizens still guard their family plots |
| 4410 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | Strange noises, including distant voices and movement, echo across the cemetery |
| 4411 | 03/25/2026 | sdonley | A heavy and uneasy atmosphere is often experienced in older sections of the grounds |
Additional Resources
This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.
| Glendale Cemetery in Akron, Ohio - Find a Grave Cemetery
Added: 03/25/2026 By: sdonley |
Established in 1839, Glendale Cemetery (Original name: Akron Rural Cemetery), originally was inspired by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass. At the... |
| John Henry Hower (1822-1916) - Find a Grave Memorial
Added: 03/25/2026 By: sdonley |
He began as a young man teaching school. Later on he helped organize the Excelsior Mower and Reaper Co. in Doylestown, Ohio in 1861. They manufactured the reaper that had been invented by John F. Seiberling. That lead John Hower to becoming vice president of the J.F. Seiberling Co. in 1865. Hower bought an interest in... |
