VINELAND – Siloam Cemetery, founded in 1864, earned a place of distinction on the N.J. Register of Historic Places.

The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office approved the designation for the 14.39 acres donated by Vineland founder Charles K. Landis as well as the cemetery’s chapel and winter mausoleum.

“We know the history is here,” said Chris Mohan of the Board of Trustees of the Siloam Cemetery Association.

Earning recognition as a site “worthy of preservation” will help spread the word.

“It puts us on the map,” Mohan said.

The North Valley Avenue landmarks are now on track to be considered by the National Park Service for addition to the National Register of Historic Places, said Bob Craig, state Historic Preservation Office registration program supervisor.

The historic portion of the privately owned graveyard is the final resting place of about 7,300 people. Among the local notables are Dr. Thomas B Welch, who recreated Welch’s Grape Juice; naturalist Mary D. Treat, a colleague of Charles Darwin; Dr. Henry Goddard, a pioneer in the field of mental studies; and 31 suffragettes, including Mary Tillotson, who cast a ballot in the 1868 presidential election.

But it wasn’t name dropping that got Siloam Cemetery the honor.

A model of European design in South Jersey

It’s earned the accolade on its own merits, specifically its layout and design, said Susan Medio, who oversees the ceremony’s office.

Siloam was among the first in South Jersey to be developed as a “Victorian-era garden cemetery,” which was highlighted in the trustees’ application to the state Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office.

“That’s the part that was unique and special,” Medio told The Daily Journal, while walking along the winding pathways and showcasing the garden landscape that includes a dense canopy of trees. “Not many of them exist now.”

Although some paths are grass-covered, the cemetery’s design, right down do the names of the roadways, remain unchanged, the trustees noted.

“We have a piece of valuable state history that we can enjoy and appreciate,” Mohan said.

Through advertising, Landis enticed folks to come to his new South Jersey settlement to live and work. He also helped establish a final resting place for his residents.

Siloam Cemetery was planned to be “picturesque, beautiful and tranquil,” with its canopy of trees and winding walkways.

A look at Vineland's first cemetery:Siloam and its interesting history

Inspired by Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia where he grew up, Landis was also reportedly influenced by his travels throughout Europe where the romantic movement was popular at the time.

Preserving the more than 150-year-old grounds against the elements

The Siloam Cemetery Association continues to maintain the grounds and makes historic preservation a priority.

The trustees started on the register application in 2011, right after the rededication of the Charles K. Landis family plot and the launch of the chapel restoration, Mohan said.

A year later, Siloam Cemetery suffered a devastating one-two punch of the derecho and Superstorm Sandy that ripped through the lush treescape causing more than $100,000 in damage, Mohan said.

Undeterred and with limited donations, they pressed on with refurbishing the chapel, which is nearly complete. Inside the paneled doors, the maple wood floors glow from light filtered through the stained glass, including the “Siloam Cemetery” glass, funded by Medio.

Trustees are optimistic that the historic designation will give them access to grants to fund additional preservation projects, including the chapel’s main stained-glass window — a $30,000 project.

They are no strangers to overcoming financial hurdles. Before becoming self sufficient by selling plots, the association held strawberry festivals to support itself.

Deborah M. Marko is a senior reporter with The Daily Journal. Currently focused on breaking news and education issues, she also oversees community outreach programs that promote literacy and public safety. Got a story idea? Call 856-563-5256. Follow on Twitter: @dmarko_dj Instagram: deb.marko.dj Help support local journalism with a The Daily Journal subscription.

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