Between the years of 1881 and 1901, a Wilmerding businessman named Jesse Hunter Cunningham had already lost four young children to death. He buried them in Irwin which had the closest cemetery. It was a long ride by horse and buggy and there are newspapers accounts of attending funerals by riding the train.
He and a fellow resident, George B. Snyder, approached local businessmen expressing the need for a community cemetery. They started with two doctors, the owner of a men’s clothing store, the owner of a furniture store, F.A Faller, and others. An association of local people was formed endorsing the vision and assigning Cunningham the job of locating a large area of land and to represent them in the purchase. The cemetery was chartered as a non-profit organization on July 12, 1902
His search was over when he found two adjacent farms bordering the Lincoln Highway, in those days called the Greensburg Pike. Land was purchased from the Overholt heirs, and later, from the Fechtner family for a total of 194 acres.
Instead of borrowing money to make the purchase, the group decided to issue $500 mortgage bonds. The bondholders held a monthly meeting, followed by a Board of Managers meeting. These board members were elected by the bondholders from their group.
The original office was located in Wilmerding which made it convenient for the lot owners to make payments which were usually in cash. The cemetery was still considered to be out in the country and few people had cars. The office was run by J.H.Cunningham who also sold insurance and was the town’s tax collector.
On August 12, 1912, the Saint Peter congregation of McKeesport purchased 40 acres from Grandview Cemetery Association and named this plot the New Saint Joseph Cemetery. At the common entrance a visitor would bear left to enter Grandview and right for New Saint Joseph Cemetery.
On May 30, 1935, the Cemetery Association presented during the Memorial Day services a large plot of ground known as the Flag Pole Triangle, situated near the entrance. It was for the use of any local ex-servicemen or women who were honorably discharged from all branches of the armed services.
On April 2, 1936, a section was set aside for the exclusive use of the congregation of the Serbian Eastern Othodox Church of Wilmerding.
In 1938, Grandview developed a large plot of ground, called the Memorial Section, where memorialization is by flush markers only.
In 1961, the office and garage were almost destroyed by fire. Some of the burial records in the file cabinets were scorched around the edges which made them difficult to read. However a second set of books maintained in the sexton’s residence was the cemetery’s saving grace.
In 1985, Section J was developed. In certain areas, monuments are permitted, and in other areas, flush markers only. In the center of this section, a Columbarium was installed providing 48 niches for cremains. There are still 100 acres of property which can be developed.
The Chapel, which can be viewed from the highway, was built in 1987. By May 1995, the new office was which was added on was completed. Also visible from the highway is the 310 crypt, 192 niche mausoleum which was completed in 1994.
Many changes have occurred throughout the years. Graves which were dug by hand are now dug by machine. The use of vaults was required to prevent the graves from collapsing.
As for Jesse Hunter Cunningham, in 1907, he bought his own 12-grave lot. Then he had the remains of his four young children disinterred from Irwin Union Cemetery and brought to Grandview where they now rest in the same lot with their mother and father and the older children. In an adjacent lot lies the remains of good friend George B. Snyder.
