Eaton Township - Cemetery & Veterans Memorial

"A rural community growing into the future"

Butternut Ridge Cemetery

In 1854 the Township purchased a tract of land located at the corner of Butternut Ridge Road and Durkee Road for $20.00 from Ira B. and Lydia Morgan.  This land was added to an existing cemetery that had been established from the founding of the Township in 1810.  Additional adjacent lands have been purchased to provide sufficient burial spaces for many generations to come.  The grounds also bear a U.S. Civil War Centennial Commission marker in recognition of Butternut Ridge.  Memorial Association programs were held there from 1961 to 1965.  This Presidential Award of Distinction was the first one presented to an Ohio organization at that time commemorating the Centennial of the Civil War.  Memorial Day services are held annually to honor all the Township’s armed services veterans.  The Cemetery Sexton is Kurt Durkee. He can be reached Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m at 440-748-2236.  If there is no answer, please leave a message with your name and phone number.

Veterans Memorial

In 1995, at the southeast corner of the cemetery at 125 feet by 150 feet, the Trustees set a plot of land aside to be used for the erection of the Eaton Township Veterans Memorial.

The purpose of the memorial was to preserve the names and to honor all the men and women who lived in Eaton Township sometime during their lives, and served in the United States Military during peace or wartime and had an honorable discharge.

In August of 1995, a ten-person committee was formed, not only to begin the search for the names of the veterans but also to raise $35,000 to cover the cost of construction.

Today, the Eaton Township Veterans Memorial Committee consists of 5 members who are: Shirley Callihan, Gary McCort, Jeanne Walker, Ernie Walker, and Bill Nowagarski.

It was decided that the memorial would be in a semi-circle of sixteen benches made of Vermont Granite.  These sixteen benches are 80 feet in length and weigh 20,000 pounds.  An illuminated flagpole stands in the center of the circle.  The names of the Veterans are engraved on the back of the benches facing the flagpole.  To help raise money, these benches could be purchased at a cost of $500 for a quarter of a bench, $1,000 for a half of a bench, and $2,000 for a full bench with the name of the purchaser to be engraved on the front edge of the seat. Also, engraved bricks are sold at $50 each, to be used as a walkway in front of the memorial and around the flagpole.

The committee raised $46,000 and collected 900 veterans’ names that were engraved on the backs of the benches.  The balance of $11,000 was put into a perpetual care fund.  This fund will provide the maintenance of the memorial.

It is by popular request of veterans moving into the community to have their names included on the memorial. The Eaton Township Veterans Memorial Committee, which is a non-profit organization, decided in 2003 to engrave the names on the memorial of any qualifying veteran who has lived in Eaton Township for a period of one year. To accommodate this, it was also decided to expand the memorial by adding twelve more benches. Since completed there are now twenty-eight benches which completes a one-half circle around the flagpole. This should be adequate for the expected growth of Eaton Township.

The project will be paid for by the purchase of benches and the sale of bricks. The price of benches will remain the same as the original construction being $500 for a quarter of a bench, $1,000 for a half of a bench, and $2,000 for a full bench. Anyone who wishes to show support for the veterans of this country are eligible to purchase a bench. Bricks that will be installed in the walkway may be engraved with the purchaser's name at a cost of $50. Any honorably discharged U.S. veteran who has resided in Eaton Township for one year may have their names engraved on the memorial for a contribution of $50 to cover the cost of engraving.

Any funds over and above the cost of the memorial expansion will go into the perpetual care fund to maintain the memorial. The names of qualifying U.S. veterans collected each year will be added to the memorial in time for Memorial Day each year.

Contact the Eaton Township Town Hall for information on how to participate in this program.