Lebanon Cemetery Entrance Arch
Why it's listed
Marking the entrance to Lebanon Cemetery at the head of Hunter Street, this limestone arch was built in 1909 in the Romanesque Revival style. It has three round arches joined by low walls. The tallest, central arch carries large iron gates with the words "Lebanon" and "Cemetery" worked into the design, and an arrowhead-pattern iron fence runs outward from both ends. Stone voussoirs, a large keystone and stone battlements finish the structure. Its builders were Charles Henderson and John James Mills, two local Black masons who also built cement block houses and culverts around Lebanon. Mills worked as an engineer for the Lebanon Gas and Electric Company. The nomination treats them as representative of Lebanon's Black community in the early twentieth century. The arch was one of several improvements made to the cemetery, established in 1850, around the turn of the century. Some battlement stones have fallen, and a slate tablet naming the 1909 trustees rests by the central entrance.
Significance in brief: The form calls the arch important for its aesthetic value and because it is the work of two local Black masons, Charles Henderson and John James Mills. The two men are presented as representative of Lebanon's Black population in the early twentieth century. The arch was also a noteworthy addition among turn-of-the-century improvements to the cemetery.
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 84000157, listed October 18, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Hunter St., Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | October 18, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000157 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1909 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Henderson/J.J. Mills |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as fair; some battlement stones have fallen and a slate tablet of 1909 trustees' names has fallen from its niche and is propped up by the central entrance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.43716, -84.21368 (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 84000157.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138754689
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.