Forest Rose Cemetery
Forest Rose Cemetery in Lancaster, Ohio, has become associated with a number of local legends, most notably those concerning a stone sphere located on a child’s grave marker. According to longstanding accounts, the stone orb is said to change position, roll across the grave site, or intermittently disappear, particularly during nighttime hours. This feature has become the primary focus of reported paranormal narratives associated with the cemetery. Additional reports describe alleged apparitions in the vicinity of the graves, including a female figure dressed in period clothing and instances of an indistinct, luminous mist. These visual accounts are typically described as brief and lacking clearly defined features. Visitors have also frequently reported subjective environmental sensations, including feelings of heaviness, discomfort, or an impression of being unwelcome while on the grounds. Such sensations are often noted as being more pronounced during periods of inclement weather. Collectively, these reports form part of the cemetery’s oral history and contribute to its reputation within regional folklore.
Historical Summary
Forest Rose Cemetery was formally established in 1883 following the City of Lancaster’s acquisition of farmland designated for use as a municipal burial ground. Prior to its establishment, the property contained two distinct cemeteries: the German Burying Ground and the Lutheran Cemetery. These burial grounds were originally separated by an open field and served different congregational communities. The German Burying Ground, founded in 1826, occupies the northern portion of what is now Forest Rose Cemetery and overlooks Baltimore Road. The Lutheran Cemetery, established in 1848, was situated on the southern portion of the property near what is now the Marks Avenue alley. Upon the city’s purchase of the land in 1883, both cemeteries were formally incorporated into the newly established Forest Rose Cemetery. In addition to these consolidations, several other early burial sites from the Lancaster area were relocated to Forest Rose Cemetery as a result of urban development and infrastructure expansion. Shortly after the cemetery’s establishment, the German Lutheran Cemetery previously located at the northwest corner of Mulberry Street and Forest Rose Avenue was transferred to the site. Later, around 1907, portions of the Old City Burial Ground, also known as the Old Methodist Cemetery, were relocated from their original location near the intersection of High Street and Chestnut Street and reinterred within Forest Rose Cemetery.
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