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Heritage
Spring Grove
was chartered in 1845, and is one of the largest nonprofit cemeteries
in the United States, and the most beautiful according to thousands
of visitors who come to visit every year. There are 733 acres of
which approximately 433 acres are developed.
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One
of the things that Spring Grove is famous for is its lawn plan. The
lawn plan was started by Strauch
and considered unconventional at the time. Later, the lawn plan was
accepted as a model for many
other cemeteries. Strauch believed in developing the landscape to
harmonize with nature. He re-routed roads to follow the natural shapes
of Spring Grove's hills and valleys. He built lakes, islands, footbridges,
protected woodland areas, and brought hundreds of trees and plants
from other parts of the world. He asked lot owners to remove the fences
and hedgerows they had built around grave sites. Spring Grove
has been called by experts the major example of the American rural
cemetery.
Who Owns Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum?
The Cemetery as a whole is owned and managed by Spring Grove Cemetery
and Arboretum, a nonprofit corporation which was formed by a special
Act of the Ohio General Assembly in 1845, and which we will refer
to as the "Corporation." The Corporation owns the entire
cemetery, subject, of course, to the interests of the persons holding
rights in burial lots, spaces, crypts and niches.
The internal
structure of the Corporation is regulated by a law of the State
of Ohio which applies to all
Ohio nonprofit corporations. The Corporation's sole purpose is to
operate a nonprofit cemetery and crematory. Responsibility for setting
the policies of the Corporation lies with its Board of Trustees,
a
group of outstanding citizens who serve without pay. The Trustees
have adopted Bylaws to govern the internal workings of the Corporation,
and Rules and Regulations to establish guidelines for burials and
other items of importance to purchasers of burial rights in the
Cemetery.
Who Chooses
the Board of Trustees?
Each Trustee is elected for a term of three years. When vacancies
occur, a Nominating Committee of the Board Trustees proposes replacements,
and the vacancies are filled by vote of the remaining Board members.
In this way, the Board of Trustees is self-perpetuating.
How are the
Officers of the Cemetery Chosen?
The Board of Trustees elects the Chairman of the Board, the President
and other officers of the Corporation annually.
So Spring
Grove is "Nonprofit." Does that Mean that Spring Grove
Sells at Cost?
No. Spring Grove strives to earn a reasonable net income from its
operations and investments, so that money will always be available
to maintain the grounds and facilities, even after the last burial
space is sold. The Corporation's nonprofit status under Ohio law
and the Federal income tax law means that any income in excess of
expenses cannot be paid to any private individual, as a for-profit
corporation pays dividends to a stockholder; rather, Spring Grove's
earnings are used or invested by the Corporation, free of income
tax, for the development and preservation of Spring Grove for future
generations. The status also means that gifts to Spring Grove are
charitable contributions under Federal income tax law, deductible
to the extent allowed by that law.
What is Spring
Grove's Religious Affiliation?
Spring Grove is not sponsored by any religious faith and is non-sectarian.
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