Gethsemani History

St. Rose Church, the original Roman Catholic Church in Lima, was established in l873; in l877, the land in the area between Edward St. Murphy & Union Street was used as their burial grounds.

In l896 the then Dobbins farm which adjoins Woodlawn Cemetery on the west and comprises of sixty-four Acres was purchased for a new cemetery for St. Rose Church. The cost was $l00.00 per acre. All of the land was to be utilized except 30 acres of low ground which was sold. The new cemetery is Gethsemani Cemetery.