By Amanda Amsel
Staff Writer
Volunteers are trying to gather support for a preservation grant for Green Lawn Abbey.
Supporters of an historical building located in Franklin Township recently attended a trustees meeting to ask for support for a preservation grant.
Kate Matheny, grants coordinator for the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department, recently asked for a support letter from the trustees on behalf of Green Lawn Abbey.
“Green Lawn Abbey is a mausoleum that was created in the mid 1800s,” she said. “In the 1980s it didn’t have money to operate anymore and closed.”
However, since 2007 dedicated volunteers have worked to restore the Abbey and once again turn it into a premier place to be laid to rest.
Listed on the national register as an Ohio historical building, volunteers are applying for grants to continue to restore the building.
“Because it is listed on the national register, we can apply for state funding, as well as federal tax credits for redevelopment,” Matheny said. “We came to the Franklin Township board of trustees meeting to ask for a letter of support to help us as we apply for these grants.”
So far volunteers have renovated two out of the four rooms in the Abbey. These restorations have included replacing the roof, restoring stain glass windows and stabilizing the front steps of the building.
“We also will be restoring the lighting soon and cleaning the marble that was damaged by water,” Matheny said.
Organizers plan to once again have the Abbey be a location to be laid to rest.
“We will be having an open house from 10 a.m. to noon on Memorial Day (May 25),” Matheny said. “We hope all Franklin Township residents will join us to see what a treasure they have in their backyard.”
For more information on Green Lawn Abbey, visit www.greenlawnabbey.org.
