The Story Behind This Forgotten Pennsylvania Cemetery Is Incredibly Eerie

Hidden beneath overgrown brush and grass lie the coffins of an estimated 90,000 individuals – each with his own story, his own history, and his own family. Families who trek to this forgotten Pennsylvania cemetery can count themselves as lucky if they're able to find their loved one's grave. Some travel from miles away, only to leave disappointed after discovering the earth has somehow swallowed their loved one's gravestone and, in effect, their loved one.

Plots sold years in advance, now pretty much invisible, lead to a terrible dilemma: What are the loved ones of the recently deceased to do when the plot their beloved family member purchased no longer exists?

Philadelphia's golden history certainly gave few clues to Mount Moriah Cemetery's bleak future. Who would think that it would be all but forgotten by everyone but loved ones of those buried there, history buffs, and a group of passionate citizens? Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, is an organization dedicated to helping clean up and restore the final resting place of so many who deserve to be remembered.

But, before we jump to the sad state in which Mount Moriah Cemetery now sits, let's visit the storied past of this forgotten cemetery.

Mount Moriah Cemetery, a modest graveyard of only 54 acres, first opened in 1855. Visitors to the cemetery entered through a regal brownstone entrance and gatehouse.

The cemetery became so popular that it eventually spanned 380 acres and earned the distinction of being one of the city's largest cemeteries.

From its earliest days, Mount Moriah Cemetery became the final resting place of veterans from numerous wars: The Civil War, the Revolutionary War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Many acclaimed individuals also had their remains interred at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Betsy Ross was buried at the cemetery, although her remains were allegedly moved to the Betsy Ross House sometime in the 1970s.

Another distinguished resident of the cemetery is Henry Jones. Jones, an African-American entrepreneur, fought to be buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery and the Supreme Court agreed with him in 1875.

Mount Moriah Cemetery stands as one of several cemeteries in the area that allow Muslims to be buried on its grounds.

Communal burials, in which several family members are buried on top of each other, are also allowed.

The popular cemetery has been overseen by the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association since its incorporation in 1855. The Mount Moriah Cemetery Association, as a result, is responsible for maintaining the cemetery's grounds.

Maintenance remained a top priority for the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association even after the final board member died in 2004.

An association employee apparently oversaw the ground's maintenance until 2011.

In 2011 the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association, to everyone's surprise, suddenly ceased to exist. No one from the association alerted anyone to the closure.

Mount Moriah Cemetery now added the word "Abandoned" in front of its name because it had no owner. The final member of the Mount Moriah Cemetery Association died in 2004.

The cemetery, already showing signs of neglect in 2004, took a turn for the worse after its abandonment in 2011. Grave markers disappeared under overgrown grass and weeds. Landmarks and monuments toppled over. The Mount Moriah Cemetery became desolate.

But, hope has not been lost thanks to passionate family members and concerned community members who formed Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery. It's a non-profit organization that has begun work to restore, preserve, and promote the well-being of the cemetery in honor of all those who are buried there and, with luck, those who will one day be buried there.

Get a glimpse of Mount Moriah Cemetery from above. Click the video below:

The ending of the story behind this forgotten Pennsylvania cemetery has yet to be written but the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery and concerned community members are determined to make that ending a happy and a successful one.

To learn more about Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery or to get involved, click here to visit their website.