The St. John Cemetery in High Ridge has grown a little bit bigger.
The St. Louis Archdiocese has agreed to buy a 0.25-acre piece of property off West Rock Creek Road next to the cemetery.
The west entrance to the cemetery is on that small piece of property, which Benjamin Scott Stevens owns.
Recently, Stevens spray-painted “KEEP OUT FOR SALE” on the pavement at that entrance, said cemetery committee member Stanley Gross.
He said Stevens asked the Archdiocese, which owns the 15.56-acre cemetery, to buy the small parcel for $10,000.
Gross would not disclose the final sale price but said it would be less than the asking price.
“It is good to have it resolved,” he said.
Stevens could not be reached for comment.
The cemetery, at 4304 W. Rock Creek Road, is associated with the St. John Catholic Church, which currently is at 4614 Blue Springs Drive in Imperial but originally was on Rock Creek Road in High Ridge.
“That’s our parish cemetery and has been ever since the church was started in the 1860s,” Gross said.
In 1957, the church moved to its second location on Hwy. 21, and in 2011 it moved to its current location on Blue Springs Drive.
Gross said the church never owned the 0.25 acres in question but has maintained it for a long time.
According to Assessor’s Office records, Stevens bought the 0.25-acre parcel from Jefferson County on Aug. 5. The county acquired the property on Aug. 23, 2021, because the previous owner, Almond Properties LLC, owed back taxes.
According to county tax records, $579.09 was owed in back taxes and has been paid.
The east entrance to the cemetery is on a 0.10-acre property owned by Kimberly E. Mayer, according to the Assessor’s Office.
Gross said the church is now looking into purchasing that property, too.
He said he believes the church has an easement to that 0.10-acre parcel.