Odd Fellows Cemetery

Odd Fellows Cemetery was a burial ground in North Philadelphia West that covered substantial land between Diamond Street and the streets numbered in the low twenties. The entrance featured a distinctive gate structure designed in Egyptian Revival style using brown stone.

The cemetery was founded in 1849 by the Odd Fellows fraternal organization and initially received around 277 Civil War soldiers who were later moved to Philadelphia National Cemetery. The site was acquired by Philadelphia authorities in 1951 and most remains were transferred to other burial grounds.

The cemetery held the remains of notable figures including painter Manuel Azadigian, U.S. Mint assistant engraver Peter Cross, and novelist George Lippard.

The cemetery grounds are no longer accessible as a public burial site and have been repurposed by the city following its acquisition. Visitors interested in the history can consult local records and historical documentation to learn more about this former burial ground.

In 2013, construction workers found 28 graves beneath a playground built in 1954, revealing that the relocation process was incomplete when authorities closed the site. This discovery highlighted gaps in how the transfer of remains was documented and managed.

Location: Pennsylvania

GPS coordinates: 39.98680,-75.17280

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:07