Howard Schroeder

Howard was born to Charles and Mary Mervine Schroeder on September 19, 1917 was admitted to Women's Medical College on September 14, 1917 and died on October 7, 1917 from acute gastroenteritis. He was interred at Mechanics Cemetery on October 9, 1917. He was nine months old. Today, people do not die from gastroenteritis and Mechanics Cemetery no longer exists. http://ajourneyintothepast.blogspot.com/2012/07/mechanics-cemetery.html

Edwin Schroeder

Edwin was born April 10. 1914 to Charles and Mary Mervine Schroeder. He was admitted to the Samaritan Hospital on September 28, 1914 for Gastroenteritis and malnutrition and died at the hospital on September 30, 1914. Edwin was interred in Mechanic's Cemetery on October 3, 1914.

Mechanics Cemetery

"As the area became overpopulated and congested it was no longer suited to the needs of a peaceful eternal resting place, and in November 1950 the Cemetery Association voted to sell the property to the Philadelphia Housing Authority."

"The bodies were removed and reinterred at Philadelphia Memorial Park in Frazer, Chester County, which was founded in 1929 as a non-sectarian burial ground. Along with the remains of people from United American Mechanics Cemetery, three other Philadelphia area cemeteries have also moved to Philadelphia Memorial Park; German Lutheran Cemetery, Union Burial Ground and Belevue Cemetery.

Philadelphia Memorial Park became steward of the burial records when the graves were transferred, and the collections include account books, burial listings, correspondence, deeds, lot records, minutes, and receipts. The collection also includes information for Philadelphia Memorial Park. Belvue Cemetery and United American Mechanics Cemetery are the best represented burial grounds of the associated records now housed at the Chester County Historical Society."

The above information I discovered online and copied and posted it here. What is interesting to me is there was a vote to move the cemetery and that the article does not state that the cemetery fell in disarray along with Odd Fellows that was located nearby and that both cemeteries were sold to the Philadelphia Housing Authority. When Mechanics was opened between 1848 and 1849, the location at 22nd and Diamond Street was considered a rural area. After the Civil War, industry and housing took over and when the city wanted to build Housing Projects, it was cheap and easy to take over old cemeteries. Headstones were disposed of and bodies removed to mass graves in other cemeteries and then it was discovered that all bodies were not removed but built upon. If a lot holder had the money to move their loved ones, then they could do so. Most people did not have the money to move, therefore, their loved ones were removed by the city and placed elsewhere in mass graves. It was a sad time in history and when one researches it now, one discovers all the corruption that went with the removal of old cemeteries that were "in the way" in the late 1940's and 1950's. 

Up Next

Now that I have locations of places and people associated with the death certificates and burial records, I want to research the following locations and people. I wonder what I will come up with so stay tuned.

1. Mechanics Cemetery
2. Potters Field
3. Samaritan Hospital
4. Merion Memorial Park Cemetery
5. Holy Cross (St. Mary's Cemetery off of Spruce Street)
6. Dr. Joseph Lehman
7. John Dever Funeral Home
8. Dr. Albert Beck
9. Charles McIvaine Funeral Home

Baby Edwin Schroeder

Son of Charles and Mary Mervine Schroeder born 4/10/1914 and died 9/30/1914 at Samaritan Hospital at age 5 months and 20 days old of acute gastroenteritis. At the time of death, the family resided at 3920 Gordon Street and the attending doctor was Albert Beck. Edwin was interred in Mechanics Cemetery on October 3, 1914.

The United American Mechanics and Daughters of America Cemetery was founded in 1848-1849 and situated on approximately 8.50 acres, consisting of 3,250 lots, and originally located at Islington Lane and 22^nd Street in North Philadelphia (about 22^nd & Diamond Sts.) The cemetery sold lots to Order of American Mechanic members, their family and friends. Bodies were removed to Frazer Pa. in 1951.

Mechanics in 1950

Son of Charles and Mary Mervine Schroeder Death Record

Name: Edwin Schroeder
Death Date: 30 Sep 1914
Death Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gender: Male
Race: white
Death Age: 5 months 20 days
Estimated Birth Year:
Birth Death: 10 Apr 1914
Birthplace: U.S.A.
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Charles Schroeder
Father's Birthplace: U.S.A.
Mother's Name: Mary Mervine
Mother's Birthplace: U.S.A.
Occupation: Child
Street Address:
Place of Residence: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
Cemetery: Mechanics
Burial Place: Philadelphia
Burial Date: 03 Oct 1914
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 1429056
Digital Folder Number: 4009386
Image Number: 230
Reference Number: cn 23210
Collection: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915