Cemeteries
Founded in 1845, Oak Park was the first cemetery in Charlotte. The women of Charlotte organized a sewing society in 1851 to raise money to build a fence around the cemetery. Mrs. Shaw, Andrews, Burns, Baldwin, Baker, Coulter, Curry, Maxson, Wallace, Whitehouse, Munson, Tannerhill, Opt, Mrs. William Johnson, Mrs. Mary Collins, Mrs. Stephen Collins, and Mrs. Millett were the members of that organziation. Oak Park Cemetery served both Carmel and Eaton Townships. It was covered in underbrush and when one of the settlers died a path had to be cleared to the site of the grave. The plot was used as a burial ground until the Maple Hill Cemetery site was selected in 1867, and later a removal was made.
The Charlotte Cemetery Company was organized in 1867 to develop a new cemetery for Charlotte. Eventually, the Reilly Property was purchased for that purpose on September 18th, 1869. That property was chosen because of its natural beauty. Its hills, rolling landscape, and creek in the rear contributed to a sense of landscape harmony befitting of a burial ground. Maple Hill Cemetery was formally established on those grounds through a special meeting on September 28th, 1869.
The Charlotte Cemetery Company was organized in 1867 to develop a new cemetery for Charlotte. Eventually, the Reilly Property was purchased for that purpose on September 18th, 1869. That property was chosen because of its natural beauty. Its hills, rolling landscape, and creek in the rear contributed to a sense of landscape harmony befitting of a burial ground. Maple Hill Cemetery was formally established on those grounds through a special meeting on September 28th, 1869.
In Maple Hill Cemetery there are two U.S Military veterans buried and remembered, both received the Medal of Honor. Michael Hudson immigrated to the U.S from Ireland and joined the Marine Corps from Brooklyn on September 12th, 1861. He was a sergeant assigned aboard the USS Brooklyn during the American Civil War. During the Battle of Mobile Bay the Brooklyn suffered severe damage and many men on board were killed, Hudson continued fighting through the two-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram CSS Tennessee. On December 31st, 1864 he received the military's highest of decoration the Medal of Honor. The other U.S Military veteran who received the Medal of Honor is Francis C. Flaherty. Francis C. Flaherty is memorialized in Maple Hill Cemetery, among him are some of his family members.
Thomas Roller was the first cabinet maker in Charlotte and was also the first casket maker. In the spring of 1919, a new company was started in Charlotte, it was called the Charlotte Casket Company. The president, George Weber, came here from Linden he was joined by William Lansing and George Bennett. Both came from previous companies. The company would hire 25 people at the start of the company and hoped to hire 50 once they were up and running. They planned of selling a line of oak and walnut caskets. The demand was high because there were only two other companies in the state at the time selling caskets. Caskets cost between $200 and $300 to purchase. The company only lasted until 1926.