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History
Calvary Cemetery
is established
Calvary Cemetery Association
of Altoona was established in 1893 by
Right Rev. Richard Phelan, Bishop of Pittsburgh,
Rev. N. J. O’Reilly, Pastor of St. Mark’s,
and Rev. T. P. Smith, Pastor of Sacred
Heart, and 12 of the most influential
and respected Catholic laymen of their
time: John O’Toole, John McNevin, Matthew
Dunn, P.R. Halton, Bernard Kelly, John
O’Neill, John Halton, R.S. Ball, James
Tiernan, A.J. Mills, John J. Hendrick
and James Wyrough. When St. Leo’s and
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel were created, they
were included in representation on the
Board of Managers.
St. John’s Cemetery deeded to Calvary
Cemetery, following the incorporation
of Calvary in 1893, Right Rev. Richard
Phelan, Trustee for St. John’s Church
(now, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament)
conveyed title of St. John’s Cemetery
to Calvary Cemetery, which has since managed
and maintained it.
Calvary gifts
land for BGHS
In 1920, the cemetery
granted a 100' right of way to the commonwealth
of PA to build Rte 200 (currently Pleasant
Valley Boulevard). This severed approximately
16 acres from the rest of the cemetery.
Although many lucrative offers were received
for this budding property, no sale was
ever made. Calvary superintendent, Dennis
O’Leary suggested that the ground be used
for a catholic nursing home or high school.
Bishop Richard T. Guilfoyle accepted the
field for what is now Bishop Guilfoyle
High School. No money or any consideration
was conveyed to Calvary Cemetery Association
for the very valuable tract of land on
which Bishop Guilfoyle High School stands
today.
Calvary Cemetery
is modernized and opens to serve All Faiths
The original charter
of Calvary Cemetery, set forth to operate
a public cemetery with sections reserved
for the burial of Catholic’s, entitled
for burial under the regulations of the
Roman Catholic Church. However, in 1989,
Bishop Joseph P. Adamec declared that
Calvary Cemetery is not, nor ever was,
officially part of the Altoona Johnstown
Diocese. Facing the ever increasing financial
challenges of maintaining over 45 acres
of ground, Calvary opted to become a progressive,
modern cemetery and to secure new lot
owners by opening its grounds to serve
All-Faiths. Even without the endorsement
of the church, the majority of burials
each year at Calvary Cemetery continue
to come from the catholic community.
Throughout the 1970s,
'80s and '90s, a “Pre-Need” sales program
was developed, accounting and record keeping
was computerized, mausoleum complexes
erected, new ground sections were developed
and related products and services were
offered for sale. The new millennium is
an exciting time for Calvary Cemetery.
Five new ground sections have been developed
and mausoleum additions erected! The Board
of Directors is still firmly dedicated,
as in the past 100 years, to keeping Calvary
Cemetery an exceptionally well-maintained
eternal resting place!
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