In 2008, approximately 1,500 bodies were reinterred from the rear portion of the cemetery to a mass grave near the front of the property to allow construction of a parking lot for the adjacent Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

The cemetery was established on December 9, 1869[1] on 43 acres (170,000 m2) on the estate of Commodore Stephen Decatur, Sr. known as "Mount Airy".

The cemetery was founded by George Chandler Paul[3] of the fraternal organization, Knights of Pythias, for the interment of its members and others.

[7] Designed by architect Thomas S. Levy, the plans for the cemetery were very grand with rolling hills, naturalistic plantings, pathways arranged in a spoke-and-circle pattern, an artificial lake and a large gatehouse.

[1] The oldest grave is unknown, as there were many burials before the cemetery was chartered in 1869, and early records have been lost, but it is believed that it holds the remains of veterans of the Revolutionary War.

There was considerable local controversy over the company's plan to raze the historic home and build new structures, including a funeral parlor and crematorium.

In addition, more than 1,500 graves were moved from a wooded section to allow for construction of a 200 space parking lot as part of CTCA's expansion.

[9] More than $1 million has been spent on renovations of the historic house including restoration of the windows, floors, fireplaces, roofs, ceilings and walls.