Toledo State Hospital Cemeteries (1888-1973)
For hundreds of years, people with psychiatric, neurological, and medical conditions were often removed from society, sometimes for a lifetime. In Toledo, many were sent to the state hospital to live out their days. From 1888 until 1973, those who died and weren’t claimed were buried in one of two cemeteries. 1,994 people who had been forgotten in life were also forgotten in death, buried in graves identified by small concrete blocks marked only with the number of their burial. Even these anonymous grave markers were eventually lost underground after decades of neglect. The city grew up around the cemeteries, and the people buried there were forgotten.
In 2005, The Toledo State Hospital Cemetery Reclamation Project (TSHCRP), under the auspices of NAMI of Greater Toledo. TSHCRP began working in cooperation with the University of Toledo (the owner of the properties which contain the cemeteries) and Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital (previously known as Toledo State Hospital).
to restore the two cemeteries and proclaim the honor due the people buried there. Grave markers are being located and raised above ground, monuments and a bench have been installed followed by a footpath in the near future, and families are finding their lost ancestors.
This site provides historic and genealogic information to all those interested in hospital and cemetery history.
We would love to hear from you at toledostatehospital@bex.net if you have information, photos, artifacts, stories, are researching family members, or are interested in volunteering or donating toward this worthwhile project.
Photo: Toledo State Hospital Old Cemetery from Arlington Avenue
"The character of a culture is judged by the way it treats its lame, its halt and its disabled." Margaret Mead [ Robinault, ‘Sex, Society and the Disabled’ (1978)]
TSHCRP is a grass roots organization that welcomes donations to support our efforts to restore the State Hospital cemeteries. Tax deductible donations can be made to NAMI of Greater Toledo. For more details see our Donating page.
Photographs of markers are in the process of being taken. Thanks to Bowsher HS students for their help.
The trees on the eastern side of the old cemetery have been taken down and the area mostly cleared. A workday with a group from Cornerstone Church - who we thank for their help with the project - was held a few weeks ago: click here for details of the workday.
The next part of the project is to clear and level the ground where the trees were removed and install a pathway between the trees shown in the lower photograph.
If you are interested in donating time, money or equipment to help us with this project, please contact us. Remember, we are part of a 501(c)3 organization.
If you would like to donate time or equipment to help us complete this transformation and raise awareness of the state hospital in the process, please contact us.
