Lower Merion Historical Society

The Lower Merion Historical Society

« Burial Records

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

415 E. Athens Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church website

church viewed form Athens Ave. small stone house with chimney
St. Paul’s Old Dutch Schoolhouse, built in 1787
wide view across the cemetery row of 19th-century gravestones
Rugler family grave monument
grave monument square column with angel on top

On August 16, 1765, the German Lutherans of “Merrion Township” banded together to purchase land for a place of worship and burial ground for “German Protestants, German Reformed and Lutherans, conjointly”. The earliest tombstone today in the Colonial Section is that of Johanna Müller, who departed this life July 25, 1766. In 1809 the trustees added ¼ acre to the burial ground by purchase of additional land, and 19 years later a wall was built enclosing the cemetery. Burial permits were first sold in 1833.

By 1844 the community had grown, and the cemetery was so well utilized that three acres were purchased, which became a redeeming venture by the creation and sale of burial lots to “Church Members and the public in general.”

The present frame and stone house was build that year; in 1852 the large stone house was erected. Land used for these houses is dedicated to cemetery use when the demand arises. A Sexton and cemetery caretaker were employed for the first time in 1844. Today a full-time caretaker lives on the grounds.

In 1888 and 1889 an additional five acres of ground were purchased, filling out the entire block bounded by Argyle Road, West Wynnewood Road, Athens Avenue, and Hood Road, its present boundaries, and all laid out in lots 8 feet by 16 feet.

The remains of over 200 war veterans are interred in St. Paul’s Cemetery:

American Revolution 42
War of 1812 24
Mexican War* 4
Civil War 50
Spanish-American War 5
World War I 62
World War II 20
Korean War 4

* not officially verified

Information for this page courtesy of Daniel Joseph, archivist of St. Paul’s. Updated February, 2003