Green Lawn Abbey


The historic Green Lawn Abbey, built in 1927, is located at 700 Greenlawn Avenue in Franklin Township, near Columbus, Ohio.

History

Built in 1927 by the Columbus Mausoleum Company, was the largest mausoleum in the area at the time, with room for 600 interments, and it remains one of the largest mausoleums in central Ohio.
Finished with thick granite on the exterior, white marble on the interior and an imported tile roof, the Abbey was built to inspire awe. Marble faux-fireplaces, over 100 stained glass windows and various religious statues adorn this beautiful final resting place of many notable figures in Ohio and local history. The Abbey was listed in the National Register of Historic in 2007 for its fine Palladio-inspired neoclassical architecture.
Notable residents include George J. Karb, magician Howard Thurston, Charles Foster Johnson, Isaac Collins, Edward and Rollin Swisher, and H. R. Penney. A special family crypt room holds members of the Lewis Sells family.
In the late 20th Century, the Abbey fell victim to general neglect and some vandalism. In 2001 trustees for Green Lawn Abbey considered selling its grounds to a nearby construction implement dealer. The sale did not take place but concern for the future of the Abbey increased eventually leading to formation of an organization dedicated to its preservation.

Restoration efforts

In August 2008 the Green Lawn Abbey Preservation Association was incorporated as a 501 recognized non-profit organization. This group has been leading efforts to restore the Abbey, raise community awareness of its history through special events, and preserve its historical significance to the city of Columbus, with the ultimate goal of reactivating it as a functioning mausoleum.
Since 2008, GLAPA has been successful in raising over $750,000 through grant writing, numerous donations and many special events, enabling the completion of major preservation projects including roof replacement, foundation repair, bronze door restoration, repair or replacement of 13 stained glass windows, and landscape improvements.

Mausoleum Operations

While preservation efforts, special events and preservation-focused fund raising continue, the Abbey is once again accepting interments. In 2019, the Columbus Cemetery Association, business owner of Green Lawn Abbey, entered an agreement with Memorial Properties, manager of the Green Lawn Cemetery, a nearby though unrelated business, to promote the mausoleum and oversee new sales. Several vaults in the mausoleum remain available for full body burials or cremated remains. The first of several planned columbaria that holds cremains in urns was installed inside the mausoleum. Most recently a memorial garden was installed on the grounds to accept burial of cremains in urns and communal burial.