Akron Rural Cemetery Buildings
Also known as: Glendale Cemetery Group
Why it's listed
Four stone buildings greet visitors at the main entrance of Akron Rural Cemetery, popularly called Glendale Cemetery. They are a caretaker's residence from 1869, Memorial Chapel from 1875-76, a bell tower from 1883 and an office building from 1903. Memorial Chapel, designed by Akron architect Frank O. Weary, is the centerpiece. Built in the high Victorian Gothic style on a cruciform plan, it has rock-faced stone walls, a slate roof with a central spire, a rose window and stained glass honoring Civil War figures. Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic, raised the $25,000 cost, and the chapel was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1876, to local Union soldiers who died in the war. A 1978 city landmark survey found only three other truly high Victorian Gothic buildings in Akron. The nomination considers the surrounding buildings well designed and in harmony with the chapel, making the group the city's most significant collection of Gothic architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the group the most significant collection of Gothic buildings in Akron. Memorial Chapel is described as a superlative example of high Victorian Gothic and one of the finest works of local architect Frank O. Weary. The other buildings complement the chapel by their siting and architectural harmony.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80003236, listed September 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 150 Glendale Ave., Akron |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | September 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003236 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1869, 1875-76, 1883, 1903) |
| Architect / builder | Frank O. Weary (Chapel and Bell Tower) |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic (high Victorian Gothic for Memorial Chapel) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, occupied, on its original site. A 1977 sewer line explosion damaged the caretaker's residence porch, which was removed, and a chapel window that was restored and awaiting reinstallation. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.08484, -81.52546 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80003236.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4701693
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.