OAK HILL CEMETeRY

 The Curwensville Cemetery Company was incorporated in September 1893 and later changed its name to Oak Hill Cemetery in 1896. The cemetery’s origins date back to October 12, 1856, when William Irvin deeded 2.25 acres of land to Curwensville Borough for use as a burial ground. As the community grew, the need for additional burial lots increased, and by 1891, expansion had become necessary.

    In 1894, E.A. Irvin deeded 15 acres of land to the cemetery, followed by an additional 19 acres in 1905. The property continued to expand over the years, with the company acquiring 13 acres north of the cemetery from Charles E. Patton in 1936 and another 16 acres from John Patton in 1947. Through these and other acquisitions, Oak Hill Cemetery has grown to its current size of 67 acres. 

The cemetery chapel was built in 1932 and remains an important feature of the grounds. In the 1990s, the Lezzer family donated a gazebo, and the Guglielmi Memorial planters were completed by Cosmo “Gussie” Guglielmi, adding to the cemetery’s beauty and character.

Each Memorial Day weekend, members of the Cemetery Association open the chapel from Friday through Monday, 9 a.m. to dusk. During this time, they assist visitors with locating gravesites, provide cemetery information, and accept donations to support the continued care and preservation of Oak Hill Cemetery.

   Today, the cemetery is maintained by the association, a nonprofit organization guided by a board of local volunteers.  The association remains dedicated to preserving Oak Hill Cemetery, overseeing its care and maintenance while continuing to make improvements to the grounds for future generations.      

Oak Hill Cemetery holds a meaningful place in Curwensville’s history, serving as the final resting place for many of the people who helped shape the community.

 Among those buried here are members of Curwensville’s founding families and prominent local figures, including members of the Patton and Irvin families, whose names are closely tied to the area’s early growth and development.

The cemetery is also especially notable for its connection to the Civil War. Oak Hill is known as the resting place of many soldiers from Company K of the Pennsylvania Bucktails, a well-known regiment recognized for its service during the war. The high concentration of Bucktail soldiers buried here makes the cemetery an important site of remembrance for both local and military history.   

In addition to veterans, Oak Hill Cemetery includes the graves of early settlers, entrepreneurs, industrialists, and community leaders whose lives reflect the story of Curwensville’s development over time. 

Today, the cemetery stands not only as a place of remembrance, but also as a lasting record of the families, service members, and civic contributors who helped build the community.