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LEXINGTON CEMETERY COMPANY |
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At the request of a group of Lexington's most prominent citizens, the
Kentucky General Assembly approved an act on February 5, 1848 that
incorporated the Lexington Cemetery Company. The act required the cemetery
to provide perpetual care of its grounds and graves. On January 23, 1849,
four men, decided to raise by subscription the sum of $12,000 to buy land
and get the cemetery started. In only a few days, twenty-four men each
pledged $500. On February 12, 1849, the General Assembly amended the
charter to name most of these subscribers. The board purchased a
forty-acre tract of land known as Boswell's Woods, which was located on
Leestown Pike. They paid $7,000 for the heavily forested land that had
been used as hunting grounds.
The first general manager was Charles S. Bell. Bell was hired on April 1, 1849. His dream was to create a park-like, landscaped cemetery. The cemetery sold its first lot on August 18, 1849. On March 1, 1891, James Hay Nicol was named assistant general manager to help the aging Bell. Bell was, however, officially retained as general manager until his death on July 29, 1905, when Nicol succeeded him. Nicol remained the general manager for nearly 31 years, retiring on December 1, 1936, at the age of 75. 31-year-old Richard F. Allison succeeded Nicol. Allison continued as superintendent until December 31, 1973, when he and his wife, who was secretary at the cemetery, retired. He was active in community affairs until his unexpected death on December 5, 1984. Robert Wachs, who had served as his assistant general manager for eighteen years and had worked at the cemetery since 1956, succeeded Allison. Wachs continued the policies of his predecessor, both in the horticultural aspects of the cemetery and in taking advantage of technological advances in maintenance and operations and in the office. Prior to his retirement on April 1, 1997, Wachs had visited cemeteries in forty-eight states and most of the outstanding floral gardens in North America. He was active in the Southern and International Cemetery & Funeral associations and a member of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta. After 27 years as assistant general manager, Daniel Scalf was named general manager of the cemetery, April 1997, succeeding Bob Wachs. Scalf began his career at the cemetery in 1965 as a part-time grounds-man while he was a student at the University of Kentucky. Scalf joined the management team June 1, 1970. Only the fifth general manager since 1849, Scalf is a past president of Kentucky Cemetery Association and the Southern Cemetery Association. Additionally, he is active in the International Cemetery and Funeral Association. Beyond his many responsibilities at the cemetery and for cemetery associations, Scalf has been an educational speaker at various conventions. The Lexington Cemetery reflects the social and economic changes that have taken place in this city and county. Within its gates lie people of different political, economic and social standing, race and religion, all in equality in the majestic beauty of nature. Memorials recognize the mothers, fathers, farmers, clergy, merchants, horseman, bankers, lawyers, war heroes and people from all walks of life who rest in peace. Due to the planning and stewardship of the trustees, management and workers there will be space available for the next 100 years for people who will have contributed to the growth and well-being of Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky. This is a very brief summary of the history of Lexington Cemetery Company please visit www.lexcem.org to see the many accomplishments of the 5 general managers over the 150+ years of service to the Lexington / Fayette County area.
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