The Caretakers of Riverside Cemetery

W.S. Cornell – Cemetery Superintendent 1885 – 1917

William Stephen Cornell was Riverside’s first employee and making the first graves. Before becoming the cemetery superintendent, Cornell managed the Elk Mountain cheese factory in conjunction with Nicholas Woodfin and T.W. Patton. When the Asheville Cemetery Company was established in 1885, Patton picked Cornell as the natural choice to become the first superintendent. Cornell worked tirelessly in the cemetery until his death at 80 years of age. Obituaries at the time credit Cornell with the design and direction that have made Riverside Cemetery a place of beauty and peace.

G.H. Cochrane – Cemetery Superintendent 1917 – 1924

Thirty-seven year old G.H. Cochrane became the second superintendent for the Asheville Cemetery Company after the death of his mentor, W.S. Cornell in 1917. Though records are hard to find on Cochrane, we do know that he was an active member in the American Society of Cemetery Superintendents (now ICCFA) and increased the national stature of Riverside through his contacts as such. He died of appendicitis unexpectedly in February of 1924.

Edwin J. Atwood – Cemetery Superintendent 1924 – 1943

Edwin J. Atwood was a career cemetery man, managing cemeteries from the age of twenty-one until his death. Before coming to Riverside in 1924, Atwood was superintendent of Oaklawn Cemetery in Charlotte and a worker in a casket factory. He was responsible for many of the evergreen plantings seen around Riverside. He took great pride in his work, learning the histories of many of those buried here and advertised Riverside as being a destination for tourists as well as a working cemetery.

J.B. Williams – Cemetery Superintendent 1943 – 1952

Little is known about J.B. Williams. What we do know is that he was instrumental to the deal that transferred ownership of Riverside Cemetery from the Asheville Cemetery Company to the City of Asheville. With the ACC in dire financial straits (they had all of $3.65 in their coffers), the City was petitioned to take over management of the cemetery. Though there was plenty of debate, the City agreed in 1952 to purchase the 87 acre cemetery for $10.00.

Charles R. “Chick” Hunter – Cemetery Manager 1952 – 1979

When Chick Hunter became the first City of Asheville cemetery manager in 1952, he realized that his work was cut out for him. In a speech given in 1954, he describes bushes and weeds growing beyond all control, a caved in tool room, roads eroding away, no electricity, no water, and a record keeping system that was almost impossible to decipher. In his words, the only cure for it was to “roll up my sleeves and get to work.” He called upon various City departments to bring the cemetery into the modern age. New water lines were run, maps were redrawn, roads rebuilt, electrical and phone lines installed, and lots cleared and restored to a manageable state. Within a few years Riverside was again the jewel of Asheville’s parks. Chick worked diligently to make sure that Riverside was once again one of the most respected cemeteries in the southern United States.

Robert Crayton & Martha Greene – Cemetery Foreman & Secretary 1979 – 1983

After the unexpected death of Chick Hunter in 1979, it fell to Bob Crayton and Martha Greene to continue to care for Riverside. Though unprepared, they did this admirably. Though we cannot find a picture of Crayton, former employees of his still come by to describe the large man coming down the hill on his tractor as fast as he could with tufts of white hair sticking out on either side of his head, ready to tell them to get back to work.

David Olson – Cemetery Manager 1983 – 2009

Many people in Asheville still call the cemetery today asking for David. David Olson managed Riverside for almost 30 years. Olson came from a family of school teachers and was a former teacher himself. During his years here major improvements were made to the cemetery’s infrastructure, including the paving of all of Riverside Cemetery’s roads. Olson digitized the cemetery records and created tour information for school groups.   Because of his efforts Riverside is a National Historic Place, a Buncombe County Treasure Tree Preserve, and is listed on the NC Civil War Trails.

Paul R. Becker – Labor Crew Coordinator 2009 – 2013

Retired marine Paul Becker only managed Riverside for a short time, spending most of his years as Mr. Olson’s right hand.  But in those few years he made an impact much bigger than his 6’3” frame. Paul was instrumental in integrating cemetery operations with those of the City of Asheville’s Parks Department. In fact, while managing Riverside he also managed the maintenance of all of the city’s recreation and community centers. Paul began the cemetery’s GIS mapping project and had a monument installed honoring all those who rest in unmarked graves in Riverside.

Joshua M. Darty – Cemetery Director 2013 – Present

A forest management major with a passion for history, Joshua Darty began working at Riverside as a landscaper in 2006. Seven years later he became the Cemetery Director.  Joshua has concentrated on restoring Riverside’s historic buildings and grounds and bringing Riverside into the digital age without losing any of its rich history. During his time the cemetery’s GIS project was completed and made available for the public, the offices renovated, heavily trafficked areas replanted, many trees planted, and a strong emphasis has been placed on making the cemetery’s history accessible. The average annual visitors to the cemetery have more than quintupled from around 4,000 to more than 20,000. On top of this, Joshua has penned a book highlighting some of Riverside’s more notable “residents.”