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FeedHistory: Back from the Dead
Supporters revive one of the city’s swankiest resting places
Jodi Miller Photos
Here lies Green Lawn Abbey: a mausoleum for famous families, once beautiful, left for dead.
That was the historic building’s depressing epitaph until about five years ago, when it caught the eye of Kate Matheny. The former Columbus Landmarks Foundation president saw a neoclassical hillside jewel fallen victim to the vandalism and decay swallowing parts of the neighborhood south of Franklinton.
A scrap-metal thief had attempted to pull off its bronze front doors with a truck. Handcrafted stained-glass windows were pocked with bullet holes.
Deep into a restoration effort, Matheny and her team at the Green Lawn Abbey Preservation Association want to see the building turned into a usable space for events and relaxation. The plan is to honor the local celebrities resting inside (including magician Howard Thurston) while filling a need for more green space on the West Side.
“We’re not just saving it because it’s an old building,” says Matheny, the project manager. “We want it to be a site for the community.”
Though the abbey’s currently closed, the living can peek inside on Oct. 27 when the preservation society hosts spooky fundraiser “Tales from the Crypt.” Actors dolled up like famous mausoleum residents will tell stories about Columbus’ early days. So far, they’ve raised about $100,000 for the restoration—a sliver of the projected $800,000 needed.
“All someone has to do is walk into the building,” she says, “and they go, ‘This is cool.’ ”
—Carrie Schedler
Haunted Hotspots
Three other places to get your Ghostbusters fix.
Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus
A murdered general and his killer haunt the Downtown restaurant on chilly nights.
Kelton House
Spirits, including a Civil War soldier and a restless Kelton son, love to play with docents at the Olde Towne East museum.
Thompson Library
Librarians have reported orbs of light leading them to long-lost books at Ohio State’s main reading hub.
- Sources: A Haunted History of Columbus, Ohio; OhioExploration.com
Ghosts of Columbus Past
Though distinct from the abbey, adjacent Green Lawn Cemetery is also home to many local celebrities. Here are a few headstones to hunt.
James Poindexter
minister and activist
1819-1907
Eddie Rickenbacker
World War I ace
1890-1973
James Thurber
author and
humorist
1894-1961
Alice Schille
artist
1869-1955
