Arlington History

EARLY HISTORY

WASHINGTON's LAND WARRANT
Arlington can be traced directly to our country’s very beginnings through the Abner Johnson family. Of Scotch ancestry, the Johnson family immigrated to Basking Ridge,

New Jersey long before the American Revolution. During the War of Independence, Abner Johnson joined the military and became a Wagoner in General George Washington’s army near Morristown, PA. Following the war, his services to General Washington and to his country were rewarded with land warrants covering half a section of land. Mr. Johnson contracted with the well-known surveyor, Isreal Ludlow in 1778 requesting that Colonel Ludlow locate a favorable half section within eight to ten miles from Cincinnati. In 1779, Colonel Ludlow selected the west half section of 32 adjoining the village of Mt. Pleasant.

FARM ESTABLISHED
In 1804, Abner Johnson’s young son, twenty-three year old Cary, came over the mountains on horseback to settle the land and establish the Johnson farm. Upon arriving, Cary built a log cabin (about 100 yards northwest of the present Administrative Center) that stood until 1880. In 1807, Cary was joined by his brothers Andrew and Samuel, and all three sons were deeded property by their father, Abner, who migrated to the area in 1813.

THE JOHNSON HOMESTEAD
After marrying Rachel Jessup in 1805, Cary Johnson, a trained carpenter, began building a brick home. Native stone was used to form the basement walls and clay, excavated from the property

was formed into bricks, fired on site, and laid-up in several courses to build the first and second floor walls. Mortar used between the bricks was made of a mixture of sand and lime while wood harvested from the property was used in the “homestead.” The homestead remained in the Johnson family into the early 1900’s. Benson Johnson inherited the property from his father, Cary, upon his death in 1866. Benson, a farmer, and his wife, Sarah, lived his entire life in the house his father built and on the 236 acres of land he had cleared from the wilderness.

ARLINGTON IS BORN

THE PICNIC GROVE
Following the death of Benson Johnson and his wife Sarah, a group of enterprising businessmen purchased the property (and the homestead) and developed what was called Johnson’s Picnic Grove. A large dance hall was built as well as many concession stands. On Sunday afternoons the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra played for the picnickers. Ball games were played and horseback riding and other activities were available. In the evenings, people moved to the large dance hall.

MEMORIAL PARK ESTABLISHED
In 1934, with the advent of memorial park cemeteries across the United States, Johnson’s Picnic

Grove became Arlington Memorial Gardens. In holding to the memorial park principles, natural and scenic vistas were created amongst the majestic hardwoods. Rather than upright monuments, central features were located in the center of each “garden” and flush bronze memorials were used to mark the graves. The cemetery, rather than appearing as a place of death, took on the appearance of a place of life. The homestead served as the office and doubled as the residence for the cemetery superintendent.

TODAY AT ARLINGTON

SCULPTURES
Today, Arlington encompasses 165 acres with all but 30 developed.

The grounds are divided into 29 individually unique gardens featuring themes of Christianity, patriotism and world peace. Incorporated into each garden are inspiring sculpted memorials by renowned artists Dominic Zappia and Aldo Buttini executed in marble or granite symbolizing Arlington’s permanent and enduring beauty and a mausoleum complex is a fixture on the south side of Arlington Lake.

CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
In 2002, the Arlington Board of Trustees approved construction for a new Administrative Center that would facilitate the cemetery’s operations. The resulting new building offers bright new spaces and private family conference areas, but it also blends in with the historical homestead, which was preserved by the Trustees.

The Board of Trustees consists of a group of community leaders who oversee Arlington’s not-for-profit corporation. This special not-for-profit status is reserved for corporations that are formed for purposes other than operating a profit seeking business (for instance, a purpose such as a charitable, religious, educational or scientific cause). However, the not-for-profit status does not mean that the corporation cannot make money; it simply is prohibited from making money for private gain. This designation therefore supports the perpetual mission of a cemetery corporation.

Furthermore, in order to advance its perpetual mission, the Board of Trustees elects new members upon the retirement or resignation of a member and operates under laws established by Ohio’s General Assembly and its own internal corporate policies. To promote the efficient management of the cemetery, the Board appoints officers who are responsible for day-to-day activities.