Spring Hill Cemetery to Open Mary Price Ratrie Arboretum

Today, Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin, Spring Hill Cemetery Superintendent Larry Ford, members of the Ratrie family and the Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery Park & Arboretum, officially opened the Mary Price Ratrie Arboretum. The arboretum boasts more than 100 distinct species of trees, including five “champion” trees – those considered to be the best of their type in existence in the State of West Virginia.

“The Mary Price Ratrie Arboretum will provide educational opportunities for our students and be another beautiful outdoor experience for visitors and those who live in our Capital City,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “Thank you to the Ratrie family and the Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery Park & Arboretum for your dedication to this project.”

Trees throughout the arboretum have been tagged with QR codes that, when used with a smart device, will further explain the species of the tree and give additional information. These tags can be found on trees throughout the cemetery. 

“The Mary Price Ratrie Arboretum offers a wonderful educational opportunity to learn how trees nourish our world,” said Rick Francke, President of Friends of Springhill Cemetery Park and Arboretum.

In addition, the arboretum provides tremendous eco-benefits to the City of Charleston including over 1,700 pounds of air pollutant removal annually, nearly 4.8 million gallons of stormwater runoff prevention annually, and 133,000 kilowatts of electricity savings per year.