Olivet Cemetery of St. Michaels, MD
Phone: 410-745-2534
Email: olivet.slmc@gmail.com
The Olivet Cemetery presents a beautiful and peaceful repose for families and their loved ones. Historically, the cemetery has been in use for almost 200 years.
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History
Olivet Cemetery was known as “The Wayfarer’s Lot” and was the burial place for indigents and unknown seamen washed up on the shores of the Miles and Choptank Rivers. When Sardis Chapel, now St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, moved from St. Mary’s Square in 1871 to its present location, the cemetery on St. Mary’s Square ceased to be used.
Many of the gravestones from St. Mary's Square were moved to family plots in Olivet. The remainder were placed in the southwest corner (now surrounded by a wrought iron fence). In this area are the gravestones of Thomas Auld and his first wife, Lucretia Planner Anthony, who legally owned Frederick Douglass for a significant period of time.
More land was acquired in 1883 from Edward Willey, ship builder. Twenty four acres were bought for $300 by Richard Stearns Dodson of Norfolk, VA, and Navy Point, Saint Michaels. The cemetery was designed with a large center circle with walks and drives to accommodate 680 burial sites.
Garretson West, a member of Sardis Chapel, lived in Saint Michaels in the early 1800s. He was poor in worldly goods but rich in faith and died February 23, 1853 in poverty. A large obelisk was erected in his honor in the circle of the new cemetery addition.
In 1994, the Garretson West Memorial Columbarium was constructed around the memorial obelisk. It is brick-walled with 132 spaces for interments. Brick walks flow through and around the inside perimeter.
In 1997, the Garden of the Rock sections A and B were completed and accomodate1,080 sites.
Costs and Fees
A columbarium vault is 13”x15”x10” and is designed to contain two urns. A covering slate can be engraved if desired by the owner. Each vault is priced at $1,800 and is provided with a Certificate of Interment as evidence of ownership. The cost of opening and closing a vault is $300 plus funeral home charges. Perpetual care is included in the initial cost.
Due to the limited number of columbarium niches available, they are granted to members of St. Luke’s UMC, Royal Oak UMC, Union UMC, and Christ Church, and are subject to a case by case analysis for others.
Ground burial plots are available in The Garden of the Rock section in the west cemetery. Plots are priced at $1,200 each. A set of four corner posts at a cost of $250 is required as part of the purchase. Certificates of Ownership are provided. The cost of opening and closing a grave is $300 plus funeral home charges. Perpetual care is included in the initial cost.
1. Cut flowers and/or artificial flower arrangements are always welcome provided they are placed in a monument attached container.
2. Any free-standing arrangements or ornaments that interfere with cemetery maintenance (i.e. grass mowing) will be removed by the Trustees.
3. Wilted flowers or wind damaged arrangements will be removed by the Trustees in a timely fashion.
4. Plantings/gardens (flowers, bulbs, trees, bushes, etc.) are not permitted.
5. Fencing or borders of any type are not allowed in or around individual grave sites.
6. Funeral flower arrangements will be removed by the Trustees after two weeks.
7. Winter wreaths, grave blankets, and/or easels are permitted starting on November 1st and will be removed by the Trustees after February 1st prior to the annual March cleanup.
8. Only specific bronze flower vases purchased and installed by the Cemetery Committee are permitted in the columbarium. Contact the Cemetery Committee if interested in purchasing a vase. A bronze flower vase may be may be purchased and installed to the right of the Columbarium niche. The vases are $250 and may be purchased and installed through the cemetery only.
9. The information above supersedes prior rules and regulations.
Examples of monument attached containers.
Rules and Regulations Governing Gravesite Decorations
Monument "saddle"
Columbarium vase