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Central Blendon Cemetery is located at the corner of Hempstead Road and Dempsey Road in Westerville, Ohio (Blendon Township, Franklin County). The coordinates are 40° 5' 43.13" N, 82° 54' 15.15" W.
Central Blendon Cemetery is also known as the Old Church Pioneer Cemetery. It is still active, but there are lots of old interesting gravestones. The old section is located in the corner closest to the roads. It is very well taken care of by the Blendon Township Trustees, and many of the old gravestones have been restored.
There are two historical markers at the Central Blendon cemetery; one was erected by the Ohio Historical Society and the other by the Franklin County Historical Society. Below is the text from each of the markers:
Ohio Historical Marker:
FIRST BLENDON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
On this site in 1829 the Presbyterians of Blendon Township built their first church. The land was donated by Timothy Lee for "church and burial" purposes. The Reverend Ebenezer Washburn, buried here, was the first minister. The church was destroyed one week after its dedication by an apparent act of arson.
Franklin County Historical Marker:
BLENDON CENTRAL CEMETERY
Here, in 1829, at the corner of Dempsey and Hempstead Roads was established a cemetery in connection with Blendon Central Church. This site was selected by the Blendon Presbyterian Assembly. Bein the geographic center of the township, this served as a compromise to the wishes of members living along Alum Creek and those along Big Walnut Creek. The first burial place in Blendon Township, Pioneer Cemetery, was located about 2 miles from here on the old Columbus Turnpike. The first sermon preached to the pioneer settlers was delivered in 1812 by Reverend James Hoge of Columbus in a log School House at Pioneer Cemetery. The subject of building a house of worship was discussed in 1826. Finally, in the fall of 1829, a substantial house of worship was built here and dedicated, along with the adjacent burial ground known as Blendon Cemetery. The land was donated by Squire Timothy Lee. Shortly after the dedication, the new Blendon Church burned down. Speculation as to the cause of the fire continues to this day. Gathered around the dying embers, the church members held a prayer meeting and resolved to rebuild as soon as possible. Another church building was erected, in 1830, directly opposite this site at the southwest corner of Dempsey and Hempstead Roads on an acre donated by Edward Phelps.
For more information about Blendon Township (including the cemetery), please visit the official township site.
A big thank you to my friend Bryce Waters for visiting this cemetery with me!
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