New cemetery plans under way in Medford

by Rachel Simpsonfor The Central Record

 MEDFORD—Plans to build a new cemetery on Fostertown Road are under way, according to Earl Stahl Jr., president and CEO of the Medford Cemetery Association. “Park View Cemetery at Kirby’s mill is considered an expansion of the Park View Cemetery at Historic Medford Village, formerly known as Odd Fellows Cemetery,” said Stahl.  according to Stahl, former Township Manager Mike Achey approached him about building a cemetery across from his undeveloped Fostertown Road farmland in 2007. “The township had been asked by members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, who operated Park View Cemetery at Historic Medford Village, to find a spot for a new graveyard because they were running out of burial space,” said Stahl. “I originally had plans to construct industrial buildings on my land but instead offered it to the township. Medford needed something so I stepped up to the plate.”  in 2008, when the Odd Fellows organization announced it could no longer maintain Park View Cemetery at Historic Medford Village, Stahl decided to establish the non-profit Medford Cemetery Association and take on the responsibility of the graveyard’s operation and expansion. A former Exelon employee, Stahl donated his property to the township and together with long-time friend Keri Pyse, began to finance plans for the Park View Cemetery at Kirby’s mill. “I left the corporate world to do this,” he said. “we have donated a lot of time and money because it is something we want to see come to fruition.”  The association received state board approval for Park View at Kirby’s mill in March 2010, which, according to Stahl, is significant because Park View at Kirby’s mill is only the third cemetery to be licensed by the state in more than a decade. “we are also privileged to operate in new Jersey because next to new York, it is the only state that does not allow funeral homes to be combined with cemeteries,” said Stahl.  Since all cemeteries in the state are considered non-profit organizations, they are supported by interest once they are full.   “After there is no more revenue generated by occupancy, the operation goes into self-sustainment. Upkeep funds come from the state’s maintenance and preservation fund throughout the rest of the life of the business,” said Stahl. when designing the architectural plans for the indoor mausoleum, or what will be the centerpiece of the grounds, Stahl said he was careful not to conceptualize anything that would be a financial hardship for the future of the operation. “we had a fully approved design for a two-story building but decided elevators would require too much long-term maintenance. instead, we came up with a single-story design with seven levels of internments.”  according to Stahl, the change will soften the appearance by allowing for high peeks that provide a “more beautiful look” without altering the building’s footprint. one of two mausoleums equipped to hold a combined number of 8,000 crypts, the 6,000-square-foot building will be comprised of marble and granite as well as large glass windows overlooking the grounds and a sanctuary where burial services can be held in the event of inclement weather. Also, according to Stahl, his is the only cemetery in a 12-mile radius with existing mausoleum space.  in addition to the space in the mausoleums, those who wish to be interred in the ground can choose from 4,400 burial plots, each with the capacity to be used for double interments and the option of upright monuments as opposed to flat markers that are easily covered. The cemetery will also be home to a cremation garden area where loved one’s remains can be housed in indoor glass niches or a freestanding column barium, otherwise known as a self-contained group of solid outdoor marble and granite niches. “The idea behind this area is to provide a space for family members to visit and memorialize loved ones even if they have been cremated,” said Stahl.    according to Paul Loriquet, spokesman for the Attorney General’s office whose division oversees the new Jersey Cemetery Board, the project is considered “a significant expansion and rarity in the burial business.” He attributes the slow growth to more people choosing to be cremated. “It’s a national trend. more people are opting for cremation instead of burial.”  according to Pyse, the cemetery will offer something for everyone and the grounds will make people feel at ease. “It is so close to major roads yet tucked away enough that you feel like you’re in the country. It is very pastoral, quiet and peaceful.” The cemetery is also non-denominational and offer areas for specific congregations and religions said Stahl. As of now, plans are running smoothly and the association is only waiting on the township’s blessing for the new mausoleum design. “we just received general permits from the DEP to begin installing drainage for the storm water management system which is required since we are located on wetlands and near the wastewater treatment facility,” said Stahl. according to Stahl, the cemetery was originally supposed to open this past summer, however because the State Cemetery Board took six months longer than expected to approve it, the opening will be pushed to the spring of 2011 with pre-construction sales possibly beginning in December 2010. according to Stahl, who has resided on the land since the early ’90s, “this is a special project and we look forward to doing what we do every day.  if we hadn’t decided to offer this land, the cemetery would have been across the street and the town would not have been able to use that space for the solar panel project they are engineering to help power the water treatment plant. Having the cemetery here has so many positive aspects.”

New cemetery plans under way in Medford