The Gatehouse was created between 1849 and 1850 and became the home of the cemetery caretaker and his family. In the 1920s there was a chapel on what is now Montgomery Lawn. It was dedicated on July 25, 1852. Some death notices and funeral accounts mention its use. There is nothing known about what became of the chapel, but in 1922 aerial photographs it is missing from the cemetery.
In 1989 the Gatehouse caught fire and no repairs were done. Although the fire did not break through the roof, there was extensive structural damage to the floors and all of the windows, making it uninhabitable.
When the Historical Society took over the care of the cemetery, a decision had to be made whether to raze or renovate the building. After reviews by an engineer and archivist, we felt the historic building was sound and salvageable. Through the efforts and foresight of many dedicated people, the building became a welcome space for visitors to the cemetery. Besides providing a meeting and exhibit space, it now has a functional kitchen and public, handicap accessible restroom, as well as a rental apartment on the second floor with separate access. The window sash and woodwork were custom made to match the original and painted the original color.
This video was made by the Historical Society of Montgomery County, PA. We are a private non-profit library and museum located in Norristown, PA. HSMC maintains Historic Montgomery Cemetery.
Funding for this video is provided by PHC and NEH as part of the CARES Act of 2020.
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