Stephen Schuler's “Reports of the Pewee Valley Cemetery Company,” 1887-88
These excerpts from Stephen Schuler's "Reports of the Pewee Valley Cemetery Company" were put together by Town Historian Katie S. Smith for the April 1974 Call of the Pewee. Schuler compiled this history during the winter of 1887 from original documents:
Photo from the April 1974 Call of the Pewee
"In the month of May 1871, Henry Smith, one of the oldest settlers of Pewee Valley (formerly known by the name of Smith's Depot), engaged the attention and enlisted the interest of a number of prominent citizens of the place -- in the laudable undertaking of establishing a Public Cemetery.
To provide for the purchase of a property and also for necessary expenses of enclosing and partially adorning the purchased ground: a subscription list was opened and in a short time the sum of $1410 was thereon promised to be paid.
Henry Smith was delegated to make a proper selection of a suitable plot of ground and to report its cost, etc. In June his selection and report was accepted. A preliminary Organization with J.H. Rhorer, Hy. Smith and S. Schuler as Executive Committee was formed. The land -- 14 acres -- selected by Hy. Smith was bought Date of August 3, 1871 of Geo. W. Curl for the sum of $400; and also for an entrance -- 1 acre -- from Saml. Curl along his S.W. boundary for the sum -- $118.
In August the services of S. Schuler as landscape gard. were engaged for making a suitable adapted design for an ornamental-rural -- cemetery.
By October the fencing-in was about completed. In the early spring of 1872 the sections shaped and partly graded were staked off into "lots" and planted with shade ornamental trees, etc. -- as it was considered by the committee -- that the amount -- that would be realized on final collection of subscriptions -- would fully cover all the expenses incurred.
... BUT herein they met with a serious and perplexing disappointment --
During the later part of Winter 1871, Judge P.B. Muir formulated a charter and had it presented to the legislature at Frankfort where it passed on the 6th Day of March 1872."
The committee soon began to experience difficulty in collecting the promised subscriptions. By 1873 being $350 short, S. Schuler accepted a note for $210 to be paid out of the first sale of lots.
"On November 12, 1877, a change of entrance was effected -- to its present location at the S.E. end of Maple Ave.
During the next 12 years, 1874 on -- Henry Smith continued his active exertions and attentions to the cemetery grounds until he, finally on the 18th Day of May, 1883, was himself laid to rest in his ever cherished 'lot' at the side of his faithful companion who had preceded him."
In the fall of 1888, H.M. Woodruff, S.H. Curl and S. Schuler, the duly elected Trustees, accepted a proposition made by Mr. Geo. Metz, and agreed to open a roadway 40 feet wide from the end of Maple Ave. to the property of Geo. Metz, for the sum of $200. Metz also agreed, at his own cost to put up a fence along the S.W. side of said new road from the new Gate to his boundary.
In 1896, Henry Smith's grandson, Wm. H. Smith, was elected to replace Mr. Metz, who had died in 1895.
"On July 2nd 1904, at a called meeting of holding-over Directors of the Pewee Valley Cemetery Company -- it was resolved; To approve assignment made on request -- of Burial Lot named Section 111 to the State of Kentucky for use of Confederate Home; herewith adopted (cont. 11,275 sq. ft. at the cost of 3-1/2 ct. p. sq. ft.: $394.62.)"
In 1907 Mr. Schuler, giving old age and blindness, retired from board, turning over to them his history and all Treasurer accts.
Mr. Matthews Fletcher and Mr. Norris Summers are the Trustees of the Pewee Valley Cemetery Co. today.
To provide for the purchase of a property and also for necessary expenses of enclosing and partially adorning the purchased ground: a subscription list was opened and in a short time the sum of $1410 was thereon promised to be paid.
Henry Smith was delegated to make a proper selection of a suitable plot of ground and to report its cost, etc. In June his selection and report was accepted. A preliminary Organization with J.H. Rhorer, Hy. Smith and S. Schuler as Executive Committee was formed. The land -- 14 acres -- selected by Hy. Smith was bought Date of August 3, 1871 of Geo. W. Curl for the sum of $400; and also for an entrance -- 1 acre -- from Saml. Curl along his S.W. boundary for the sum -- $118.
In August the services of S. Schuler as landscape gard. were engaged for making a suitable adapted design for an ornamental-rural -- cemetery.
By October the fencing-in was about completed. In the early spring of 1872 the sections shaped and partly graded were staked off into "lots" and planted with shade ornamental trees, etc. -- as it was considered by the committee -- that the amount -- that would be realized on final collection of subscriptions -- would fully cover all the expenses incurred.
... BUT herein they met with a serious and perplexing disappointment --
During the later part of Winter 1871, Judge P.B. Muir formulated a charter and had it presented to the legislature at Frankfort where it passed on the 6th Day of March 1872."
The committee soon began to experience difficulty in collecting the promised subscriptions. By 1873 being $350 short, S. Schuler accepted a note for $210 to be paid out of the first sale of lots.
"On November 12, 1877, a change of entrance was effected -- to its present location at the S.E. end of Maple Ave.
During the next 12 years, 1874 on -- Henry Smith continued his active exertions and attentions to the cemetery grounds until he, finally on the 18th Day of May, 1883, was himself laid to rest in his ever cherished 'lot' at the side of his faithful companion who had preceded him."
In the fall of 1888, H.M. Woodruff, S.H. Curl and S. Schuler, the duly elected Trustees, accepted a proposition made by Mr. Geo. Metz, and agreed to open a roadway 40 feet wide from the end of Maple Ave. to the property of Geo. Metz, for the sum of $200. Metz also agreed, at his own cost to put up a fence along the S.W. side of said new road from the new Gate to his boundary.
In 1896, Henry Smith's grandson, Wm. H. Smith, was elected to replace Mr. Metz, who had died in 1895.
"On July 2nd 1904, at a called meeting of holding-over Directors of the Pewee Valley Cemetery Company -- it was resolved; To approve assignment made on request -- of Burial Lot named Section 111 to the State of Kentucky for use of Confederate Home; herewith adopted (cont. 11,275 sq. ft. at the cost of 3-1/2 ct. p. sq. ft.: $394.62.)"
In 1907 Mr. Schuler, giving old age and blindness, retired from board, turning over to them his history and all Treasurer accts.
Mr. Matthews Fletcher and Mr. Norris Summers are the Trustees of the Pewee Valley Cemetery Co. today.
