A short history of Captain John Gilmore Sr., for whom the cemetery was named. He arrived in Donora around 1862. Captain Gilmore operated a ferry line of about 8 vessels that transported passengers, and freight down the Monongahela River to Pittsburgh, and as far as Brownsville. He he purchased the land from the Bissell Family, and decided to donate the block of land located on Route 837, and the corner of the 13th street extension, and below Alley Road, to make a town cemetery. He lived in a 2 story "mansion" that was erected on the corner of Thompson Ave, and 13th St, in Donora, not far from the area his vessels were docked. Captain Gilmore unfortunately was the first to use the cemetery and buried his son Charles there, age 4. Graves of many infants and children that died from typhoid fever, croup, and pneumonia have been laid to rest. Some Fifty eight years later, around 1937, the last interred was also a child.



No sign however has ever adorned the stone steps that were originally in the middle of the front area of the cemetery on Rt. 837. The steps do not exist anymore due to the retaining wall built (2009-2014), about 400 ft in length, to prevent further erosion from occurring. It was before the 1950's when it poured a torrential rain and the many of the inhabitants were displaced and the road held much of the land. Markers may have been moved as well and are displaced fro the original spot were they may have been erected.



Vegetation at that time, was just beginning to regrow, due to the Mills, and Zinc works that kept it from growing. Since then it has never stopped growing. The area has been cleared at least 3 times in at least the last 10 yrs, and has not been maintained to keep it cleared. There are approximately 42 Civil war Soldiers, 1 Revolutionary Solider, and 1 W.W. 1 Veteran buried there.



First and foremost these are unofficial records. The Gilmore Family still maintains the log book for the cemetery. The contents here is as complete, with the exception of plots, some dates, corrected names, displaced markers, etc, as can be expected without the original records. Funeral homes in the Donora and surrounding areas, some now extinct, provided much of the information found.



"People came by street cars to have picnics in the park". A photograph in the "Donora" book, shows that parades used to be held for those to march to the cemetery on patriotic holidays. A beautiful stone road used to lead up to the Gilmore monument, of which now, most were moved to Monongahela Cemetery. But there are many stories that remain within these listed memorials. The over turned grave markers, some have laid face down for years, too heavy to move without machinery. The stories need to be told, so the fabulous cemetery history that once was a beautiful place can live on and many can come and find their ancestors.